Starring Alexander Skarsgard as Viking prince Amleth, who following the murder of his father, King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke) at the hands of his evil uncle Fjölnir (Claes Bang), Amleth sets out to revenge his father and take his kingdom no matter the cost.

Bringing this colossal epic to life up on the big screen is noted visionary filmmaker Robert Eggers’ who has shown with his last two pictures, The Witch and The Lighthouse, that he has the makings of an auteur, and The Northman again clarifies this. Regarded for his keenly detailed eye and maintaining a strong focus for narrative and character, Eggers devotes everything of himself as an artist to The Northman, and his commitment shows in every frame that makes its way to the canvas of the screen. Appearing as an almost Wagnerian painting, The Northman is utterly beautiful to look upon, yet it hides nothing back from the Dark Age in which its brooding narrative is set. This is an age of iron and blood, and while the locations of Norway, The Rus and Iceland are beautiful to look upon, they do not hide the savagery that takes place.

Eggers crafts The Northman as a truly epic film and looks back to the ancient Viking sagas for the setting for his tale, and he tells the revenge tale of Prince Amleth, which inspired Shakespeare’s own Hamlet. Broad in scope and scale, Eggers dives deep into Norse mythology for his tale and his is a story where both man and The Æsir are at work and where men turn themselves into beasts. The language and style of The Northman are utterly Shakespearian, and it is an altogether different kind of epic film that moves at its own pace and pays tribute to the Icelandic sagas of the past. Amleth’s path to his ultimate revenge is tempered with fire at every turn and he is a character who seeks every strike to last. And as we move forward in the narrative the drama grows deeper and the action wilder.

The film’s cinematography, production design, art direction, costuming, hair and make-up, armoury and general detail are utterly fantastic to look upon, with Eggers truly transporting his audience back to a different time and place. This is a true portrait of the Dark Ages, where life and blood run cheap and where fate and fortune intertwine with each other. Cinematographer Jarin Blaschke focuses on a darkened palette of natural light, both in day and night to capture the dark, somewhat nihilistic tone of the narrative, and roaring fires and stark clouds cloak this film in light. The images he captures are vivid and present Alexander Skarsgard’s Amleth as an almighty titan, and the film’s wild excesses will capture your full attention. The Northman is simply stunning to look upon, and it is like watching an Arthur Rackham painting come to life.

Standing at the centre of Eggers’ mighty narrative is Alexander Skarsgard and this Scandinavian acting force gets to channel his inner Viking heritage as the vengeful and crazed Prince Amleth. Robbed of his kingdom and birthright, Skarsgard’s Amleth is now more animal than man, called the ‘Bear-Wolf’, he has become a ferocious berserker who knows no mercy and who lives for the war cry of the battlefield. But when destiny and fortune present themselves, Amleth seizes on his chance for vengeance and a dark road opens up before him to take it. Skarsgard is an utter beast as Amleth, exuding power and strength as the personification of rage, but as he begins his road to the quest for his own revenge, his character changes in unforeseen ways and is tested by dramatic choices. Skarsgard presents Amleth as a tragic-hero figure and as his quest changes him, as secrets are brought to life and the presence of fate interjects on his behalf, the ethics of his plan soon begin to weigh on his heavy brow. Skarsgard holds the gaze of his audience as Amleth and his raw performance is incredibly powerful in its presentation.

Standing beside Skarsgard is Anya Taylor-Joy as Olga of the Birch Forest, a Slavic sorceress who soon becomes a key part to his mission of revenge as well as the love of his life. Standing as a rare beauty in such a chaotic time, Taylor-Joy’s Olga of the Birch Forest is a strong and powerful woman whose wild sorcery gives her dangerous powers, and she is not one to be trifled with. As an actress, Taylor-Joy presents Olga as a survivor, and she shares incredible chemistry onscreen with Skarsgard, and as the narrative moves forward we see them come together in a primordial love that is touching and exhilarating to watch. Taylor-Joy also jumps headfirst into the muck and blood of production, and she puts her mark on the narrative.

