The 13th Warrior (1999): A Unique War Epic | Video Essay

[@UnderTheRadarMovies]

Please forgive the cut out of music. That section had a copyright claim for the background music.

[@collinjames9201]

Dude you need to really watch History Buffs channel on the 13th warrior! And this a great review.

[@mohammedsalim7052]

9:33 you said there is better film before an after thes film Can you give me a name for those better movei ??

[@billbixby557]

This movie is a hidden gem.

[@YaserPlkl1]

Yes

[@timalanthwaite4759]

This is an extremely underrated movie. I disagree with most of the criticisms made of it, and I never tire of rewatching it. Not in the very top class, but few are.

[@aachoocrony5754]

It's top class for me. I don't know of a better movie in the same genre or I put it in a category all by itself. Nothing is exaggerated emotionally but very real and brainy.

[@DrChattan]

I love this movie, it my "I'm bored and can't be bothered picking a movie", movie. I've seen it at least 30 times.

[@bprobo24]

Exactly

[@alanmountain5804]

Same here

[@PUBHEAD1]

Yep, my comfort food movie. It's always on keeping me company

[@YaserPlkl1]

Yes

[@charlesfarley28]

Bulvyf is a great character and a unique take on the epic myth of Beowulf. Love this flick.

[@emmonstrex65]

Funnily enough, I just purchased this movie. This movie has always been one of my favorites. I'm having a great time introducing my friends and family to it. Subscribed.

[@zarkovian]

So glad this is now recognized at least by some as the masterpiece that it is. Love, love, love this film.

[@JGARCIA2012FULL]

I love this movie since the first time I saw it, very good movie and one of the first in my DVD collection!!

[@mbryson2899]

"Honey. It's made from...honey." It's one of my family's favorite quotes, usually when something misunderstood is explained.

[@backrowbrighton]

This fine movie got a lot of hate some years back chiefly regarding its troubled production history. It is an enduring favorite of mine. Clash of cultures, great visuals and a real underlying sense of menace make it special. A film I will always return to.

[@Paltheus]

One of my favourite movies of all time.

[@RedStretchLimo]

One of the best sword and sandal movies ever made. An intriguing story, fascinating characters, and a struggle of good against evil. What's not to love

[@gonzo-uf6zi]

This movie is grossly underrated! This is primarily because the movie didn't turn out to be a gold mine at the box office!

[@claressalucas8922]

I don't see anyone mentioning that (in the book) the Wendol were the last vestige of pure Neanderthals. The Wendol clan of Neanderthals had been pushed to the edge of Europe that still slightly resembled their Ice Age homes, and they were the last sizable group of their kind in the world. King Hrothgar, who gets Buliwyf to kill the Wendol, built his drinking hall on their territory in defiance of an ancient truce. Buliwyf only accepted the request from Hrothgar because he was a king's younger son with no prospects elsewhere and needed some deeds on which to build a fortune, something later Rus would also do as guards for the Byzantine emperor. In the book, much is made of Ahmed preserving Buliwyf's story through the ages because he wrote it down in the 10th century when no other Chieftan of Buliwyf's time had a chronicler. Because of that, every English speaker who passed secondary schooling has heard Buliwyf's name and vaguely knows his story. When looked at that way, it's a fascinatingly tragic tale of the clash between old, middle, and modern humans with Arabians representing the most modernity for once!

[@wheelchazeal8089]

This movie will always be one of my favorites

[@thatguyinaband6341]

one of my favorite film of all time! thanks for sharing!

[@zanac1868]

I loved it and I still do! For me it was perfect, in some ways historically closer to reality than realized. I believed the adventure and loved all the characters. It has a following and will always have one.

[@nicholasparker1786]

It is and always will be owe of my favorite movies

[@dordagiovex9989]

In my opinion no other film portraits how ignorance and deception made middle Ages the incubator for myth and fantasy like this movie.. what is supernatural and undefeatable becomes ordinary in the eyes of a group of strong men. It is a film about true courage, not the plastic superhero type

[@underlordd]

This is my all time favorite movie ever. I saw it as a kid and it blew my mind.

