The Pagan King: The Battle of Death

Prince Valiant of the Baltic. Nice try but no depth in the acting corps and terrible writing.

I like the idea to make a movie about baltic tribes during crusades. There are a lot of interesting traditions and events to explore.

I can feel that The Pagan King wants to be a movie that will introduce the world with Baltic culture and land of Semigallia. However, they put too much accent on showing traditions instead of focusing on characters or plot. The best example is wedding scene. This scene gives us 0 new information about characters. They love each other- we already know it, but what else? We learned how pagan weddings looked like. Well... ok.

Characters are living stereotypes. Bad guy wants to rule this land just because he's bad. Good guys doesn't want to allow him, because he's good. First half of the movie tries to rush all the action without actually introducing us to the characters and as a result there is lack of connection between character and viewer.

Plausibility. I can't believe in this world and actions. Movie budget wasn't great and this fact affected overall movie quality. There are few locations: village, swamp, castle and few more. Village, which is one of the most important locations looks really small and artificial as well as crusader ship- it simply cannot transport so many crusaders.

Visual part of the movie is great. Camera angles and views are well chosen and gives me a feeling of high quality work, especially during fighting scenes. Fight on the sand beach is amazing. Sand and blood is an amazing combination, wish there would be more of that. There are a lot of dynamics and fighting scenes feels natural.... except last one. Fight scene in the swamp with fog and smoke looks unrealistic. Smoke takes over battleground too fast and it feels empty. Film editing makes it even worse, when they show same action with rolling fireballs from different angles all over again during battle.

Overall, The Pagan King gives me feeling of a good movie which struggles because of low budget and poor script. I would recommend to watch this movie if you are interested in old traditions and cultures, otherwise - you can skip it, won't miss anything.

Good movie! Movies isn't correct history, but it gives a look on freedom fight of my nation's. Finally it takes 700 years and only 100 years ago we can establish our own country and also after we have so much trouble but now we are free and I hope Namey's and another heroes fight makes a sence to get a freedom.

For a movie to put on in the background when you are doing something else this movie is fine. I wish they would have kept to the myth of the ring as it is posted about online, and as I was raised hearing from my family that fled Latvia during WW2. For what it is it is good, it just wasn't what I was expecting.

A fair historical film, not exactly exceptional but, in nice doses, offering a good message, love, patriotism, war, trahison, a king, then a hero from ordinary people , good crafted tension and not bad acting.

It represents one of examples of affirmation of legacy of past from an European people, sure, using not exactly comfortable cliches but offering a coherent story, defined by precise traits, remind of importance of moral values and a wise definition of courage.

And a wise lesson about democracy reflected by the chain of royal rings . Not the most polite portrait of Rome , very subjective, in fact, saved by the poor monk, not awful fight scenes and few well used symbols.

So, just pleasant.