#eriktheviking

[theredeemingfactor]

Erik the Viking

So ... Erik the Viking (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097289/?ref_=nv_sr_2) coming in with an IMDB rating of 6,2 and a Redeemer Rating of 3,8. This is basically what happens when you take a legendary writer and director like Terry Jones and give him a less skilled cast. This movie just does not live up what I would have expected from a Monty Python alumni. There is just something missing, something that does not work here .. something. I will try to put my finger on just what is wrong with this movie, at least according to me. 

The plot. Erik the Viking .. who I suppose is a viking. Decides to lead a band of his men over the seas, braving dangers unknown, seeking Valhalla to ask the gods to not bring about Valhalla. 

The movie. Writer/ Director Terry Jones had quite a run leading up to this movie. Jones directed Monty Python and the Holy Grail (with Terry Gilliam), The Life of Brian (alone) and Meaning of Life (with Terry Gilliam) before doing this movie. But there is something that all those movies had that this one did not. In fact, there are quite a few things. First of all, I think that it is actually generally accepted that the entire Python crew had a hand in writing the three Python movies. And clearly, the entire crew made up the majority of the cast in those movies. This is the first movie that Jones wrote and directed after the Python trilogy .. and it is basically the first time he works with a cast that does not star his fellow alumni. I don't know if it is the case that he was not ready to work with a different cast, or if this cast was just wrong for this very Monty Pythonesque movie. Now, I know that Cleese is in this one, but he only plays a minor role. And I think that his presence is not enough to make this a Monty Python movie. And let’s be clear, that is exactly what this movie is. This movie is made in the spirit of The Holy Grail and Life of Brian .. and with that I mean that all these movies are essentially skit based. They make clever/ funny little bits and try to string these together with a red thread. And that worked to perfection with the right cast. This movie did not have the right cast. Perhaps some of them would be more suited for this later in their careers, but when this movie was made it was just not meant to be. I think a large part of the high IMDB score with this movie has to do with the fact that Jones made this movie, but I also believe that these people are not looking at this movie objectively. The characters in this movie just don't make any sense, they don't feel very flushed out, they are not brought to the screen with an abundance of skill and the scenes that they are in fall well short of being entertaining. To be honest, most of the time while watching this movie there was nothing I wanted to more than to fast forward. Which is a shame, cause he went on to do a lot of good things .. and certainly came from some magnificent things. This movie just stands as proof that there was no way to recreate Python without the Python boys. 

The redeeming factor. The cloak of invisibility. Ok, that scene is one of the good ones. Actually both scenes involving it, which is why I am calling the cloak that redeeming factor. Brilliant. 

The final word. While it pains me to say it, cause all the great things that Jones did leading up to this movie are worthy of great praise and a certain amount of leniency. But not enough leniency to recommend this movie. It is just not good enough for that. There is too much that does not work with this movie. Sure, there are some entertaining bits .. but taken as a whole it comes up lacking. 

[josephfrady]

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#eriktheviking #1989 #terryjones #earthakitt #timrobbins #comedy #fantasy #adventure #quote #movie DP #ianwilson (à Tromsø, Norway) https://www.instagram.com/p/BswA1X2DgHj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1uipgmhfr78e

[outhouseofhorror]

The #SaturdayNightMovie today #April 9th will be featuring #vikings with a splash of horror! Who else is ready for #TheNorthman on #April 22nd? #FridayNightHorrorShow #online #watchparty will feature ... 🤓🍕🍺🛋️🌐🎬🎞️🎭🩸😱 7 PM ET 🎬 #SeeForMe 2021 🎞️ by #director 📣 #RandallOkita on @Shudder 8:35 PM ET 🎬 #The13thWarrior 1999 🎞️ by dir 📣 #JohnMcTiernan #MichaelCrichton 10:20 PM ET 🎬 #Pathfinder 2007 🎞️ by dir 📣 #MarcusNispel 12:10 AM ET 🎬 #ErikTheViking 1989 🎞️ by dir 📣 #TerryJones Let's 👀 at https://s.kast.live/g/b7pqcss4jaa Check out our 📆 for future events at https://www.meetup.com/Movie-Night-in-the-DMV/events/calendar/ 👀🎞️👀⚔️👀🩸👀😱👀 #OoH #MovieNightintheDMV #ILoveHorrorMovies #MovieWatcher #AmazonPrimeVideo #KastHQ #ILoveMovies (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcIwGIKLwn7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jaspatrick]

Yeah! I’ve been looking forward to this one! 🙂 This game is really cute and while it’s meant for younger children and families, it’s still pretty fun! I voice the little goofy robot Coach, the Nerf Viking Master Erik and the male player-character! Coach/Robot is super cute and silly—so definitely a good one for the young kids! Also, it’s pretty cool to share the stage with @keithsilverstein who plays the other main role of the “bad guy” Doctor Reyn! But this time, Keith, I’m the Swedish one! 😄 If you have youngin’s, give this one a try! #nerflegends #voiceactor #nerf #voiceacting #voiceover #imswedish #funforkids #voiceactors #volife #robotcoach #eriktheviking #nerflegend https://www.instagram.com/p/CWd2Z67PZvy/?utm_medium=tumblr

[sunshinecitypodcast-blog]

Happy Birthday Mr Jones #terryjones #lifeofbrian #montypythonsthemeaningoflife #stedmundhall #eriktheviking #evilmachines #montypython (at Colwyn Bay)

[honeyburn-books]

1983 #firstedition The Saga of Erik The Viking by the late great Terry Jones illustrated by Michael Foreman published by Pavillion - [ ] #antiquarian #illustration_daily #bookshelf #antiquarianbookshop #americanantiquarian #illustration #illustrations #booksbooksbooks #childrenseemagic #childrensbooks #books #illustrationart #illustrationartists #bookshelves #childrensbook #childrensfashion #bookstore #childrens #antiquarianbook #books📚 #illustrationartist #antiquarianbooks #bookstagram #bibliophile #Terryjones #monthypython #michaelforeman #eriktheviking #firstedition https://www.instagram.com/p/B8gHmCjpd3A/?igshid=1eztqsisedk3f

[lady-storms-world]

#babyboy💙 #grandson💙 #mommosinprins #grandmasofinstagram #grandpasofinstagram #Grandparents #Theodor💖💙💖 #sveinerik #eriktheviking🇳🇴 #smileyface

[mp01juve]

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#eriktheviking was my fave #commodore64 game Now I'm dreaming of reaching those #fjords for real Norway🇳🇴 🇦🇺#mp01juve🇮🇹 (at Jetty Road, Glenelg)

[sdenisecullen]

#purplerain #eriktheviking #queenofoklahoma #itkeepsgettingbetter #lovelovelove #Okies #okc #supportlocalmusic #supportlocalart #myfriendsarethebest #ilovemytribe

[lady-storms-world]

The last part of the inscription/quote #deathiscertain #lifeisnot life is not and my husband #sveineriks name #eriktheviking #sveineriksivertsen