Mel Gibson directing viking film

[Torstein the Berserkr]

Just in case anyone's interested.

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Mel-Gibson-Reinventing-English-With-His-Viking-Movie-16625.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h0AqXukRKBDH5I2cJWJ6tAoIpXcg

I know I'm excited. Considering Mel Gibson's work on Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto the film will probably be pretty close to HA, and when it comes to viking films there aren't many that are HA.

[Zardoz]

Looks like a good one, but don't say Braveheart and HA in the same breath! 

[Rapier Half-Wit]

Looks like a good one, but don't say Braveheart and HA in the same breath! 

"Braveheart was not HA"

Does that count?

[But it was one hell of a movie, in my opinion.]

[Bonny Pearl]

so leonardo decaprio is in it... i suppose some vikings had baby faces lol.  will be interesting to see this.

[Torstein the Berserkr]

well i know in terms of the actual history it wasn't HA, but when it came to the actual costuming it seemed legit from what i know about the Picts and later Scottish culture. as a director you always have the creative liberties when it comes a movie. it always nice with movies at least having the historical look instead of something purely fantasy looking

[Zardoz]

I enjoy Braveheart as a rousing action film and great entertainment. But as history it is a pantheon of historical errors, beginning with the wearing of the odd belted plaid/toga-like thing and woad paint by Wallace and his men, who were lowland Scots.  In the period in question, no Scots wore belted plaids or kilts of any kind, and had not been wearing woad paint for hundreds of years.
And ending with the bridge-free Battle of Stirling Bridge.
The events, dates, characters, most of the names, and the clothes just aren't accurate. Still a good movie though.

[Capt Gabriela Fullpepper]

Mel Gibson and HA? Now that is a good laugh.

While Braveheart was a good movie it was SO far from HA it wasn't even close.

Patriot once again a good movie but once again NOT even close.

Apacolyto once again good movie until the last 2 minutes then he BLEW it.

Leonardo is a good actor but I could name 50 actors that would be MUCH better in this role. lets keep the actors European or even Aussie but NOT American or Canadaian and preferable of Viking decent.

I won't judge the movie before it is out but I can sure as hell bet you Leonardo could never do the running of the oars like Kirk Douglas did in The Vikings. Yes that was Kirk not a stunt man and he did it in one take. That little part was all add lib and kick jumped out on the oars and ran them to everyones surprise.

[Athena]

Keep in mind this is first and foremost entertainment. I wouldn't go looking to Hollywood for any kind of historical accuracy, especially from a blockbuster with big name stars, which this no doubt is slated to be.

The article definitely piqued my curiosity about the film, though I can't say it's captured my imagination. I'll just have to wait and see....

[Torstein the Berserkr]

Well I guess that I'm not as well researched on the historical accuracy (or lack thereof for that matter) of these films as I though I was. My area of knowledge lies more with that of Scandinavia than anything else. I only hope that Mel Gibson won't totally butcher this viking film he is working on.

[FinnMacha]

Seeing as the man has a proven talent for historical (accurate or otherwise) epics, chances are this one will be worth seeing.