The Wendol | The 13th Warrior // The Eaters of the Dead

[@aaronk8440]

This movie was fantastic. The prayer the main cast recited at the final battle was epic as hell. Antonio Benderas was brilliant.

[@0SgtRoadkill0]

just a shame he was from the wrong end of the Med!

[@jaymartin8273]

Agreed! This movie gets nowhere near as much attention as it deserves :=)

[@Roycesraphim1]

Fun fact that prayer was taken from a slave girl about to be sacrificed during the Viking funeral of her master

[@Martyr217]

@@jaymartin8273 I played this on movie night with the clan and everyone apart from 1 person out of 10 had never heard of the movie and everyone loved it.

[@jaymartin8273]

@@Martyr217 Good to see that you're getting the word out :=). I first saw this movie while channel surfing and it stuck with me for YEARS! Finally found a copy at my local Goodwill, best purchase ever! :=)

[@grandadmiralzaarin4962]

Lo, There do I see my Father Lo, There do I see my Mother and My Brothers and my Sisters Lo, There do I see the line of my people back to the beginning Lo, They do call to me They bid me take my place among them in the halls of Valhalla. Where the brave shall live Forever

[@limaalexander1460]

BEAUTIFUL!!!💕💕💕

[@NervozniZivota]

Actually, those rites were a part of the antient slavic burial ceremony rite. But, don't take my word for it. Rather check it out.

[@Sir_Lorekeep]

Fun fact Aḥmad ibn Faḍlān was a real guy. In real life his account is prized by historians as one of the only accounts of the Norse by a neutral observer, neither one of them nor one of their enemies.

[@fintytin8528]

And yet his account is the most misunderstood by the casual reader. He never actually visited Scandinavia or interacted with the Norse. Ahmad actually visited and documented the inhabitants of the Kievan Rus instead. Initially Swedish settlers in Eastern Europe, they had developed a unique ethnicity and culture that was only very loosely tied to Norse culture, being a mix of Scandinavian, Uralic, Slavic and Steppe peoples. People use his account as proof of viking customs, when that couldn't be further from the truth.

[@AeneasGemini]

@@fintytin8528 It was quite common for norse cultures to blend with the locals, also it's important to remember that the ruling classes of the Kievan Rus still maintained a lot of their Norse culture in the same way that the Normans in England retained much of their French culture for several centuries. I agree there would've been some dilution, but I think his work would still have a strong degree of validity

[@fintytin8528]

@@AeneasGemini It's interesting that you bring up the Normans in your example. The Normans had only been in France about 100 or so years before William invaded England and yet had completely been absorbed into French culture, to be the point that they were completely unrecognisable as Norsemen. Why do you believe that the Rus would have preserved their Norse culture when the Normans abandoned theirs so quickly?

[@BlackIce3190]

@@fintytin8528 Short version? The Normans had come to settle in France as vassals. Part of the conditions for their titles was converting to Christianity, and that sort of makes going native a whole lot easier. The Kievan Rus took over their region by conquest, and thus didn’t really have as much cause to go as native as the Normans.

[@lawrenceragnarok1186]

​@@fintytin8528 that's mainstream history word salad if I've ever heard it. You believe the out of Africa theory too I assume?

[@armasaurusrex3158]

Apparently the author, Michael Crichton, said that this film perfectly captured the heart of his novel 'Eaters of the Dead'.

[@Alacaelum]

That... is the highest compliment an adaptation can receive from the original author.

[@jtjames79]

​@@Alacaelum I would say most Michael Crichton based movies have been better than the book. Mostly because he writes books that make better movies than books. I really liked Sphere. The special effects were way better than what I came up with in my head.

[@benjaminfeld6388]

So this movie was actually inspired by a novel? Cool. But then again, such things aren't uncommon so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

[@armasaurusrex3158]

@@jtjames79 and Jurassic Park

[@jtjames79]

@@armasaurusrex3158 If you were a Gen x or earlier, those first dinosaur scenes were life changing. Also the importance of knobs on doors instead of handles.

