I’ve figured it out! Every summer, when the ridiculous (and usually bad) blockbusters have come and gone, we can finally look forward to the good movies at season’s end. THE 13TH WARRIOR is such a film that in my mind exceeded everyone’s expectations. It’s an engrossing and highly enjoyable adventure film, with Antonio Banderas giving his best performance yet. He’s accompanied by an equally impressive supporting cast, all of which are superb.

      With respect to the story, I’ll agree that more exposition was needed here and there, and continued narration would have sufficed. (For some reason, it stopped.) One or two small subplots are left unresolved and I suspect that they were cut, like events concerning the jealous son of the king. But even with faults and all, I still recommend this film most candidly. It’s a classic good vs. evil story (that will remind many of BEOWULF), filled with an energy and vitality that most movies are devoid of these days.

      And frankly, I just don’t get these damn critics. Over and over, they pass up good movies like this for some really poor choices. Either they’re just stupid, or all being paid off (like in Ebert’s case). But since many of them are so cravenly PC nowadays, simple concepts like good and evil leave a sour taste in their mouths. GOOD!!! I hope they choke on it! These days, films with real heroes are in short supply (as in life), so more like it are gladly welcomed. Hell, see this movie just to annoy Ebert and his cronies. That alone is worth it. :-)