Pathfinder (2007) starring Karl Urban, Moon Bloodgood, Russell Means, Clancy Brown, Jay Tavare, Nathaniel Arcand, Ralf Moeller, Kevin Loring directed by Marcus Nispel Movie Review

Pathfinder (2007)   2/52/52/52/52/5


Karl Urban in Pathfinder (2007)

Last of the Norse-hicans

Many moons ago when the Vikings invaded North America they left behind a little boy who due to the kindness of the Native Americans was raised as one of their own. Over a decade later and the pillaging Vikings return set on destroying anyone who gets in their way leading to the Viking boy raging against his own people when he chooses to go all Rambo against the invaders.

As an idea "Pathfinder" is sort of okay, not as in the whole Vikings and Native American thing but the basic concept of a boy raised by another people and then finds his loyalty tested when his real kin suddenly appear. It isn't a new idea by any stretch of the imagination but one when placed into the context of an action movie has some possibilities. None of those possibilities are explored in this movie

But as a movie "Pathfinder" is simply seriously flawed starting with the fact that whilst the invading Vikings speak ancient Norse, requiring subtitles, the Native Americans speak perfect English, go figure. Then there is the obligatory but needless subplots as one Native American dislikes are Viking good guy and then there is the romantic subplot.

But the worst thing is that there is nothing else, Vikings return and Viking boy fights his kin, that is it. Oh there is something else the so ridiculously manufactured look that right from the word go "Pathfinder" doesn't feel like a movie. In truth I don't know what it feels like; part music video, part advert, part art project it is simply too manufactured and false looking. That means when the action starts and all we then get is action none of it excites because it isn't real looking; over stylized and over the top such as a chase scene down snowy slopes.

What this all boils down to is that "Pathfinder" is a bust; not a bad idea but one which fails thanks to the emphasis placed on its look making it far too stylized.


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