Historical : Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

Hello everyone,

Does someone know some good movies about the Vikings, Germans, Celts, etc?
I really like the "barbarian" style (like Braveheart). I also like movies about the Crusades.

I hope someone can help me.

Greets,

Jesse

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

''Germanic'' is a linguistic grouping, which doesn't include Celts and crusaders were often (if not usually) Romance speakers.

A good film based around Old English literature (but set in Scandinavia) is 'Beowulf and Grendel'. A good film concerning the crusades is Ingmar Bergman's 'The Seventh Seal', which is about a Danish knight returning home (what is probably now Scania, Sweden) from the crusades.

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Haply I may remember,
And haply may forget.

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)


Thanks for the answer. Yes, I didn't mean that the Celts and crusaders were Germans. I already know "Beowulf and Grendel", but I didn't know "The Seventh Seal".

Is there not a genre called Nordic or Germanic or something?

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

''Is there not a genre called Nordic or Germanic or something?''

Not that I really know of. Though you do have a lot of films about Norse people, more than Western Germanic people and Celts. Though I cannot vouch for many of them historically, I am afraid.

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Haply I may remember,
And haply may forget.

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

I'm sorry, but I can NOT recommend "The seventh seal". I know that many people consider Ingmar Bergman to be one of our (Sweden's) best directors ever, and they're going to put him on the future 200 kronor bill. But I believe that just as many people don't understand his style at all. And he must have been on some kind of drug, when he did "The seventh seal". It is supposedly set in the Middle Ages, but I never got the feeling that I was transferred to that time period. There is hardly any historical movie, that will not have one or two anachronisms or inaccuracies. But as for "The seventh seal", it was only a vehicle for Bergman to put 1950s existensialism under some vaguely Medieval varnish. I couldn't even finish the movie, that's how bad it was, and it has scared me away from watching any other Bergman movie ever since. Then again, since many people obviously like this movie very much, you might do it too. So if you want to give it a chance, feel free to do so. But I found it to just be a complete mess of a movie, and an overrated turd at that. And if you want a good movie about Sweden in the Middle Ages, I would rather recommend "Arn - The knights templar", which also is set during the crusades.

Intelligence and purity.

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

I totally disagree with the preceding comment. You SHOULD watch 'The Seventh Seal', it is nothing like a drug-influenced wreck and is rightfully considered one of the finest films ever made and is a coherent and clearly defined discussion on death, religion and human nature. I would suggest that Furienna views it again as what it is, a philosophical film set in the Middle-Ages rather than a film that is just about the Middle-Ages.

I do agree with Furienna about 'Arn - Knights Templar', which is set in Sweden as opposed to what was Denmark (as in 'The Seventh Seal'), and features Bibi Andersson, who was often used by Bergman...er, in more ways than one, I guess...


---------------------
Haply I may remember,
And haply may forget.

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

Well, I was only offering my opinion about this movie, that so many people consider to be a masterpiece, but I just couldn't stand it. It might be true, that I simply didn't "get it", when I felt like it was nothing other than an overpretentious mess, that I couldn't even finish watching. But I can't be the only person, even here in Sweden, who doesn't like "The seventh seal", or even Ingmar Bergman's style in general, no matter how much a lot of people will praise him and call him a genius. But in the end, it's up to the OP to go watch the movie for themself and see if they like it or not. And as for watching it again, well, you should never say never, but I doubt I will. There are so many other movies in the world, that I want to see before I go back to one, which I didn't like in the first place.

Intelligence and purity.

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

''In the end though, it's up to the OP to watch the movie for themself and see it they like it or not. And as for watching it again, well, you should never say never, but I doubt I will. There are so many other movies in the world, that I want to see before I go back to one, which I didn't like in the first place.''

Don't worry, I was merely being jocular. Your opinion is fair enough, even if wrong! :-P

And Pharaoh, you beat me too it. It is definitely set in Denmark (specifically Skane).

