Vikings:
Raiders From The North (2012 - 2014/Eagle Media DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C Extras: D Episodes: C+
The
Viking Age ran for about almost 3 centuries but became infamous
throughout time. The Vikings were known for their cruelty, lust for
bloodshed, murder and rape were only rivaled by their greed of gold.
Legends made them heroes, history painted them as glorified bandits,
but who were they really?
Vikings:
Raiders From The North is produced by Neil Oliver with the BBC
and it turns out Oliver has been behind a slew of UK productions on
various subjects, so this is the latest if many he's tackled. The
Vikings were known for many things, but the only reason we know about
them is because of writings left by monks. Largely illiterate,
Vikings kept their history mainly through oral traditions, songs,
poems of epic/legendary battles. The Vikings were a nomadic warrior
culture, believing might makes right and that dying in battle to go
to Valhalla was the greatest honor a Viking could hope for. They
existed between Dark Ages and Medieval age, but in truth they were
the first seafaring pirates, and (unintentionally) they helped spread
the cultures in which they plundered from. They also seemed to have
reached North America before Columbus.
Presented
in two multi-part waves, this is a documentary series about Viking
culture, is largely narrative and used what looked like stock footage
and re-enactments done by weekend warriors. While their contribution
to history was a step backwards for society, their deeds will never
be forgotten and the only reason why people remember them today is
because of their epic tales of them being the greatest and most
feared warriors of the time.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is mixed, rough and
detail-challenged in both cases, while the lossy Dolby Digital 2.0
Stereo is on the flat side. There are no extras.
-
Ricky Chiang.
