First, I just have to say that this is the first movie that I ever really liked Antonio Banderas in. Based on the Michael Crichton novel Eaters of the Dead, Twelve viking warriors and one arab ambassador (Banderas) come to the aid of a kingdom being terrorized by some unknown evil. During the struggle the warriors define themselves, especially Banderas who finds strength that he never knew he had. The action scenes are very good and I really enjoyed the style that director John McTiernan (DIE HARD, THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR) used to capture it all, but if you don't like gore you will find yourself turning away at times. Strong performances by a cast of almost totally all unknowns also add to this film's quality.

Don't waste a minute of your time on this nonsense, unless you happen to be the president of your local fan club for Antonio Banderas, who, inexplicably, is made up to look like a drag queen playing Medea! His thick accent, along with all of the others in the film, makes the dialogue virtually unintelligible. No matter, nothing really matters anyway.

The "story" is supposedly based on a lesser-known novel by Michael Crichton, called Eaters of the Dead, but it sure looks and sounds like Beowulf to me...the picture book version for non-readers!!!