[@rusthand7110]

This is one of my top 5 movies of all time. I haven’t seen this in a while and if came on as the same time as the other 4, I’d watch this one.

[@davidadrain8656]

still one of my favourite's, one of the most underrated ever

[@evelic]

Watched it in theaters with my dad. Great movie.

[@TheBranchez]

I really love this movie, one of my all time favorites. I feel sad that it didn't do so well. Thx for the video bud, now I need to rewatch the movie. Again.

[@بوجابر-ط3ه]

As an arab i enjoyed this movie as a story and the way actors played their roll, i believe this movie introduced the Arabian character in fair way , Arabs dont hate non-arabs, in fact as apart of Islamic scripts there are some rules that consists on having good relationships with all of the others muslims and non muslims, not like you see in movies or in news now days , i hope we all can exchange cultures and good intentions as our insisters did , alsalam alikom

[@RevelationNone]

Non Arab here and I've had plenty Arab friends. I introduced this film to my friends and they enjoyed it too. Only criticism they had was Antonio bandarez playing the Arab in the film

[@TexasBulldog74]

im shocked Dennis Storhøi (joyful) didn't make it bigger in hollywood. He was fantastic in this (The blonde translator who liked Bandaras).

[@markyoungman7267]

I liked this movie from the beginning. It’s the Beowulf tale with an Arabian twist. Great film. Subscribed.

[@DutchWestFilms]

I was one of a few I knew who really liked this when it came out. I'm glad to discover through the internet that it has a cult following. It inspired me to travel and try learning other languages.

[@doldi5400]

THE 13TH WARRIOR was one of the best movies!

[@ChipmunkRapidsMadMan1869]

He’s not traveling west. He’s headed to where Moscow is today. Eaters Of The Dead is the novel that this movie came from. It is excellent. It is actually based on a real manuscript and Ahmed Ibn Fadlan is a real historical figure

[@collinjames9201]

Yeah i know i saw it on History Buffs channel, i think about a year ago yay!

[@ChipmunkRapidsMadMan1869]

@@collinjames9201 Michael Crichton’s notations too.

[@collinjames9201]

@@ChipmunkRapidsMadMan1869 👍

[@branenmachinen671]

I have it on VHS, DVD and on my phone. I have seen it so many times that beyond counting :) Good video bro i love it!

[@lindamarsh6711]

I loved this movie! I can watch it again and again! Thanks

[@davidpowell6098]

Have you read the book, I'd recommend it, too.?

[@LordIvor6]

That gritty unpolished nature is so attractive. I love how it does not skip over simple things, or transitions, but at the same time presents them as part of some other development. For instance the defense building (digging ditches etc), showing that alone or an overshoot would be rather "boring", but to have them magically built would also break our immersion (you often see one or the other in other movies). So they use the ditch digging as a part of Blondie and Ginger's to quarrel. Or the making of the spikes, they show them when Bandaras makes his knife. I would say this is inline with what you said about exposition, it seamlessly blends in.

[@brianholly3555]

Have loved this version of Beowulf since I first saw it. Wonderful movie!

[@waynemcauliffe2362]

Love this film

[@maryh679]

This is a memorable movie. I can identify with being immersed in a foreign culture It is a shame most American's will never have the opportunity to spend the weeks in a society and culture different than there own. It is sad because America has many subcultures worth exploring. I can name three with in 45 miles of where I live.

[@rpersen]

This movie is great, and your analysis is also good. I need to rewatch this now. Subbed.

[@TexasBulldog74]

I absolutely love this movie. I truly love how they did the language transition. So well done for a movie.

[@TheDive99]

A classic.

[@samking6583]

I dont understand why people would criticize this film, I own it and still watch it at least once a year, captivating film

[@rrwholloway]

The technique of transitioning the language to English while the movie is running has been done a few times before, but it's a great technique. In the 1980s miniseries Shogun, the Japanese characters speak in Japanese throughout, except when translating for Blackthorne; the original broadcast did not use subtitles for the Japanese dialog. As the movie was presented from Blackthorne's point of view, the producers felt that "what he doesn't understand, we [shouldn't] understand". As Blackthorne comes to understand Japanese, more of the dialogue is in English.

