Stara basn. Kiedy slonce bylo bogiem

Whle watching this film I've grown to respect Hollywood much more. The thing is American films are usually professionally made (well, at least those which reach me here in Ukraine). Even if the idea is the simplest one possible, the films are still watchable and entertaining (well most of them). They know their stuff and at least don't make the simplest mistakes. This film done by the guru of polish cinema looked amateurish. The acting was rather poor. The lead roles often overplayed their emotions. I was constantly under the impression that most scenes took just one take and the director just didn't bother and was like "meh, it will do". The secondary role actors were even worse. Most of them looked like they are relatives of the production crew or were just random people from the street. The story never got me involved, it's just tedious. But there wasn't much to it anyway. Maybe the actors were so bad because of it, they just didn't understand what they are supposed to act. The characters have no depth and relations between them never get going. And the CGIs... 2003, two years after Shrek we get this kind of stuff?.. So the conclusion: there is no life in this film, it feels cheesy and uninspiring.

Forget Brad Pitt as Achilles; Michal Zebrowski as Ziemowit the archer ROCKS! Seriously, the handsome, brooding Zebrowski is about as good as it gets when it comes to a costumed movie hero, and this vehicle is escapist fun from beginning to end. The setting is pre-Christian Poland, where the rustic natives worship the sun god and fend off the depredations of Odin-worshipping Vikings. When the late king's brother, ruling as regent, decides he doesn't want to the hand the throne over to his young nephew, the stage is set for a classic tale of murder, peasant uprising, and heroism (the hero being the loner Viking Ziemowit, who takes up the cause of the local peasants against their scheming ruler).

Pagan rituals, including a funeral, a bacchanalian festival, and the casting of a love-spell, are enchantingly portrayed. The forest scenery is gorgeous, and cinematography is excellent throughout. CGI backgrounds and settings are absolutely beautiful (though special action effects are not quite up to Hollywood standards). Pacing is almost too fast. There's a buoyant sense of energy reminiscent of American films I grew up watching in the 1960s about Vikings, King Arthur, Robin Hood, etc.

At the film's end, we learn that Ziemowit will found the Piast dynasty that will rule Poland as it emerges into the Christian era.

Alongside Zebrowski, the towering Polish actor Daniel Olbrychski does a great turn as the stoic conscience of the peasantry. Olbrychski used to be the male hottie in Polish movies (the slot now occupied by Zebrowski), and he's the one, not Zebrowski, who gets the shirtless scene in this movie. Like Sean Connery, Olbrychski has still got it, and always will! As of this writing (mid-2005), this movie can be found (though not easily!) on DVD with English subtitles, under the title WHEN THE SUN WAS GOD: AN ANCIENT TALE.

This is a Polish film which is all about a ruthless despot's attempts to crush a rebel army by enlisting the help of the Vikings. I'm not quite sure how historically accurate this is, but frankly who cares? It may not be a Hollywood spectacular but the hacking and slashing were enough to divert my attention and the complex plot is not unlike that great TV show, Game Of Thrones. It does come with subtitles intact though, so those dimwits who can't read and watch simultaneously can look elsewhere. Everyone else will probably enjoy a decent throwback to when our leaders were corrupt, life was cheap and barbarism ruled the day. Hmm... Maybe not that much of a throwback after all... 6/10

Stara Basn means "The Old Tale" in Polish. Indeed this is a mixture of Polish folklore and history brought to the big screen!

Set in the 9th Century...the movie depicts an exciting tale of love, betrayal, death...and action...plenty of it!

At 1 hr 45 mins long the pace is just right and never tires. The story itself is relatively easy to understand...even for a non Polish speaker like myself! This is mainly thanks to the gorgeous visuals...which really speak for themselves.

This movie has anything and is definetly highly recommended. Its the most polished, well crafted and enjoyable Polish film that I have seen in a long time!

One note of caution though: this film is highly graphic! You don't get the Hollywood clean cut treatment. So when heads roll, swords thrust into flesh and druids enact an orgy...you see EVERYTHING!!!

Still that's what it was like back then!!!

This could be interesting, historical film if made properly, but it definitely isn't. Oldest polish legend is base of original novel. But you see not much of it in this movie and it's not so easy to understand even for polish who know original. Sadly weakest side is actors' play. This is typical curse of every high-budget (as for polish movies - 10-15 mln.$). Best actors don't try to be professional but they think that this is just prize for being best-known people in polish entertainment, so no need to put any effort if you paid part of cast already. Overall - weak, boring and acted poorly. It looks like C-class US production. 2/10. If you want some interesting polish production look for lower budget, but much better made movies.