User Reviews

Viking fare with Giuliano Gemma as a brave heroe who sets out with a long ship full of squabbling warriors to discover the New World by navigate towards unknown places . An average Viking movie set in Dark Ages about a Barbaric warrior, Erik : Giuliano Gemma who grows dissastified with his Viking way of life at the era Ragnagok , then he decides to set out to encounter the mythical New World and where Norse Gods inhabit. By the way he joins a misfit and motley crew embarking into an orgy of fighting, destructiveness and battles into the edge of world . But the Norse Warrior discovers not only the New World but traitors subordinates : Gordon Mitchell , Eduardo Fajardo among his crew , calling for drastic measures. When Erik and his warriors arrive in Vinlad , they find a tribe of natives and a young India named Wa-ta-wana (Elisa Montés) . Our heroine attempts to falling for Erik, but then thing go wrong .

This enjoyable picture with shimmer and glimmering cinematography packs strange adventures , thrills , good action scenes , spectacular and evocative musical score and being amusing enough . Giuliano Gemma is fine , he gives a nice performance as leader of a band of Vikings driving his ship sets sail for an unknown land in search of a New World . It contains decent production design, and elaborate scenaries, adding traditional special effects. Fairly adequate but comic-book level costume adventure of Vikings battling Indians for power and glory circa year 1000 . Although full of stupid historical errors and unbelievable events , the film results to be pretty entertaining. Great location footage with sweepingly and handsomely photography frpm both , Spain and Italy countries . An indulgent delight in making fantasies come to life, including wonders , irreverence , sense of wonderful style, brief researched detail as the suddenly discovery : Vinland or land of Wine : North America pre-Colon, and a lot of incidental pleasures. The picture is filled with bizarre roles and rare nombres as Olaf , Erlof , Thormann , Eyolf , Thorfinn, Wingar , Angheropoulos , among others . Fashionable camera work by cinematographer Enzo Barboni , appropriately photographed, mainly in Finca Andalucía , Finca La Concepción, La Nueva, Marbella, Málaga, Andalucía, Spain and Lacio , Cinecitta studies , Italy , as well as rousing, epic musical score by Carlo Franci . The movie turns out to be so-so , athough there are a few spectacular action scenes an gory battles. This Giuliano Gemma vehicle proves as ramshackle as a Viking hut, as unwieldly as a Viking sword. Remaining cast is good with plenty of Italian and Spanish players . Being an Italo/Spagnola co-production here appears big-name Italian cast with familar Italians as Lucio De Santis , Erno Crisa ,Eleonora Bianchi, Aldo Bufi Landi, Fortunato Arena , Cala Calo and Spanish actors as Eduardo Fajardo , Elisa Montes , Beni Deus , among others . As acting range from hysterical to exaggerated. The picture was professionally shot by Mario Caiano who directed some scenes with verve and muscle , though resulting in a mediocre film .

This basic costume epic belongs to Viking genre , such as : The classic ¨The Vikings (1958)¨ by Richard Fleischer with Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis , Janet Leigh , ¨Gli invasori¨(1961) by Mario Bava with Cameron Mitchell , George Ardisson , Andrea Checchi : ¨The long ships (1963)¨ by Jack Cardiff with Sidney Poitier and Richard Widmark ; ¨The Norseman (1978) ¨ by Charles B Pierce with Cornel Wilde and Mel Ferrer ; ¨The Viking queen(1967)¨ by Don Chaffey with Don Murray and Andrew Keir; ¨The Viking sagas (1995)¨ by Michael Chapman with Ralph Moeller , among others . And in siimilar issue : ¨EriK the Viking¨ 1989 by Terry Jones with Tim Robbins ,Mickey Rooney, Imogen Stubbs, John Cleese, Tim McInnerny, Freddie Jones. Rating : 5.5/10.. Acceptable and passable due to the fine battle scenes and wonderful cinematography and locations make the movie a standout . This throughly amusing historical epic stands up to teens and adults viewings . Don't miss Vikings subgenre aficionados.