[@ericpaul5262]

I remember this was one of two movies that we had to watch in my anthropology classes. The book hinted that the Wendol were remnants of Neanderthals, and my professor even theorized that Norse stories of trolls came from a sort of cultural memory of these ancient hominids.

[@aaronk8440]

That’s interesting as hell. Never considered the idea that the Wendol were a different offshoot of humans. One of the reasons Antonio’s character got so riled up in the initial fight was that the “monsters” they were fighting were men. But if they were a more primitive form of man, mostly undiscovered, by the modern man at the time…that makes a lot of sense.

[@ericasandberg7286]

As a Scandinavian I am deeply intrigued by this idea. No other European culture seem to have anything in the folklore even close to the Trolls of our stories Fae and gnomes, mere folk and shapeshifters for sure but no the trolls. I wonder how that can be. Where the last Neanderthal or Cro-Magnon really killed in the North?

[@ericpaul5262]

The other movie we had to watch was Beuwolf and Grendal with Gerard Butler, and yeah, the movie suggested that trolls are Neaderthals or a hybrid of Neaderthals and modern man.

[@ericpaul5262]

@@ericasandberg7286 It has been suggested that the last settlements of Neaderthals were in Scandinavia and Russia.

[@ericasandberg7286]

@@ericpaul5262 I did not know that but thank you for telling me. This well be interesting to research

[@brianlevine5213]

As a man of Swedish heritage I grew up hearing stories of my ancestors. Swedish Vikings went through the Russia's to Palestine. They traded all the way to Baghdad. We were bodyguards to the Emperors in Constantinople. I love "The 13th Warrior".

[@mu0FFpu0FF]

"Wendol" kinda sounds like the "Wends" doesn't it? Makes me wonder. Because we have so few records of the ancient Slavs

[@alexm-e4910]

I love this movie. Has one of my favourite badass death lines ever “I have run as far as I am running today.”

[@mikkelnpetersen]

"Today was a good day"

[@karos009]

@@mikkelnpetersen i love the end quote. i dont heard how it sounds in english but in a retlanslate from my native is: travelled trough the sea of monsters and forest of demons. we prayed to allah, the merciful, to bless the pangans whose loved their gods, whose gave their blood and life while your servant, ahmen ibn fahalah grow to be a man and become a useful servant for you my lord. That word. Bless the pangeans. are so powerful in this context. its always feel so good. so.. how every religion shoud do it.

[@smalldoggymike]

And I'm sure that he's the black fish in Game of Thrones, he died the same way in that series.

[@alexm-e4910]

@@karos009that’s basically what the quote is in English

[@bazillin4138]

"i have ran about as far as i care to.... today was a good day... a good day........... go......"

[@TheArklyte]

I love how in this case an attempt to make Beowulf myth realistic didn't make it boring or false. I like Beowulf from 2007(omfg, it's been 16 year!) and Outlander, but this one was definitely the best and at the same time most unique adaptation despite having the least fantasy elements in it. _Now if only some game dev would be inspired by all three to make a game about an alien fighting a shapeshifting dragon and a cult that worships it in old norse lands..._

[@benjaminfeld6388]

I see I'm not the only one but notice the similarities between the epic of Beowulf and this film.

[@Fred_L.]

What about the 1999 version with Christopher Lambert?

[@dusanbanovic5085]

​@@benjaminfeld6388this was actually the case. A friend of the writer said he was thinking of teaching a course called the "The Great Bores" as in obligatory boring works of literature, and Beowulf would be the first one. Crichton took it as a challenge to write a version of Beowulf that would be a real life story that might have inspired the legend and wrote this novel.

[@luiiz2138]

Outlander is awesome, at least it is in my memory 😂

[@charlesreid9337]

This movie is based on a Michael Brighton novel which is based on an account by a Persian diplomat. Which is based on the work of a scholar who spent the past years of his life recreating the report of a Persian diplomat. This has jackshit to do with mythology. It is the account of a Persian diplomat

[@mattwilson8298]

"It's cavalry." "Cavalry? I'd rather prefer a dragon."

