Erik the Viking

1989 "A Middle Ages Crisis."
6.1| 1h47m| PG-13| en| More Info
Released: 22 September 1989 Released
Producted By: SF Studios
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

Erik the Viking gathers warriors from his village and sets out on a dangerous journey to Valhalla, to ask the gods to end the Age of Ragnorok and allow his people to see sunlight again. A Pythonesque satire of Viking life.

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Reviews

Matylda Swan It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.
Alistair Olson After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.
Tobias Burrows It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.
Wyatt There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.
JoeB131 This movie has one third of the Monty Python troupe and about only a micron of the laughs.Eric the Viking after killing a woman in a raid, decides he's going to go to Valhala and awaken the gods to end the age of Ragnorak. Accompanying him is a group of misfits including a wanna-be berserker, a Christian Missionary who is incapable of converting anyone and a blacksmith who wants to keep Ragnorak going because it's good for the blacksmith trade.John Cleese plays a bad guy who is pretty much just playing JOhn Cleese.The thing is, unlike Monty Python, these guys just can't make it funny.The movie had okay special effects for a 1980's film, but special effects and comedy really don't mix.
Tamara Page I learnt about the viking a long time ago, when i was much younger, with an incredible teacher i'll never forget. Now, she made this topic interesting, with movies and comic strips and silly songs (she was brilliant as a teacher, if a bit of a nutter) and so, one day, when i found an old viking film in the attic, i thought i'd give it a go. I wasn't expecting what i got. Vikings, setting out to find Valhalla, with some very funny moments and a longing for the sun. Of course, this film would be nothing with out the comedic factors and 5 star performances by some terrific actors and actresses, but the story line is one not easily forgotten and always loved. This is great for all genders and ages; a beautiful mix of humour, violence, history and love, with a touch of the paranormal just to mix it up a bit. What really sets this film apart is the hilarity of the mission the vikings go on and, of course, the sinking island affair. Never thought islands could sink away? Think again. This is a perfect film for everyone to enjoy.
Nick Drew American actor Tim Robbins plays young Erik, who comes about the shocking realisation of the few laudable aspects of the Viking lifestyle, and wants to change the image of the Vikings for the better, and sets off on a capricious journey conflated of erratically hit & miss satire, and overblown special effects.There are constant bursts of rapid fire dialogue to be found here, but honestly, lacks any real inspiration or inventiveness to be genuinely humorous, even if there may be the odd chuckle, you just sort of take it in the films loose strides. The production is admittedly quite smart, and the impressive set designs give you something interesting to absorb while one scene unravels itself after the other.Apart from this, only the cast inclusion of veteran Cleese manages to liven up the proceedings somewhat for his, albeit brief, appearance as an evil tyrant, but it's just not enough in order to give the buoyancy to float this leaky ship.
raypdaley182 It's good but it's not perfect. I love watching this and I can re-watch it, always the sign of a good film.Tim Robbins is bearable as the annoyingly innocent and world weary Eric. I always feel Mickey Rooney wasn't 1st choice as Eric's Grandfather/father.The largely British cast are excellent and everyone plays their roles well. Tim Mckinnery who would go onto be Captain Darling in Blackadder Goes Forth, Freddie Jones who couldn't have long left the set of Krull so must have felt very typecast to be in this but is really funny not seeing the gods or Valhalla and seeing Eric vanish using The Cloak Invisible.There are so many faces to recognise and everyone does a very good job, John Cleese as Halfdan The Black (I really don't think Jack Lemmon would have done the role justice) as a favour to Terry Jones (who wrote, directed and played The King Of Hybrasil).This was never really going to be a Monty Python Film but it works very well. Not many of the cast were huge stars at the time (apart from Mickey Rooney & Eartha Kitt, most likely the two biggest names attached to the movie) so I think that brought the budget down.It's well shot and all the location stuff looks stunning.For those who like Python or Terry Gilliam style films this is well worth a look and I highly recommend it.It's as funny today as it was when it was made.