Providing a key level of support to The Northman are performers Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Ethan Hawk and Willem Defoe and each has a key role to play in the film’s vengeance narrative. As the treacherous Fjölnir the Brotherless, Claes Bang makes for a striking adversary and he squares up to Skarsgard with sword in hand. Nicole Kidman grabs your attention as the complicated and cunning Queen Gudrún, Amleth’s mother and a woman who is not who she presents herself to be. And there’s plenty of venom laced into her performance. Ethan Hawke is an old-war dog as King Aurvandill War-Raven, Amleth’s father and Fjölnir’s brother who strives to teach his son to rule in the old ways, but who is cut down by cold iron and strikes the spark that leads to his son’s path of vengeance. And finally, Willem Dafoe as Heimir the Fool, brings Amleth guidance where needed, and his kooky performance is sure to keep the audience somewhat ill at ease.

The Northman is a film of savage fury and keeps to the history and customs of the Viking Age. As a portrait of a true pagan society, Eggers keeps everything related to historical accuracy and the strong themes of religion, blood ties and family legacies are sewn into the narrative. Questions of right and wrong and moments of perspective and clarity keep this narrative interesting and the audience guessing. There’s a true ferocity to the storytelling and its presentation in The Northman and when Amleth finally draws forth the demonic sword Draugr and sets to his task of vengeance blood flows and heads roll. Key cinematic moments including The Berserker Raid in The Land of the Rus, which is a fierce and haunting spectacle to witness, and the film’s climactic showdown on the gates of Hel, at the base of the Volcano Hekla, is an awe-inspiring sight to witness, especially when set to the rousing score of Robin Carolan and Sebastian Gainsborough.

The Northman stands alone as an utter triumph of the silver screen. As a thunderous portrait of the Viking Age and its incredibly complex and intricate character study, The Northman succeeds on every level of creativity and this Dark Age picture is sure to bound itself to your soul.

Image: Universal Pictures

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In two brand new featurettes ‘Warriors Of Steel’ and ‘Becoming a Viking’, audiences get a first-hand glimpse of just what went into the making of Eggers’ new epic The Northman, and this is a film that did not stray from the mud, blood and steel of the Viking age in its construction.

Showcasing the extensive costuming, production design and weapon handling and stunt training that went into The Northman, audiences get a real ground-level look into Eggers’ extensive attention to detail and the painstaking process that was followed to bring the Dark Ages up onto the big screen.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Starring Alexander Skarsgard as Viking prince Amleth, who following the murder of his father, King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke) at the hands of his evil uncle Fjölnir (Claes Bang), Amleth sets out to revenge his father and take his kingdom no matter the cost.

The Northman is a bold and brutal epic that is set to take audiences by storm and it’s one you’ll want to be ready for when it arrives in cinemas on may 12.

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Watch the brand new trailer for The Northman below:

Here’s the official synopsis:

Starring Alexander Skarsgard as Viking prince Amleth, who following the murder of his father, King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke) at the hands of his evil uncle Fjölnir (Claes Bang), Amleth sets out to revenge his father and take his kingdom no matter the cost.

Constructed in a montage style that delivers no specific narrative plot points, but instead paints a picture of what the film’s tone and energy will be about, and it’s raw and savage in its presentation.

Director Robert Eggers has turned back the clock to the time of the Dark Ages and he’s ready to take his audience for a wild ride as Alexander Skarsgard’s Amelth, a forgotten prince turned berserker wages a personal war upon the man who murdered his father and who is ready to unleash hell on earth to gain his vengeance.

The scale and ferocity of The Northman can be evidently seen in this new trailer and the action ramps up quickly, and this trailer is promising a film experience that must be seen up on the big screen.

Ready yourself for a savage rush of adrenaline when The Northman arrives in cinemas on May 19.

Image: Universal Pictures

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Watch the intense new trailer for The Northman below:

Here’s the official synopsis:

The Northman is an epic revenge thriller, that explores how far a Viking prince will go to seek justice for his murdered father.

Starring Alexander Skarsgard as Amleth, a Viking prince whose father King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke) is murdered by his uncle Fjölnir (Claes Bang) so he can marry his mother Queen Gudrún (Nicole Kidman) and claim his kingdom, Amleth grows into a man and a raider and swears a blood oath of revenge against his father and the action in The Northman is sure hit hard!

