Valhalla Rising
Dir: Nicolas Winding Refn
2009
*****
I've read quite a few reviews for Valhalla Rising and the one constant seems to be the suggestion that the film is somehow pretentious. The laziest of reviewer comments and a personal pet-hate.

pretentious
adj
1. making claim to distinction or importance, esp undeservedly
2. having or creating a deceptive outer appearance of great worth; ostentatious

 I don't think Nicolas Winding Refn makes claim that the film is important nor do I think just because it looks good you can accuse him of creating a deceptive outer appearance of great worth. I suspect that the truth is that anyone who suggests that this film is pretentious doesn't actually know the meaning of the word and only use it when they know something is of high quality but clearly don't understand it or are embarrassed to say 'This is a little bit too high-brow and clever for me'. Damn it, now they've made me sound pretentious!

Valhalla Rising is a bleak but spellbinding story, it's true not much seems to happen but personally that just makes it easier to watch no? I was captivated throughout, thanks to the beautiful scenery, the brilliant acting, the terrifying Mads Mikkelsen and the edge of the seat tension. It's a bit of a masterpiece I think. Nicolas Winding Refn has talent, you can see that in his previous films and those he's made since. This isn't pretension, this is the work of one of the best film makers working today! As a director he gives the best he can visually, the cast then provide the performances worthy of the story. Simple, bloody and utterly beautiful.