[@The_Buggiman]

I loved this about shogun. I found myself understanding rudimentary Japanese after a few episodes.

[@ronelferrolino3269]

The movie is iconic it was based on the book entitled " Eaters of the Dead".

[@Svensk7119]

The Thirteenth Warrior is a masterclass in storytelling. Language, heroes, myths, discovery, and a basis in both history and mythology. Michael Crichton was a genius. The cast well brought forth his vision.

[@Rhymethyme33]

I've watched this movie several times and even looked up each warrior's name so I could give each character my attention when they had their moment to shine, and each one is mentioned by name in the film, except for Haltaf the boy. He is only seen maybe three times, doesn't have any lines, and is primarily a background character

[@thesilencebehindsounds]

So good. One of my childhood favorites

[@matthewgish]

4:06 is anyone gonna comment on this switchblade trick of the sword here? Most impressive.

[@AllINAllmusic]

Yes! The itch is being scratched.

[@jameshazel7770]

When my sons were little this was our go to movie night staple

[@zainhartono7193]

Wouldn’t mind a remake. Maybe instead turn it into a miniseries, give some time to flesh out the characters? Maybe spend more time in Baghdad.

[@michaelsterref]

I read the book after the movie. Its Beowulf with another name. also., the book hints that the physical appearance of the raiders were something like Neanderthals. I liked both the book and the film. The book enhances the film.

[@1SaG]

Re the language barrier thing: John McTiernan himself used a sort of similar technique in Hunt for Red October in an early scene after which all Russian/Soviet characters stop speaking Russian and henceforth speak English. It's probably even more to our (the audience's) benefit in that movie, but you can't help but notice the similarities.

[@TheGuyInTheCheapSeats]

And there are scenes that definitely have a Predator vibe, which was also made by McTiernan.

[@davidpowell6098]

I have the Movie, and the book, "Eaters of the dead" beside me now, I love to both watch the film, and read the book regularly, I will never tire of them.

[@Angushrothgar]

I guess I'll make the same comment has everyone else, this is my favorite movie. I watched it growing up, to this day both my parents can basically say every line along with the movie, and I can do quite a bit myself. Truly amazing, the book "Eaters of the dead is also absolutely worth a read"

[@viarnay]

Criminally underrated...

[@WhereWingsTakeDream]

One of my favorite films. I Introduced a friend to this film last Summer and he criticised the scene early in the film where the vikings were paddling up river to the encampment and that alone prevented him from suspending his disbelief for the rest of the film. I'm wondering what Mactiernan or Crichton had been thinking about when including that scene and if there was a historical basis of the oar-powered ships going upriver in such a way.

[@Rekaert]

It bombed, it got mediocre scores, and Omar Sharif retired because of it. Personally, I loved it and have watched it many, many times.

[@winfriedbirkenstock8422]

I saw it ten times and not for the last one....

[@kennyhagan5781]

It's one of my favorites, I wasn't even sure that I would like it, but I had read the source material years before, so I took a risk and it payed off.

[@dadrocha7741]

I saw it in the theater first. I've seen it many times since. I hope to watch it many times more.

[@SlabaJan]

Beowulf and Seven samurai in one movie

[@LordGrift]

I can not agree there are better films, when I whiteness my first child born. She was almost purple, she is six as of this post. This movie helped me where no one else could. Life,death... "That is possible." I'm glad I found this movie in my youth. I will teach her the same.

[@Laura-Lee]

"Maybe people will look at this movie again and say, 'There is something interesting about this.' " -Antonio Banderas WE WANT TO SEE THE MCTIERNAN DIRECTOR's CUT! #13thWarrior. #AntonioBanderas #LauraLeeWasHere

[@pecosnick45]

Probably my favorite fantasy movie of all time.

[@indianajim]

I say with zero irony or sarcasm it is one of the best films ever made.

