it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Why You Should Watch It: Vikings! Iceland! Vikings on horses! Vikings on horses that probably look pretty much like vikings on horses did (no horned helmets here).Why It's Not The Best Movie Ever Made However: It's obviously been made on a tight budget, shot in only two locations which seem to be about 3 meters apart from each other, and the cheap 80s-synth Peruvian Flute rendition of Á Sprengisandi isn't helping either (there are only two tunes in the entire movie, and they come back very, very, very regularly). I won't even mention the "omg knife!!" sound effect that accompanies EVERY shot where someone has a knife or a sword, even if there's no way in real life they would have made any kind of sound. Also, tomato-blood.As for the plot well... I'm not sure there was enough to fill almost two hours. It pretty much feels like you're watching the same thing again and again and again.

This is *not* a viking movie.Nor is it a movie based in Yojimbo or A Fistful Of Dollars.This is a movie about Iceland in "Landnam-times".This is a movie which is based in the Icelandic Sagas - unique pillars in world literature - and if you know them fairly well (which I do), it's easy to see where and why Hrafn Gunnlaugsson has been, um, inspired. The plot line may seen Eastern or Western (or whatever) to somebody whose only point of reference is "other movies" -- but if you know your Sagas there can be no doubt that this is Northern. In fact, it's a MUCH better and more appropriate question whether Akira Kurosawa and Sergio Leone (like William Shakespeare) were readers of the Sagas.Just like in the Sagas, or the Greek tragedies before them, Hrafninn Flygur is filled with an ominous "mood" of inevitable destiny and downfall. Everything, including the music, is minimalistic and raw. There isn't much of a "story" per se. Nor are there any characters worth remembering. All that remains is the theme itself, the inevitable circle of revenge, and the gods - which in this case means we, the audience - smiling at the pathetic human attempts at "doing the right thing".For all its low budget and stereotypes, this movie is worth seeing.

When I first saw this marvelous film in 1999 in Russia, I could not believe my own eyes - in fact, I had never seen a single Icelandic film before that, this was the first and what a great sensation! This is a highly elegant, smoothly done and excellent work. The idea is pretty simple, Gest, the main hero, comes to take revenge for his slain parents. The whole story takes place in 900's, so Iceland is still a heathen country, god Thor is frequently mentioned and his one-eyed figure is also often addressed to by several characters. What really marvels there is the superb combination of the actors' play, impeccable nature, and the spellbinding soundtrack. This terrible, never ending, incessant rain that falls throughout the film is just another character - it adds to the gloomy picture and the dark feeling of the main hero. His revenge is slow, but irreversible, he does what he thinks he has to. And he succeeds. The whole film leaves a great, lasting and powerful impression. Watch it, it is a must!

Being Icelandic I'm of course proud of most films made in Iceland, and they do get better every year. The only thing I sometimes criticise is that we, Icelanders, try to be TOO clever. We don't allow ourselves to just make pure action or pure comedy, but it seems we have to try to add some artistic flair to all our films. Hrafninn flygur is a viking-action film, which keeps your interest from beginning to end. The costumes and surroundings are beautiful, and the story is a good old revenge-your-parents tale, but with enough twists and side stories to keep ones interest fully. I have many friends around the globe, and Hrafninn flygur is one of the few films that I would recommend to anyone for pure entertainment value. Sadly, this film is not available any more, so we will just have to hope that one of these days they will re-release it.