The 13th Warrior
In AD 922, an important emissary who is banished from his homeland. The nomadic outcast comes across…
- Director: John McTiernan
- Genre:Action / Adventure / Fantasy
- Runtime:94 minutes
Cast
Antonio Banderas: Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan
Vladimir Kulich : Buliwyf
Dennis Storhøi : Herger – Joyous (as Dennis Storhoi)
Daniel Southern : Edgtho – Silent
Neil Maffin : Roneth
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The plot centers on Banderas’ character, Ahmad ibn Fadlan, who angers an influential noble in Baghdad and is commanded by the Caliph to serve as “ambassador to the North”—i.e., is expelled from the city—as a result. Traveling with Melchisidek (Omar Sharif), an old friend of his father, he meets a shipload of Viking raiders whose king has just died.
The language barrier is awkward, as Ahmed speaks only Arabic and most of the Vikings speak only Norse. Melchisidek and Herger, the Vikings’ skald, both speak Greek and thus communication is established. After Buliwyf becomes the new leader, a bewildered youth enters the camp and requests aid for his distant village, threatened by an old and supernatural force. Through the commands of an oracle, it is decided that exactly thirteen men must go to face this danger, and that the thirteenth must not be a Norseman; thus Ahmed is recruited.
Ahmed learns Norse quickly by sitting amongst the group and listening intently to their conversation, eventually beginning to understand what they are saying. He feels he has to prove himself to the uniformly huge Vikings, who mock him for his physical weakness and his small Arabian horse, but his fast learning of their language, ingenuity, and horsemanship eventually earn their respect and friendship.
The foe, known as the Wendol, have the appearance of both man and bear, although no bodies are left behind after their first nocturnal clash. In fact they do resemble pre-homo sapiens affecting the appearance of bears to confuse and instill fear into their enemies.
Losing members of their small force with each battle, and finding the settlement indefensible, Buliwyf opts to track the Wendol to their lair and attack them. Buliwyf and the remaining warriors track the Wendol, and uncover that they are cannibals; a chamber in the Wendol lair is full of human bones that have been gnawed upon. Buliwyf kills the Mother of the Wendol, but is poisoned by her. Read more
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