[@mu0FFpu0FF]

Don't worry ... THERE ARE MORE 👉

[@seedofbayne.]

I remember Antonio Banderas character learning the language from listening was the coolest thing I'd ever seen in a movie.

[@danielbeck2739]

Lo, there do I see my father. Lo, there do I see my mother, and my sisters, and my brothers. Lo, there do I see the line of my people, Back to the beginning Lo, they do call to me. They bid me take my place among them, In the halls of Valhalla, Where the brave may live forever!

[@wcraiderevo8078]

Rewatched this movie the other day. It still is fantastic. Would loved to have seen a director's cut with more details on the characters.

[@garykubodera9528]

I was a teenager when this movie came out and I'm still captivated by it even to this day. One of the very few movies I always enjoy watching again and again...just like the first Highlander! Thanks for reminding me just how entertaining this movie is even to this day!

[@smalldoggymike]

Thanks for covering this, I hope people who haven't yet, watch it. "Don't worry, little brother. There are MORE!"

[@ScottyMac165]

Love this movie “it’s alright little brother there are more” chills

[@dansmachine9360]

Best Viking line ever. "I cannot lift this." "Grow stronger.."

[@MichaelRainey]

"When you die can I give that to my daughter?"

[@weldonwin]

@@MichaelRainey "The dog can jump high, yah!"

[@davethebeard2706]

I use this on my kids all the time...

[@sean5558]

It’s alright little brother…… there are more

[@blalhoihreuf]

"I'm not a warrior" "Very soon, you will be"

[@DragonDaishou]

A great film with an interesting premise. I live not too far from where this was filmed, and I knew the man who played the Norse scout that first greeted the crew when they arrived in the North.

[@MasonBryant]

They could smell his perfume if I'm not mistaken.

[@DragonDaishou]

@@MasonBryant I don't remember as it has been awhile since I saw the movie. Scott's a good guy though, lost a leg recently.

[@dalekrenegade2596]

​@@DragonDaishou Ouch.

[@DragonDaishou]

@@dalekrenegade2596 I know, but last I saw of him he was doing alright, still has a good attitude.

[@ragingjaguarknight86]

@@MasonBryant "a silk swaddled messenger boy" is how one of the warriors described him. ^_^

[@FabieJeanne]

The film was the first dvd my dad bought, along with the dvd player. It was really great!

[@ragingjaguarknight86]

Your father has a good taste in films apparently. ^_^ PS: The first DVD I watched was The Mothman Prophecies. o_O

[@ravensthatflywiththenightm7319]

While I do love the actual movie we got, I remain curious to see the original, 3 hour horror cut that McTiernan had intended.

[@Laura-Lee]

Yes, yes, yes. Where's the Directors cut? I've been waiting SO long.

[@equalmonkey4821]

The book gave me chills during the final battle scene!!

[@SHDUStudios]

Have we thought about how the Wendol might be late-surviving Neanderthals. That fit that description pretty well.

[@BlackIce3190]

They’re explicitly said to be so in the book.

[@outstretchedwings]

I vaguely remember hearing of evidence that the Neanderthals may have lived long enough to fight with our current ancestors.

[@charlesreid9337]

​@@BlackIce3190No. They aren't. But keep spreading bullshit

[@charlesreid9337]

Completely lacking education must be rough. Unless you're 100% African you're part neanderthal

[@ClaptonDennis]

​@@charlesreid9337read the book, you are the one bullshiting here. In the movie it's not said that they were Neanderthals but the big breasted statue from the stone age and they live in caves...

[@davidpowell6098]

My favourite book, The Eaters of The Dead, by Michael Crichton, and the film, of course. Ibn Fadlan also appears in print ,titled, Ibn Fadlan and the Land of Darkness. It's a Penguin Classic.

[@charlesreid9337]

It's amazing how well theovie tracks with the book

[@Literarydilettante]

Described like this, they remind me of a Norse berserker bear warrior cult. Loved the movie. And love this video, another champion.

