Comments on: Riotous Sneak Peak At Nicolas Winding Refn’s ‘Valhalla Rising’

By: simondang

simondang — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:24:04 +0000

This film is a marketer's nightmare. If I had to classify it, I'd call it a Viking road trip film but, even then, it's more about what doesn't happen than what does and flourishes mainly in the way Winding Refn goes about it.

I think the use of 'The Nutcracker' is more for irony rather than an attempt at humor or audience skewing. It's out and out arthouse but it's anything but a splatter film. I'm pretty sure every single violent act in the film is in this clip.

For a more concise analysis, check out our TIFF review.

By: Martin

Martin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:56:18 +0000

SK's caution is understandable. This movie looks like it's very well produced. But is it anything more than an art-house splatter movie? Not that I mind graphic gore, I'd just like a badass story to go with it. These clips emphasize only the violence, but don't give me much of a clue as to what the movie is actually about. Still, I'm interested in knowing more, which I wouldn't be if I thought it looked bad.

By: Miguel Prado Eats Clark Bars

Miguel Prado Eats Clark Bars — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:48:31 +0000

Probably my most anticipated movie of 2010 at this point. I love Mads. I've kept myself from watching anything but one trailer to prevent seeing too much.

By: CG

CG — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:35:53 +0000

Going to see this tomorrow at JDIFF. Looking forward to it.

By: SK

SK — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:13:59 +0000

This latest clip seems desperate. 'Valhalla' reminds me of 'The Road': really eerie and bleak, which probably didn't have much of an audience to begin with.

After the first clip from 'Valhalla Rising' I kind of got the same vibe, an isolated dark world. Just a bunch of men beating each other to death with atmospheric music emphasizing the horror.

Adding the ballet music seems like the same idea as '300', 'Wolfman' and 'Clash of the Titans' using hard rock/metal music. The clip is really gruesome and the movie looks like it'll have very little human elements in it.

Can this really attract much of an audience? I don't quite understand why spend two hours soaking this in. The 'Nutcracker' theme is a weak attempt at lightening up the mood. Seems like more "violence without consequence" in typical action movies but with more dedication to the soundtrack.