Valhalla

The plot is decent, but it has good animation and the soundtrack is excellent; I recommend it if you like Danish animated films.

It's great to see a feature length animated movie that doesn't completely succumb to the Disney way of doing things. Plus, it has a killer score.

"Valhalla" has become a bit of a Danish classic, for years rating as a key product of Danish children's fiction. Since it was based on a popular Danish comic album series and helped establish a growing cartoon industry in Denmark, it has also achieved some popularity with young film aficionados, resulting for instance in the recent petition campaign for the DVD release of the film.

Having re-watched the film on the video release recently, I have almost exclusively positive remarks for the film. In all parts of the production this is solid work. There is, perhaps, more cuteness than true drama, and the film is left too short to be epic, but these are descriptions rather than criticisms.

Three things struck me as particularly note-worthy about the production: First, the story does well to transport the imagination of the beholder into the world of the old mythology. To that end, I took special note of the opening prologue scene in which a narrator introduces us to the land of the gods and the story that is to begin; it is almost perfectly styled. Second, as a very positive quality to the story in general, the gods of the story are portrayed funnily and full of flaws, bad tempers, etc. Third, the music of the entire film is excellent, balancing the dramatic and light styles elegantly to fit the moods of the film.

Beautiful and powerful. The animations are amazing. The depiction of the gods are epic as hell. The plot of the film can be read straight out of Norse Mythology and yet it works so well on screen. What I like most, is the depiction of the main characters; Røskva and Tjalfe. Their relationship as brother and sister; growing up, made me cry many times because it shows a beauty in life. I am grateful for this film.

This is a Danish classic, that have touched all children and the little child within of the "grown-ups".

Watch it and fall in love with it.

Truly wonderful.