Page 98 - All About History 58 - 2017 UK

HISTORY HOLLYWOOD

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Fact versus fiction on the silver screen

THE 13TH WARRIOR

Director: John McTiernan Starring: Antonio Banderas, Diane Venora, Omar Sharif Country: United States Released: 1999
This tale of an Arabian diplomat’s experience with the Vikings may
have a basis in facts but what it depicts is far from the truth VERDICT It may be very inaccurate
but it is a real guilty pleasure!

The film is an adaption of At the beginning of the Ahmad met the Vikings in Ahmad is unable to speak The enemies in the film,
01 Michael Crichton’s novel 02 film, Ahmad’s caravan is 03 922, yet one of the Vikings 04 Latin or Greek, despite 05 the Wendol, are entirely
Eaters of the Dead but is based on attacked by a group of “murderous is depicted wearing the helmet of a being an educated man, instead fictional. They are based on Grendel,
the real-life chronicle of Ahmad bandits” known as the Tatars before Spanish conquistador, which wasn’t relying on his friend to interpret. one of the antagonists from Beowulf,
Ibn Fadlan and his experience with he is saved by the Vikings. In fact developed until the 16th century and But he learns the Vikings’ language and are presented in the film as
the Vikings. The first 10 minutes the Tatars did not appear until at is from the wrong country. Beowulf’s quickly and speaks it fluently for the last surviving Neanderthals,
pass muster but after that it quickly least the 13th century, making their armour is also inaccurate — his the rest of the film, which seems despite the fact they became extinct
descends into fantasy. inclusion anachronistic. breastplate is from the 15th century. rather unrealistic. thousands of years before.

© Alamy

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