[@charlesreid9337]

The norse were nothing but citthorat robbers who raided monasteries and undefended villages and avoided conflict with armed men at all costs. They were pond scum

[@tagreene06]

"it's alright little brother. They're More!"

[@dcyork2703]

Love this movie. Always thought it was bs that the Wendol would of been able to care for that many horses.

[@charlesreid9337]

Um..in the US West a cattle drive with 10 cowboys would have 40 to 60 horses. A small native American tribe might have a hundred or more. A single average mongol warrior would likely have a dozen or dozens...

[@dcyork2703]

@@charlesreid9337 it’s more that they are extremely primitive and live in caves.

[@markhalligan1243]

One of the most underrated movies of all time

[@emptycaster4905]

Thanks Templin Institute, for bringing some recognition to a great film.

[@connorgolden4]

Nice to see a video on a more obscure but interesting film! Your voice and descriptions and the music really make it such a great video on an interesting film and group!

[@GwyndowsXP]

I was literally watching this movie last night...

[@Stahlvanten]

Quite a little gem you brought up here. That movie soundtrack is also another gem.

[@jfraz6246]

An iconic movie, so much that I inked the death prayer into my chest

[@jasoncaldwell5627]

Olive Garden Manager to servers: "Met your match, did you? Met your match with the Eaters Of The Bread?'

[@LordOmnissiah]

So basically they’re Neanderthals or the descendants of Neanderthals who survived, learned how to use horses, and still followed the prehistoric bear cult.

[@dbensdrawinvids8390]

"Lo there do I see my father; Lo there do I see my mother and my sisters and my brothers; Lo there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning. Lo, they do call to me, They bid me take my place among them, In the halls of Valhalla, Where the brave may live forever."

[@calvinsuu1949]

Yea when they ask you what you want at McDonald's

[@greyman419]

One of my favorite guilty pleasure movies. I like to think of Bone Tomahawk as kind of a spiritual sequel.

[@mckenzie.latham91]

"Today was a good day" I love that final line from the warrior who stays behind in the wendol cave, wounded and unable to keep up, he chooses to sacrifice hinself to let the others have timento escape and meet death fighting.

[@pendragon0905]

A dark reminder of humanity's origins as mere animals

[@cosminpopa8208]

worse, monsters long before christ or the first civilizations...

[@MRptwrench]

As soon as I saw Templin Institute covered The 13th Warrior I felt that the film has been redeemed! If you've haven't seen it yet, you're in for a nice surprise. If you have, I know you're trying to rewatch it again now.

[@valentineosullivan5890]

This is unexpected but very welcome content! It’s not every day I see discussion and review of my favorite movie.

[@vincentvillebrun6266]

Really good movie, awesome lore mixed with history

[@mattyounce2486]

“The All Father wrote the skien of your life a long time ago, go ahead and hide in a hole if you wish but you won’t live one instance longer, your fate is fixed, fear profits man nothing.” Words that will forever be a fascinating way to consider North Men that perhaps represent Vikings who tested their mettle against gruesome villainy that were vile and wicked. I’ve read Eater’s of The Dead by Michael Crichton and watched The 13th Warrior numerous times, Boulvide the leader and 1st man to volunteer for the posse that travels to King Rothgars encampment was treated with great reverence and respect, no spoilers intended.

[@emperorkarlfranzrulerofthe2826]

dang, didnt exspect to see this underated gem. Well done,*aplauds*

[@bugvswindshield]

I watch this movie ever 4-6 months. Probably watched it over 100 times.

[@mikealeman5955]

Thank you for covering this underrated gem 👌

[@suttone75]

This is amazing! What a great movie and the description and music are perfectly put together. Well Done!

[@NL-ws5fv]

The film was a fascinating one. Really deserves more love. What I think was its biggest issue was its marketing. Look up its trailers and be amazed at how bad they were.

[@leavesinautumn5959]

Another blast from the past .. not complaining, mind you, I loved this movie.

