Outlander (2009) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

USA, Germany 2008
Director: Howard McCain
Cast: James Caviezel, Sophia Myles, Jack Huston, John Hurt, Ron Perlman, Cliff Saunders
Rating: R
Release Date: 23 January 2009
Running Time: 1 hour 54 minutes 54 seconds

The Movie Review

Outlander film still 1


OUTLANDER
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The unlikely hero... If there's one thing common about epic movies from Hollywood is the need for a hero to be coming from a place different than the one that he's going to save and free. And unfortunately the most famous films set in the Viking Age are all about this foreign hero. And here we go...another one for you, but this time it's not purely epical since it's involved an alien visitation. I guess the title is pretty clear about that.

The movie is set in the Iron Age in year 709 and opens with a man (James Caviezel), who is later known as Kainan, is seen crashing with his spacecraft to a lake in Norway. While investigating the new land and finds a village brutally massacre by something with gigantic claws, he is captured by one the locals, Wulfric (Jack Huston). After taken to the village ruled by king Rothgar (John Hurt), Kainan's wound is tended by the king's daughter, Freya (Sophia Myles). But killing after killing ensues resulting in, again, brutally mauled victims even sometimes with no body at all. It is known as a creature named Moorwen, a creature that feeds on humans. And so Kainan will lead the Vikings with the help of Wulfric to hunt Moorwen once and for all. But it would not be so easy since Kainan also holds another secret that he keeps to himself. Who is Kainan really? And what would happen to King Rothgar and his little kingdom?

Outlander is a sci-fi movie with a heavy dose of epic and adventure involved. And this is definitely not a bad film, but to seasoned movie buffs, I really don't think that it would be something very memorable. Even though coming from more advanced civilization, Kainan feels no different than the rest of the Vikings. The only advanced gun he has was thrown away and he doesn't have too good of a fighting skill either. On the other hand, Moorwen is something that is quite cool of a creature to behold. It has long and multiple wicked tails and when it's angry it would produce shrieking sound and its face will glow in bright red colour. Too bad for the CGI is rather disappointing in some scenes.

Outlander is just too ordinary for most of the time. And speaking about time, the movie needs almost 2 hours to settle things up. It would be nice if it's trimmed but at least I got to see mini fight of the Vikings between Rothgar's people and Gunnar's (Ron Perlman) people. This battle is not in large scale like in other epic movies but enough to be something interesting to fill the running time. And near the end, fortunately, Outlander becomes very interesting. With some wicked gory displays of mounted bodies, a graphic decapitation and a person being eaten alive, it's quite clear why it got the R-rating.

But what's really strike me most is how cheesy this movie is in some parts. Now, I really didn't expect to hear embarrassing dialogues and oh so cliché storyline. And even though I said that scenes near the ending is very intriguing but the ending itself is just totally unnecessary.... it's like coming from a script that wasn't completely done yet. Kainan decides to do something unexpected just to legitimate the mandatory kissing scene and then goes one to do another unexpected action just to legitimate the dramatic ending. Choose one mate! Not two!

If a combination between science fiction and Iron Age warriors is your cup of tea then you would be entertained by Outlander. But if you're looking for really intense high scale battle or movies with more natural theme then you can safely skip this. Renting is the best option since it's a decent movie after all.

> The unlikely heroes in time of the Vikings: Pathfinder (2007) and the great The 13th Warrior (1999).