August 25, 1999. Copyright, 1999, Graphic News. All rights reserved

BLOOD, BATTLES AND BAD HAIR DAYS
By Julie Mullins

LONDON, August 25, Graphic News:  ÒTHE 13TH WARRIORÓ Ð an action adventure set in A.D. 922 Ð stars Antonio Banderas as Arab courtier Ahmad Ibn Fadlan, who accompanies a party of unwashed, brutish Vikings on a quest to destroy the evil creature Wendol. Banderas must find a way to combat the group of flesh-eating invaders that mutilate the warriors and devour their flesh.
The movie is based upon Michael CrichtonÕs novel Eaters of the Dead, which was itself based on the 8th century poem, Beowulf.
On paper ÒThe 13th WarriorÓ has a lot going for it. Director John McTiernan is no stranger to high action thrillers (ÒDie HardÓ, ÒThe Hunt for Red OctoberÓ), while another Crichton novel, ÒJurassic ParkÓ, has provided one of the successes of the 90s. Add Hollywood heartthrob Antonio Banderas looking sultry and swinging a sword, and surely the fans will be there in droves.
But numerous production troubles, disastrous test screenings and expensive reshoots pushed the estimated $60 million budget to more than $100 million and things spun rapidly out of control. Crichton reportedly took over the directing reins from McTiernan and only now is the film Ð which originally stopped filming in November 1997 Ð finally reaching cinema audiences.
Early reviews have been less than promising: Òstilted dialogue, ridiculous storyline and spurting arteries combine for a very ugly filmgoing experienceÓ, opined one less than impressed critic.
Already on release in Austria, Portugal and France, the ÒThe 13th WarriorÓ has its U.S. premiere on August 27, followed by the UK on September 3, Germany on September 9 and the Netherlands, Singapore and Finland in October.
ENDS/

Sources: Touchstone Pictures, Internet Movie Database