[@TheBranchez]

What a wonderful, very underrated movie. Awesome soundtrack, scenery and atmosphere, acting, the story itself. Everything is superb, the only thing I would state as negative would be already talked about use of armor that hasen't existed at that time. Easily one of ma favorite movies of all time.

[@jamesgarner327]

They make me think of the slavo-finic wends and their Urka cult.

[@davethebeard2706]

This is on my very short list of favorite movies... thank you for this... the book written by Michael Crichton was very good and was, if I remember correctly, his take on how stories can evolve over the centuries, for the story of Ahmad ibn Fadlan is the original story of Beowulf. At least that's what I remember from the preface... i could be wrong

[@BK2207]

This is a classic movie, while not being a success in movie theatre, it did got some on the DVD market. Never tired to view it once every year.

[@dr.sweetchat6769]

Templin Institute, covering all your favorite fictional lore and sometimes just a cool movie people forgot about.

[@mattnerdy7236]

I found this movie by accident years ago in a bargain bin, if it didn't have Antonio Banderas on the cover I would have never taken notice. I still have that DVD probably watched that movie 50 times by now. Thanks for the video you have a wonderful day!

[@NewDealDem2187]

I’m totally rethinking this movie has an Alternative History “What if the Neanderthals Survived” haha

[@aragos32727]

Such an underrated movie

[@ReverendMeat51]

Awesome book, always wondered what the original McTiernan cut of the movie was like

[@baronjutter]

Such a fun movie, I need to watch this again.

[@stefanstoyanov7460]

Vendol, vandal, venelaine, veneti. Those are names of the ancient northern slavic tribes. Kinda telling of what relations the nord men and the slavs had once.

[@ImperialKnight770]

I am so glad I got this on my Itunes!

[@GhostEye31]

This movie will always be one of my guilty pleasure cheesefests. It's great.

[@seihai-kun6726]

Underrated film. Thank you for this vid.

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

"Across seas of monsters and forests of demons we traveled. Praise be to Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate. May his blessing be upon pagan men who loved other Gods, who shared their food, and shed their blood. That his servant, Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan, might become a man, and a useful servant of God." -- Ahmed Ibn Fadhlan

[@CFreedom]

At one point I could quote this entire movie line by line. Love it.

[@Upsideround]

The Volgar hills have eyes.

[@podsmpsg1]

The Wendol might be Neanderthals.

[@gridlore]

That was the intention in the novel.

[@podsmpsg1]

@@gridlore Yeah. They sure look like it.

[@connorgolden4]

Yeah that’s what they are

[@markallison6666]

Or a cousin of them

[@podsmpsg1]

@@markallison6666 Possibly.

[@benjaminnguyen554]

i love the Templin Institute so much 😎

[@angelusumbrae]

I ended up looking up the book "Eaters of the Dead" that this film was based upon recently, and remember loving the hell outta this flick in grade school when I saw it. It's really good. But sadly doesn't get the same degree of love and fame as other examples of cinematic excellence from tthe

[@stevengreen9536]

I wonder if the Wendol were the inspiration for the Forsworn in Skyrim?

[@the36lessons11]

I mean, the actor who plays Ulfric's voice plays Buliwyf in this film...so, most likely. Though, the Reachman are barbaric, they aren't cannibals just daedric-worshipping raiders.

[@anti-rioter-15]

I remember seeing this movie and always liked it. I picked the book up, and as usual it was even better.

[@camerongunn7906]

This is one of those movies that is very underrated. I thought it was a fantastic movie. A bit short I mean they could have flashed out a little bit. But I guess they wanted to stay true to the original writings.

[@rabbidnewt7352]

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD YES!!!! YYYYEEEEESSSSSS!!!!! I Fucking love you for this! This is one of my favorite movies of all time!!!

[@nealsterling8151]

I love this movie! Thank you so much for making this video!

[@buckystanton9139]

ive waited for this my whole life

[@TEXASUSA45]

No freaking way! Yall actually covered something from this movie! Awesome!