The Italian brand of low-brow Viking sagas was never exactly impressive but, having said that, I somehow expected this belated example to be better than it was…even if, admittedly, director Caiano's work (this is the 9th example I have watched of it thus far) seldom rose above second-rate. Anyway, the film is an average Norse epic with little to commend it apart from the fact that the plot is somewhat unusual: in fact, here, the Vikings uncharacteristically take to the seas in search of new land (though the prologue insists it is an authentic account) and which, invariably, leads them to the Americas – centuries before Christopher Columbus ever set foot on it! This section, then, supplies the whole with an added – yet rather incongruous, hardly original and decidedly boring (especially the regrettable Pocahontas-type romance) – exotic touch. Otherwise, we get the usual formula i.e. comic relief (via the antics of a learned Greek) and a lecherous wimp of a villain (ostensibly ruling the country in unison with the titular hero, played by a bland Giuliano Gemma). The former sends a couple of assassins (a hammy Gordon Mitchell, actually top-billed, and Eduardo Fajardo, who is actually not that bad here) along for the ride to ensure that Erik does not come back…since he obviously has designs on his share of the wealth as well as his beloved back home. Also worth mentioning, for what it is worth, is the surprising viciousness of some of the action set-pieces – with the director providing a handful of bloodied faces in gratuitous close-up!

This well-shot viking movie from capable Italian director Mario Caiano offers up enough adventure and excitement to be watchable for genre fans - although the slow spots throughout the film prevent it from reaching classic status. As usual, there are the requisite number of villains (three this time) who pose as allies until the time comes for dramatic revelations; plus the pretty female love interest, the brave and strong allies, the warring tribes and the young, noble hero as played by spagwest stalwart Guiliano Gemma. One thing the film does have as a difference is an American setting; Caiano and his cameraman make great use of the scenic locations as much as possible and the result is a beautiful film to watch.

The various battle sequences are energetic without being particularly skillful, and utilise a fair amount of cast members. They pop up often enough to make the film bearable and the slow spots usually concentrate on the bad guys and their scheming which is always interesting. Production values are above average with solid music and the aforementioned excellent photography. As a hero, Gemma proves his worth in the acting stakes although I can't really believe him as a sword-wielding action hero - he looks better with a gun in his hand.

Playing the opposing bad guy is resident movie villain Gordon Mitchell who does his thing with plenty of activity, ruthless slaying, and evil grinning, and as is usual he looks to be enjoying himself in the part. Also popping up is DJANGO villain Eduardo Fajardo playing, you guessed it, another scheming villain. One thing to watch out for are the bloody inserts, including a scene where a man has an axe thrown into his head - surprisingly gruesome for a mid '60s production. ERIK, THE VIKING offers enough heroics, pretty women, horned helmets and long ships to make it a treat for genre fans.

Is this a great movie? Worthy of the praise of other Italian flicks starring Giuliano Gemma? No.

But it is a really fun "Vikings & Indians" movie, directed by the guy who did the very first Italian Western (The Sign of the Coyote), Mario Caiano.

And I really don't understand the disdain that one of the user reviewers expressed for Caiano. Although, unlike him, I haven't seen a lot of his work, I think he does a perfectly fine job with this movie.

Again, is in the same league as Leone, Corbucci, or Castellari? No. There's nothing particularly special about his style or the way he films action.

But he is good workmanlike director. When there's action, he captures it and it's good. His set-ups and direction of dialogue, as well as the action tells the story.

And it's a good story. A story of love and deceit. Of betrayal and loyalty. It's Shakespearean in its tale of brothers and their rivalry for love and power.

It's a tale of good vs evil. Of a force for power and greed vs a force for patriotism, love and honor.

And Gemma and Gordon Mitchell are great as per usual. I always love seeing Gemma's stunts and charisma. And Mitchell has a face that just looks great on film. Like it's made out of rock. They have a fight in this with axes and bare hands that's worth the price of admission right there.

I give this a 7.5 and it makes want to watch more of Caiano's films.

I bought this DVD for the film Erik the Viking, and Italian-Spanish made, mid 60s variation of the sword-and-sandal theme. A young Viking goes on an expedition and finds the New World circa year 1000. There he finds love, treachery and misfortune. When he realizes he's been betrayed he heads home as fast as his rowboat ship can carry him to right wrongs. The transfer is excellent. The DVD also has the trailer (in Italian). Recommended for fans of the genre.