Skarsgard has turned himself into an absolute BEAST as Amleth, and has duh deep into his own Viking-Scandanavian heritage to portray this epic character who is a literal force on screen and who will stop at nothing to achieve his revenge. With blood determination, he stalks his uncle Fjölnir from the shadows and sets out on a journey of fate and destiny that will be delivered at the end of an axe.

If the story of Amleth and The Northman sounds familiar, it’s because the character of Amleth, a true historical Viking prince, was the inspiration for Shakespeare’s own Hamlet and I’m certain that Eggers will make his won story a grand and epic tale. The scale and detail of The Northman is unbelievably impressive and the action of this film will ignite your own Viking spirit and wanting you to call out to Odin himself.

Brace yourself for a brutal and intense watch that is made to be seen on the big screen when The Northman arrives in cinemas on April 21, 2022.

Image: Universal Pictures

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Check out the all-new EPIC trailer for Godzilla vs Kong below:

Check out my full reaction for the new Godzilla vs Kong trailer below:

Here’s the official synopsis:

In a time when monsters walk the Earth, humanity’s fight for its future sets Godzilla and Kong on a collision course that will see the two most powerful forces of nature on the planet collide in a spectacular battle for the ages. As Monarch embarks on a perilous mission into uncharted terrain and unearths clues to the Titans’ origins, a human conspiracy threatens to wipe the creatures, both good and bad, from the face of the earth forever.

Set following the events of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, a war is about to rage as two primordial titans, Godzilla and Kong face off against one another with one another, with humanity caught in the crossfire. But there lies the mystery. As we’ve come to know both these titans as guardian protectors of Earth’s eco-system, so why now would they want to battle? These questions and more will be answered in Godzilla vs Kong.

Alongside these brawling legends, director Adam Wingard has pulled together an incredible supporting cast that includes the likes of newcomers like Alexander Skarsgard as geologist Nathan Lind and Rebecca Hall as scientist Ilene Andrews, while Millie Bobby Brown and Kyle Chandler return as Madison and Dr. Mark Russel from Godzilla: King of the Monsters.

The MonsterVerse has been building since 2014’s Godzilla, and following the likes of 2017’s Kong: Skull Island and 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters, we’ve now arrived at the endgame point that will pitch two titans against one another and director Adam Wingard is bringing a colossal beast down to audiences that is sure to make cinemas quake with action!

Get ready for a rumble when Godzilla vs Kong arrives in cinemas on March 25.

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Variety confirmed that Skarsgård and Eggers are working closely together to bring to life what is described as ‘a Viking revenge saga set in Iceland at the turn of the 10th century’.

Skarsgård would play a Viking prince who seeks revenge on a rival lord following the killing of his father and with a visionary like Eggers behind the production, who is currently receiving immense acclaim for his work on The Lighthouse, and who really approaches things from left field we could be in for something amazing here.

While a deal is stilling being worked on to get the film to the production stage, the idea of seeing Skarsgård in an ultra-violent Viking film is one that I’d be very keen to see come true and with his immense physicality as an actor, alongside his raw intensity we could get something very cool with The Northman.

Other performers who are being eyed up for the production include Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Skarsgård and Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe.

This cast, alongside the suggested narrative and Eggers immense skill as a director could lead to an extraordinary piece of cinema and one which would really shake up the big screen.

I’ll be following this film very closely and hopefully we’ll see Skarsgård raging with a broadsword very soon.

Source: Variety

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Set in the world of high frequency trading where billions of dollars are made in milliseconds, director Kim Nguyen has created the space for a compelling and thrilling piece of cinema. And while the thrill of the hunt and the desire to win at all costs does resonate within this work, the director takes another step and really focuses inward upon the characters that are present in this crazy story.

As an example of character acting at it’s finest, The Hummingbird Project draws out plenty of amazing talent and it’s headlining star is the always sensational Jesse Eisenberg. Known for his whip smart movement and motormouth performances, Eisenberg has made a place for himself in Hollywood with being able to portray the smartest guys in the room, and here he finds a character who fits his performance perfectly as the hot-headed Vincent Zaleski. Driven by an unwavering desire to succeed, and especially to succeed on his own, via his own merit, Vincent is headstrong, defiant, argumentative and determined to get what he wants out of life at any cost. In short, it’s a perfect fit for Eisenberg’s talents, and his character arc throughout this movie offers up something brand new and unique for his catalogue of credits and he absolutely holds the attention of the audience in front of him.

