C+ | A Norwegian archaeologist and his team awaken a giant monster. Directed by Mikkel Braene Sandemose Starring Pal Sverre Hagen, Nicolai Cleve Broch, and Sofia Helin Initial Review by Chris Cook |
With Thor: Ragnarok hitting theaters next year, I decided to watch a movie about Ragnarok. This honestly isn’t the reason; I haven’t even seen the first two Thor movies. I can only imagine that this movie ended up in my Netflix queue after rating the 2010 Norwegian film Trollhunter.
I enjoyed Ragnarok to an extent. It gave me a Michael Crichton/National Treasure kind of vibe. And similar to Trollhunter (which had a slightly similar format to the Blair Witch Project), the main thing that stood out for me was the lack of overacting and high-production. America being America, I feel like most modern American cinema is just too much. It’s like 99% of the people that sing the National Anthem. Just sing it, there’s no reason to overperform.
I enjoyed Ragnarok to an extent. It gave me a Michael Crichton/National Treasure kind of vibe. And similar to Trollhunter (which had a slightly similar format to the Blair Witch Project), the main thing that stood out for me was the lack of overacting and high-production. America being America, I feel like most modern American cinema is just too much. It’s like 99% of the people that sing the National Anthem. Just sing it, there’s no reason to overperform.
The movie begins with some Viking backstory, but follows archeologist Sigurd Swenson and company on an adventure into a “no man’s land” in search of Viking artifacts to support the legend of Ragnarok. The movie is quite predictable and with a small cast, it’s easy to tell from the get-go who’s going to be walking away alive. Sigurd lost his partner/wife to cancer a few years prior, and his son is trying to set him up with women on the Internet. So, when we meet Elisabeth, Sigurd’s co-worker Allan’s field partner, you know they have good survival odds, especially after the hints that Sigurd’s children (Ragnhild and Brage) miss having a mother figure in their lives (they get dragged on the expedition as their summer vacation). That leaves Allan and of course Leif the guide as our disposable victims.
Like I said before, the simplicity of this film gives it a high nod, but it also leads to my negative views. The suspense was well done. Numerous times I felt like I was waiting for the Kevin Williamson/Paranormal Activity “AHHH, we’re going to make you ‘jump out of your seat’ moment,” but nothing happens. And I liked that they didn’t show the sea creature ‘til later in the movie. America would’ve shoved that thing in our faces during the backstory. Filmed in Scandinavia, I also enjoyed the settings and the musical score. I liked how Leif the guide was attacked and the events leading up to it. I didn’t expect him to hold the group at gunpoint and try to escape with the artifacts. I half-expected the museum director to send another group to secretly follow them and steal any found relics. That’s what America probably would’ve done. Leif’s betrayal was accepted, but then when Allan has a similar moment later in the film, I didn’t buy it. I was almost hoping for a “jump out of your seat” death for him. This could’ve been achieved in the zip-line sequence which I enjoyed.
A large chunk of the climax felt very Lost World/Jurassic Park to me. The kid screwing around and taking the egg, to giving the baby back to the adult creature as a bargaining tool for escape. Didn’t care for it. The creatures chasing the foursome in the bunker felt very “raptors in the kitchen” as well. The movie wasn’t overperformed, but at the same time wasn’t very original.
Overall, I enjoyed it. Definitely better than most of the other crap I’ve selected on here. But the lack of originality knocks it down a bit for me—just another escape from a creature flick with a Viking-inspired treasure hunt thrown in. Going a B- on this one.
Like I said before, the simplicity of this film gives it a high nod, but it also leads to my negative views. The suspense was well done. Numerous times I felt like I was waiting for the Kevin Williamson/Paranormal Activity “AHHH, we’re going to make you ‘jump out of your seat’ moment,” but nothing happens. And I liked that they didn’t show the sea creature ‘til later in the movie. America would’ve shoved that thing in our faces during the backstory. Filmed in Scandinavia, I also enjoyed the settings and the musical score. I liked how Leif the guide was attacked and the events leading up to it. I didn’t expect him to hold the group at gunpoint and try to escape with the artifacts. I half-expected the museum director to send another group to secretly follow them and steal any found relics. That’s what America probably would’ve done. Leif’s betrayal was accepted, but then when Allan has a similar moment later in the film, I didn’t buy it. I was almost hoping for a “jump out of your seat” death for him. This could’ve been achieved in the zip-line sequence which I enjoyed.
A large chunk of the climax felt very Lost World/Jurassic Park to me. The kid screwing around and taking the egg, to giving the baby back to the adult creature as a bargaining tool for escape. Didn’t care for it. The creatures chasing the foursome in the bunker felt very “raptors in the kitchen” as well. The movie wasn’t overperformed, but at the same time wasn’t very original.
Overall, I enjoyed it. Definitely better than most of the other crap I’ve selected on here. But the lack of originality knocks it down a bit for me—just another escape from a creature flick with a Viking-inspired treasure hunt thrown in. Going a B- on this one.
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