[@tejai1208]

I love this movie

[@andybelcher1767]

Excellent review of a superb film, one of my all time favourites. Something you missed, unsurprisingly, is the exchange of titles. Little Brother (or Big Brother for more respected people - I am not sure of when each one should be used) is a friendly personal greeting in Arabic-based culture. I learned about it from Turkish lorry drivers when spending time with them when I was driving across Europe and beyond. They call each other something that sounds like 'Arbi'.

[@TogetherinParis]

I provided this story and was never paid. Thanks for calling my "I listened!" idea brilliant. The cast and settings were of the highest quality, money no object, because I have had a history of success in Hollywood. I invented The Force, The Jedi, and The Pirate Code, for instance. My stories got Best Picture Oscars four years in a row once, mostly because of lavish investments expecting returns on the order of my Star Wars adaptation of The Star War, a lost 1963 novella, E.T. (my name's on Elliot's doodles, top left), The Matrix, Close Encounters, Forrest Gump, Braveheart, Lost in Translation, Gravity, Shawshank Redemption, Something About Mary, No Country for Old Men, Groundhogs Day, Good Will Hunting, A Beautiful Mind, American President, American Beauty, Big Fish, V for Vendetta, Independence Day, Wag the Dog, Lord of the Rings adaptation, and many more.

[@johnrife7134]

I love this movie.

[@gregsheehan8259]

I liked this movie a lot, for all the reasons stated in this review.

[@michaelschmidt1101]

Spot on review...

[@fighterck6241]

This is a cult classic. I've loved it since it came out in theaters.

[@byscaine79]

I will watch this every time I get a chance

[@mohammedsalim7052]

9:33 you said there is better film before an after thes film Can you give me a name for those better movei ??

[@TheBrimfire]

a hidden gem even after all these years ... prefered to all the new hollywood stuff every day!

[@daimooc2169]

Sphere caught me, then alien resurrection popped up and confirmed it wasn't a fluke. First suggestion was this and I had to subscribe

[@scythianmordovskiy9272]

Presumably the story took place on the territory of the city of Samara

[@nathanbrooks2581]

The 13th warrior is my all time favorite movie. Just starting this vid but Incase they don’t say it here. It’s based on the book “eaters of the dead” by micheal Crichton. The writer of Jurassic park.

[@richardmiddleton4634]

I watch this movie at least once a year.

[@lectornox]

Outlander with Jim Caviezel is another great movie

[@collinjames9201]

Dame straight it is bro! 😎

[@masterwrench4252]

I watch this every couple of months...what does that say about what I think of this movie? Good Video!

[@unamigo1977]

watching this movie is visiting old friends

[@bobwinters6665]

It's Beowolfe with a twist provided by Crichton. What's not to like?

[@rogueprince1341]

That scene with the shared water bowl makes me sick every time i watch it

[@keithconnell8460]

I think of The 13th much the same way I view Kingdom of Heaven. Good movie. Entertaining, but something is missing. The plot doesn’t completely work.

[@quezcatol]

It was a good take on beowulf.

[@Roadrunner78626]

It was a Great Movie

[@Pikkabuu]

Sadly you can see from the movie how important bits about it were left on the editing room floor...still a pretty good movie but what it could have been...

[@jimmysandonato3403]

Omfg I'm not even 1 minute in did you read the book before you made this video!?!?!?

[@carldewitz5239]

I liked it was a good show

[@Alexus1138]

"what is today modern day Iraq" yeah but what is it NOW

[@vndrewevans]

Channel will take off soon

[@garygeer7080]

I enjoy the movie

[@yankeepapa304]

The Prince who murdered his brothers... He vanished into the fog? A hole in the plot that you could steer a longship through... Studio (and or writer/director feud) ignores it, slaps "THE END" on the film and calls it good. Sad... I doubt that there is extra footage still out there...and if there is... most of us will be long dead before it escapes... YP

[@rehamanshaikh7031]

Sultan Puri Duniya Mein Hona chahie Allah per Imaan

[@johnmunro4952]

The movie is a mess, but a glorious mess!

[@yllbardh]

*Eben*

[@benquinneyiii7941]

Neanderthals