Joining Eisenberg in this crazy, high risk narrative is Swedish heartthrob Alexander Skarsgard, and he does an entire 360 switch-up here as Vincent’s cousin, and programming genius Anton Zaleski. Balding, introverted, possibly autistic and unfathomably intelligent, Anton is the genius behind Vincent’s plan and his desire to beat the market by a millisecond sets these cousins off on their journey. Skarsgard’s performance is unlike anything the actor has ever done before, and it’s a really reserved piece of acting from the perspective of an incredibly oddball character who fluctuates from extreme timidness to explosive rage at a moments notice. But unlike Eisenberg’s Vincent who is concerned with nothing but materialistic success, Anton desires a way to escape the fast paced world of trading and find some kind of peace with his life and this is where The Hummingbird Project gets interesting.

Bearing down on these two misfits is Selma Hayek as their brutal former boss Eva Torres, whose shark-like appearance and enormous ego is enough to scare the hell out of anyone. As Torres, Hayek is a reflection of the very worst parts of corporate America and materialistic culture, and her presence and assimilation into the role is something that really captures the audiences attention. She gives Vincent and Anton a real run for their money and it’s very interesting to watch this dynamic at play.

Kim Nguyen has a great style as a director and while The Hummingbird Project concerns the swanky offices of the New York skyline, the vast majority of the story takes place out in the unbroken wilderness of America and it’s here that we get an incredible juxtaposition of ideas and thematic underscores. Thanks to the cinematography of Nicolas Bolduc we have amazing shots of the beautiful Appalachian mountain ranges, and amongst all of this are a team of slick hustlers trying to undercut it all in the pursuit of profit. Narratively, it makes for some very interesting ideas and as an audience member you’ll find yourself contemplating on everything that is set before you. The film also gives it’s audience one hell of a shock thanks to its ending, and it’s a narrative twist that really switches everything up.

The Hummingbird Project is ultimately the tale of a pair of misfits who decided to take on the system and the trials and tribulations that fall upon them by doing it. It’s thought provoking and insightful and audiences will definitely come out of it having experienced something unique.

Image: Madman Films

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The Aftermath is set in postwar Germany in 1946. Rachael Morgan (Keira Knightley) arrives in the ruins of Hamburg in the bitter winter, to be reunited with her husband Lewis (Jason Clarke), a British colonel charged with rebuilding the shattered city. But as they set off for their new home, Rachael is stunned to discover that Lewis has made an unexpected decision: They will be sharing the grand house with its previous owners, a German widower (Alexander Skarsgård) and his troubled daughter. In this charged atmosphere, enmity and grief give way to passion and betrayal.

Set following the end of World War II in the bombed-our ruins of Hamburg, Germany where the horrors of war have net yet subsided, director James Kent opens audiences up to an intriguing narrative that pulls at the emotions of its audience and places them in a complicated romantic love triangle. Taking the lead is Keira Knightley as Rachael Morgan, a haunted English woman who has been sent for by her husband Colonel Louis Morgan (Jason Clarke), a British Army officer who has been left to supervise Hamburg’s surrender, and the actress finds herself in a role that is both familar to, as well as being unlike anything she has played before.

While Knightley is accustomed to the workings of period drama and the heightened tension that such cinema brings, here she really brings a different part of herself to the big screen. When we first meet her Rachael is haunted and broken with a deep loss from the war and the atmosphere of Hamburg and her distant relationship with Louis only makes this more intense. There’s a real isolation to Knightley’s performance here and the film’s deep winter setting only intensifies this. What we see on screen is a woman who is really not herself and almost at the point of giving up on any notion of happiness. It’s a very brave performance for Knightley to take on and she really commits herself to the role and as the film moves forward you’re drawn into her characters development.

But in the cold of this bombed out city, Rachael is able to find solace in Alexander Skarsgard’s mysterious Stefan Lubert, a refined and cultured German architect who has faced his own losses and who holds his own demons. While the relationship between Knightley and Skarsgard starts off as a rather antagonistic affair, passions soon rise to the surface and a deep, loving chemistry blossoms between the two of them. On camera, Knightley and Skarsgard make for a beautiful couple both from their brunette/blonde complexion to the softness that grows between the two of them. It’s easy to see why their characters fall for each other and the risk of discovery makes their affair that much more racey.

