Northmen: A Viking Saga Blu-ray Review

The 1080p transfer of "Northmen: A Viking Saga" offers an exceptional visual experience that consistently impresses. The digital photography, while occasionally giving the image a slightly glossy finish, does not detract from its core characteristics. Detail retention is exemplary throughout the film, with crisp and realistic textures evident in individual grains of sand, complex rock faces, wooded terrain, and intricate armor. Image clarity remains consistently striking, and the sharpness is well-maintained across the frame, even in wide shots. The color palette, dominated by gray and earthy tones, is robust and balanced, providing deep and natural black levels and true-to-life flesh tones, even when obscured by dirt and debris. Minor banding appears in early underwater scenes and light noise is present during darker sequences, but these issues are minimal and do not significantly impact the overall quality of the image.

The film truly excels in natural settings, where it takes full advantage of available sunlight and stunning scenery. These moments present cool yet accurate colors with solid flesh tones and strong black levels, effectively showcasing the breathtaking landscapes that could easily double as a tourism advertisement for the location. However, indoor scenes reveal some limitations, as artificial color grading introduces a waxy appearance to the image and results in occasional black level crushes. Despite these minor setbacks, the transfer remains visually compelling. The use of natural light and the film's dedication to capturing detailed textures create an immersive viewing experience that highlights the production's high-quality visual standards.

The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack of "Northmen: A Viking Saga" provides an engaging and immersive audio experience. The sound stage is impressively wide, delivering robust presentations constantly, with every speaker contributing to detailed effects. Opening scenes with driving rain and crashing waves vividly transport listeners directly into the ship's environment, enhancing realism. This meticulous attention extends to the battle scenes where clanking swords, hoofbeats, and flying arrows are positioned dynamically across the stage, placing the audience right in the midst of the action. Additionally, lighter ambient sounds from woodland and seaside settings maintain this immersive quality, ensuring a fully engaging experience across diverse scenarios. Musical scores are crisp and nicely spaced, benefiting from full stage presence and robust low-end support, while dialogue is well-defined and consistently center-placed.

However, the quieter and more conversational scenes present a slight drawback to this otherwise excellent audio track. While the dialogue remains clear and easily discernible, these moments exhibit a hollow, somewhat canned feel, diminishing their organic nature, almost as if dubbed. During these quieter sequences, the surround channels noticeably lose some of their push and presence, making them less engaging compared to the more intense action scenes. Despite this minor flaw, the majority of the movie benefits from solid channel separation, effective sound element mixing, and substantial levels that collectively elevate the overall auditory experience. Given these aspects, this Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track predominantly excels at providing a kinetic and immersive auditory journey with just a few shortcomings in subtler scenes.

The Blu-ray of "Northmen: A Viking Saga" offers a single extra feature titled "Northmen: A Look Inside A Viking Saga." This nearly 12-minute feature presents an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) style look into the making of the film. While it provides standard coverage of the story, character basics, shooting locations, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes, it largely remains surface-level and generic. Nevertheless, fans and casual viewers may still find value in the concise, informative snapshots of the production process.

Extras included in this disc:

• Northmen: A Look Inside A Viking Saga: Standard EPK-style feature covering story, characters, shooting locations, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes.

"Northmen: A Viking Saga" offers an engaging yet straightforward narrative that focuses predominantly on action and adventure rather than depth and character development. The film follows a group of banished Vikings led by Asbjörn (Tom Hopper), who are stranded on the coast of Scotland after a violent storm. Their journey quickly evolves into a classic chase narrative as they kidnap the beautiful Princess Inghean (Charlie Murphy), the daughter of the Scottish King Dunchaid (Danny Keogh). This capture triggers an onslaught from the King’s diminished but desperate forces, led by savage mercenary Hjorr (Ed Skrein). The Vikings, with their sights set on ransom and safe passage, instead find themselves embroiled in a relentless pursuit through treacherous terrain, relying on their physical prowess and the land's resources—a plot compounded by the dubious aid of a Christian monk, Conall (Ryan Kwanten).

Visually, the film excels with its picturesque Scottish landscapes and meticulously crafted fight scenes that provide an immersive viewing experience. It's evident that the film invests heavily in its aesthetic, from the gritty realism of combat sequences to the rugged beauty of its setting. However, this visual splendor is not matched by its narrative complexity or character development. Characters are largely defined by their external traits—clothing, weapons, and physical appearance—rather than any meaningful backstory or personality. They serve primarily as vehicles for action, delivering bland interactions and trite dialogue that do little to engage emotions or offer any significant depth.

Despite these shortcomings, the film performs admirably within its genre constraints. It provides a satisfying dose of old-fashioned Viking combat and adventure, albeit without the dramatic weight or thematic depth of more ambitious sagas. Perfect for viewers seeking mindless entertainment with finely choreographed action scenes, "Northmen: A Viking Saga" caters well to those looking for visual appeal and straightforward thrills rather than intricate storytelling or complex character arcs.

"Northmen: A Viking Saga" offers a visually stunning experience with picturesque landscapes, crisp photography, and high-quality costumes that encapsulate the Viking era effectively. The action sequences are robust and well-choreographed, providing an adrenaline-filled ride suitable for fans of the genre. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release is commendable for its top-tier video and audio presentation, ensuring an immersive viewing experience.

However, the film lacks depth in its storytelling and character development. The narrative remains superficial, failing to engage viewers on a more profound level. The characters, though well-costumed, do not leave a lasting impression, making it challenging to invest emotionally in their journey. Additionally, the Blu-ray release includes only a single, brief extra feature, which does little to enhance the overall value.

In conclusion, "Northmen: A Viking Saga" should meet the expectations of those seeking straightforward action-adventure entertainment. It is best approached with modest expectations regarding its story depth and character complexity. The Blu-ray presentation is superior in terms of audiovisual quality but falls short in supplementary content. This release is more suited for rental rather than a full-price purchase.