While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The acting in this movie is really good.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The russian press marked this movie as a masterpiece and every one was expecting it. It were told that it's based on History and so on. But when I got to watch it I was shocked. Right in the beginning is a hunt scene with a crossbow. Rigth were it was already over with historical facts. And the movie contains a lot of this. The logic, dialogues, history and presentaion of the old russian population is just garbage.

A - Anti-historicThose who say it's "historically accurate" are either shills hired by the marketing or really stupid and uneducated hillbillies.This trash has less basis in real history than movies like "Lincoln Vampire Hunter". Everything "historic" on screen is profoundly and disgustingly fake. That goes for events, personalities, lifestyle, customs, architecture, warfare, weapons & armor...If Vladimir the Great was alive today he'd sue for slander and instantly won big time.U - UnwatchableFrom purely cinematographical point of view, this is unwatchable trash, plain and simple. Acting and directing are way below traditional trash genre standards. Screenplay is devoid of any logic, consistency, or character development.T - TrashI believe the real purpose behind filming it was money-laundering, or something similar to what Uwe Boll did. Except any of the worst Boll's movies are much better than this trash.

This film is stunning! Not sure why there are so many negative reviews on this epic undertaking. As far as Viking movies goes, this is the best i've seen. The cinematography is epic, beautiful, and gives the film a fantastic vibe. The sets and costumes are wonderful and well crafted! The music is a perfect fit. I watched this in full Russian language first, without knowing what they were saying, and i still was able to follow the story and enjoy it thoroughly! I wish more films were made like this! 10 out of 10 for sure!!!! This is an excellent film! Well crafted, acted, shot! More movies NEED to be done at this level. Wonderful!-Kipp

After watching the whole movie in cinema, I couldn't really understand what has the title in common with the movie itself. Neither history, nor drama, this movie is a total mess of illogical actions and was scenes. A bunch of bearded Slavonic men screaming out loud and struggling with obviously fake weapon, having no philosophy, moral or logical basement in their head. So what? is it enough to be called viking? Is it enough to make a movie? My biggest problem was not the fact that nothing in the movie looked realistic or solid: the weapons, helmets and ships taken from various historical and cultural environment. I am not too mad about the fact, that I don't believe the dialogues and speech 10 centuries ago were the same as I hear on contemporary Russian streets. But to have no solid and logical story-line and no any well defined character who is conscious enough ... in a 133 minute-long movie? That's totally insane. Sorry, but no more nowadays Russian filmography!