With a couple as hot as this, The Aftermath quickly moves into the fast lane and things get steamy fast. The Aftermath is a deeply erotic film and things do get hot under the covers between our two lovers. But all of it is handled in a classical and graceful manner thanks to Kent’s direction. While there is plenty of skin shown-off by both Knightley and Skarsgard, their eventual lovemaking is shot with an eye honed into the beauty of their shared passion and it’s setting, and a heavy use of white light and soft focus gives their shared embrace a deep sensuality.

Adding to the romantic longing of The Aftermath is the film’s winter setting which with its crisp whites and sharp blues really pulls you into the romance that grows between Rachael and Stefan. But while their love may be complete bliss, audiences are also reminded of the harsh realities of the war that was just fought and there are moments where out of nowhere shocking violence erupts. The Aftermath is definitely a balance between burning passions and shocking thrills and both keep the audience completely on edge in a film that is definitely a period piece done well.

Intelligent, classy and deeply alluring, The Aftermath is a film that will make your blood run high thanks to its narrative of dangerous passions.

Image: 20th Century Fox

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In a tale of high adventure and wild romance, Tarzan of the Apes lives again thanks to the genius and passion of director David Yates. Working from the idea that audiences know the basic history of Tarzan, Yates takes his story in a different direction, focusing on his central character’s return to nature, and rediscovery of his inner savage as he fights to save the ones he loves.

Holding his own on the big screen as Lord John Clayton/Tarzan is Alexander Skarsgard, whose physical commitment to the character is  clear to see. Skarsgard truly gives his all as this classic hero, and his transformation from mere mortal to jungle beast (which has been well documented) definitely shows on screen. Skarsgard is the truest representation of Edgar Rice Burrough’s character that I’ve ever witnessed, and he balances an animalist strength with grace and agility as he swings through the jungle. But while his physical skills are outstanding, it is his handling of the Tarzan’s emotional core that really impresses. He crafts the presence of a man who is lost between two worlds and racked by the pain of not belonging.

Joining Skarsgard’s Tarzan in his adventures is Margot Robbie as his beloved wife Jane Porter. But this is not the Jane of yesteryear, and this fiery redhead is no damsel in distress. Pragmatic, feisty, sharp, quick-witted and sassy, Robbie’s Jane is a fireball who throws back quick one-liners and gives as good as she gets, utilising her unique knowledge of the jungle to bring out the worst fears in her captors. Whether playing up the seriousness of her character’s kidnapping or the love she has for Tarzan, Robbie is completely committed to the character, and completely steals every scene she’s in.

Joining these two phenomenal young talents is Hollywood legend Samuel L. Jackson, who has plenty of fun as true life explorer and adventurer George Washington Williams. Williams uses Tarzan’s mission to the jungle as a way to right wrongs and uncover the misdeeds of greed and corruption of a foreign power. Giving both support and wisdom, Jackson’s adventurer provides the audience with a deeper insight into the character of Clayton as he transitions back to the man he once was as Tarzan, and he’s also first into every action scene with his own set of big guns.

Tarzan is always one to have a worthy adversary, and it doesn’t get much better than Christoph Waltz as the disturbing Captain Leon Rom, a mercenary with his own agenda and whose nastiness knows no bounds. Waltz definitely applies considerable creep factor in his face-to-face meetings with Jane, and his total lack of empathy for human life is chilling to watch.

The Legend of Tarzan combines amazing practical effects and CGI to bring to life the untamed wilds of the jungle, and the great apes who rule it. Skarsgard’s interactions with his ape family are beautiful to watch, and his challenge for leadership of the pack makes for a brutal action set piece. Praise must also be given to Henry Braham’s exquisite cinematography, which captures the rich colours and vast scale of the jungles of the Congo. Audiences will find themselves getting lost in the grandness of the sights that appear in front of them.

With a superb story, great characters, epic action and amazing visuals, The Legend of Tarzan is a film experience that will have you gripped from beginning to end.

Image: Roadshow Films

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Check out the final trailer below:

The Legend of Tarzan will be released in theatres on June 30 in New Zealand and Australia, and on July 1 in the US and UK.

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