Hammer of the Gods (2013)

Simply Perfect

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

This is so woeful I was praying to the gods for the end. This is a worry. Directed by Farren Blackburn who has direction of Doctor Who episode recently passed and Luther episodes to come you can just tell from the off that this is from Nick Love's Vertigo. It has Love's prints all over it. It tells the story of Steinar(Bewley), a viking son, who is send on a quest to find his long lost brother by his dying Father King Bagsecg with the intention of him becoming King. Steinar searches for Hakan(Cowan) around the middle land of Britain. The opening sequence introducing the main protagonists could have been straight out of Football Factory and the same could be said of the soundtrack throughout. It's incredibly out of place. There are some strong cast members but Barber & Cowan only feature towards the climax. The film just feels like a low budget Lord Of The Rings, lots of walking or travelling. There is the odd bloody battle thrown in here and there. It's just so boring and unconvincing it beggars belief. I considered switching it off but I stuck with it. Poor film, substandard acting, low budget, dull story and misplaced music sum this up.

So it may not be historically accurate in any manner (who casted the black guy anyway?), but I was entertained. The scenery was great, the acting good enough, the violence and humor was rough like I imagine it was back in the viking era. Unlike "Valhalla Rising" this had a decent ending. I liked that Hakan looked like a well known actor from the old days (you'll probably know when you see him), it gave the film another dimension to me.Another reviewer says "the ridiculous tents they used were hilarious to say the least". Well Google "viking tent" and you'll see that they we're pretty much like that. I've also seen tents like that in viking camps in Norway.

I am writing this comment because I believe that ratings are not doing justice with the film. User reviews are also not favorable and I believe otherwise. this movie is worth watching better then many higher rated movies.I started this movie not with any expectations but what I really got was amazing. In this movie the whole journey of the protagonist taught him as what to mean being a King. Stand for the righteous and punish the guilty whoever he is. this simple notion consist many essentials which the movie shows. but only for the person with some backbone. Not any action movie with a ideal scenario. It displays not only black and white areas but also the Grey ones. so my suggestion will be to see this movie, worth a shot if u r interested in kingship and meaning to rule.

I gotta say this movie i light years ahead of previous movies from the 50's or 60's. Scenery was wonderful, taking place in Saxon England. Historically, Bagsecg really did link up with Halfdan Ragnarsson for the battle against the Kingdom of Wessex. Halfdan and Ivar both Ragnarsson's were VERY successful in over running England. However... the writers toyed around with the TRUTH of Ivar the Boneless history and made him a joke, gay and just wandering about while the battles were taking place. THAT was a mortal sin.The other faux pas the writers made was jumping off about Hakan, apparently in a sexual relationship with Steinar's mother, his half-brother, with Steiner finding both living underground in a cave system with naked women and people who appear to have been leftovers from pagan England. They certainly were not Christians. That part of the whole story was a bit weird for me. However, I suppose it fits with the old man, Bagsecg, sending off Steinar to find the new King, himself, then leading on his return an army of 600+ to war on the Saxons.I liked that the sons of Ragnar were featured...somewhat in this movie, but they should have featured front and center with Steinar, not sidenotes. They were, the sons of Ragnar, a formidable force AND became major leaders of captured lands.If you're interested in a good adventure, some Viking action to fill the gap until the History Channel's new Season 2 of The Vikings is offered next Spring.. this movie will help a bit. But don't count on it too hard historically except to know there WAS a Viking King named Bagsecg, who DID win battles with Halfdan, a real Viking warrior.The acting is fine.. I know there's harsh criticism, but seriously its quite well done... This movie is NOT like the cartoonish jokes with huge gross inaccuracies like the Ernest Borgnine Ragnar of the 50's or The Long Ships with joke cracking idiocy. Its quite serious, character actors well chosen with each playing their parts seriously and convincingly, even and especially the Saxon soldiers and farmers. I WISH it had made a lot more money. They should really do another, better funded, better written sequel.