[@rabemolon]

I always thought The 13th Warrior was a highly underrated movie that should have gotten a better reception, and performed better.

[@soul1d]

Loved the film and the book!

[@LocalHeretic-ck1kd]

Same here. Saw the movie and read the book several times already and I will gladly do it again in the future.

[@ravensthatflywiththenightm7319]

I was just thinking of the novel this morning. I should revisit again. 😻

[@zintosion]

I think The Wendol is most likely the last remnant of the neanderthals

[@kennyhagan5781]

One of my favorite historical figures.

[@purplespecks]

lo there do i see my father...

[@aaronk8440]

Lo, there do I see my mother and my brothers and my sisters Lo, there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning Lo, they do call to me. They bid me take my place among them in the halls of Valhalla where thine enemies have been vanquished. Where the brave shall live….Forever.

[@MasonBryant]

​@@aaronk8440 leave some for the rest of us!

[@aaronk8440]

@@MasonBryant Haha! Sorry!

[@mingchoi8369]

This is an interesting take on the Beowulf legend with an Arab traveler as a central character.

[@theredsoldier26]

A surprise to see one of my old timey favourites on this channel.

[@Astartes-6969]

Isn't there a reference in the book to HP Lovecraft's Necronomicon?

[@bottasheimfe5750]

okaaay... so you're telling me that Ibn Fadlan and some Rus Vikings fought the last tribe of Neanderthals on Earth?

[@rathraven1313]

They became worms of the Earth.

[@johnlloyddy7016]

If only I could turn back time. I made the mistake of going into the theater to watch this movie 10 minutes before it ended. And ended up seeing the spoiler scene of the Wendol making their last assault on the keep and the surviving warriors and Ibn Fahdlan reciting the Viking funeral prayer in preparation for their final battle. It lessened the impact of that scene when I watched it again from the start on the next hour's show.

[@ajackass5950]

Just found out it's based on a book and now I have to buy it

[@WilliamMosicki-Nystrom]

Factions I would like to see next: 1. The Cabal Empire | Destiny 2. The Office of Naval Intelligence | Halo 3. The Disciples of Anu | Phoenix Point 4. The ADVENT Coalition | XCOM 5. The World Eaters | Warhammer 40K

[@BillyBOB-sm3rl]

Love this movie. I used to say the death prayer when I would go on missions in Iraq.

[@NewDealDem2187]

Explains a little bit how the civilian death count was so high.

[@blackdragon6]

@@NewDealDem2187 damn 😭😭😭

[@CarlosValenzuela-sx9xb]

​@@NewDealDem2187😂

[@timwhite5562]

I actually saw this at the Drive-in. They always showed two movies, and I sent to see "The sixth sense," and this was the second movie, I hadn't even been aware of it's existence. I always thought it to be criminally underrated. It deviated from "Eaters of the dead," but I think it stood on it's own.

[@Zikekiel]

One of my all time favourite films

[@KesselRunner606]

It's a man. It's a man! It's a *MAN!* It's alright, little brother... there are more!

[@rohanwilkinson1021]

I have this belief their was accidental friendly fire caused by the loss of Valhalla and the fall of the Æsir for it looks like the Wendol tribe are the tribe of Thor the bear as both are associated with the earth mother and Bears and agriculture and even Berserkers.

[@ithinkihadeight]

Where did you learn our language!? I listened!

[@jakelibbey4631]

you guys should do a vid on the finno-korean hyperwar

[@trilit2]

Ok ok ok, ill rewatch it!... Again.

[@silentstryker1590]

This was the first movie I ever owned on DVD back in '98

[@jonathanrecinos5894]

How if the movie came out in theaters in 99 your statements are fales

[@silentstryker1590]

@@jonathanrecinos5894 maybe it was '99

[@brandonmyers1400]

The worm the fireworm it comes... fear not there are plenty to kill lol

[@liamthe5576]

Respects for making a video on this

[@alanmike6883]

I liked the film. One of the film's even mum liked watching too

[@matthewct8167]

I grew up watching this!!!