---------------------
Haply I may remember,
And haply may forget.

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

Skåne is a part of Sweden.
And they never mention were it takes place.

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

Seventh Seal is not set in Denmark.

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

"Seventh Seal is not set in Denmark."

Actually yes it is, and probably specifically Skåneland, which is now Southern Sweden (where it was first performed as a play incidentally) but was at the time Denmark. This is why all the towns mentioned (such as Helsingør and Roskilde) are in Denmark. The film is from Sweden but the setting is Denmark (however as stated probably specific to what is now Southern Sweden due to circumstantial evidence).

"The game's afoot!"

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

Actually during the period Seventh Seal takes place mid fourteenth century Skåne belonged to Sweden.

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

We know Skåne is NOW in Sweden (as has been stated) but it was an important part of Denmark for most of the history of that region.

Actually it doesn't say when it is set, or where directyl, though the costuming implies late-13th or early-14th century (even for Scandinavia which was old fashioned in comparison to Western Europe). The crusade suggests and earlier date, though the plague is innacurate and would be too early (it also didn't effect Scandinavia as much as in implied and there weren't any Flagellants). And incidentally in the fourteenth century Skåne WAS mostly a part of Denmark. Magnus IV of Sweden did however rule Skåne for almost thirty years between 1332-1360 before it was reconquered by Denmark. Of course thsi was due to a succession crisis in Denmark and was not recognised as being part of Sweden by the Danes (which included the Scanian populace at the time; Skåne was a core province of Denmark and the populace were Danish; incidentally their dialect is still closer to "Island Danish").
But again there isn't any actual evidence that the film is set between those dates whereas there is evidence that it is set in Denmark.

It has been debated for some time (see 'Focus on The Seventh Seal' by Birgitte Steene) but the "it is set in Sweden" camp seem to be basing the assumption on the fact it was made in Sweden rather than any evidence (no Swedish locations are mentioned whereas Danish ones are on numerous occasions).
"The game's afoot!"

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

''Actually during the period Seventh Seal takes place mid fourteenth century Skåne belonged to Sweden.''

You are wrong as the Pharaoh shows. I hope you do not belong to that region...

---------------------
Haply I may remember,
And haply may forget.

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)


''Germanic'' is a linguistic grouping, which doesn't include Celts and crusaders were often (if not usually) Romance speakers.


Germanic is also a racial group as well. Anglo-Saxons, Celts, French, Poles, Scandinavians, etc. are all Germanic and descended from Germanic Tribes.


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dies ist meine unterschrift

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

Flight of the Raven Icelandic revenge film taking place during the Viking era.
The Prince of Jutland with Christian Bale and Kate Beckinsale adaptation of Saxo Grammaticus story of Amled.

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

You may want to try the 13th warrior (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120657/?ref_=sr_1




It`s far easier to start a war than to end one.

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

Such a great action movie, highly rewatchable.


"Well that settles it, this place gets no more of my business."

When the raven flies.

When the Raven Flies is the best Viking film ever and one of the best films of all time. This clip shows why it is such a good film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N0BKCVDzSE&feature=player_detailpage

Re: When the raven flies.

Good recommendation! I have no idea how I could forget about that one.

Intelligence and purity.

The Virgin Spring.

I can also recommend Ingmar Bergmans The Virgin Spring. The film takes place in the Middle Ages and is very good.

Re: The Virgin Spring.

Sword of the Congueror with Jack Palance

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056427/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1


Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

Try watching Valhalla Rising. Whatever you think it's going to be, it isn't that.


"Well that settles it, this place gets no more of my business."

Re: Germanic movies (Celts, Vikings, Germans, Crusaders, etc)

Alfred the Great (UK, Clive Donner [*], 1969) is reasonably good, with a superb, blonder-than-usual Michael York as Guthrum, the originally pagan King of the Danes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUrf0Z06roE

[*] Donner: Donnerstag = Thursday = Thor's Day...

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