Pathfinder

Theatrical Release Date: 2007 04 13 (USA)

UPC: 024543700340

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Summary: The sole survivor of a Viking "dragon" vessel shipwrecked on the eastern shores of the New World 15 years ago provides the only hope for the a Native American tribe faced with certain destruction by Norse berserkers in director Marcus Nispel's (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) dark action adventure. Reared by the Wampanoag tribe following a failed attempt by the Vikings to raid coastal villages for slaves, a ten-year-old shipwreck survivor is nicknamed "Ghost" by his adoptive tribe due to his pale complexion and blond hair. Legend says that death and destruction will follow the boy wherever he travels, yet the peaceful people of the Wampanoag tribe selflessly take the frightened child in as if he is one of their own. Over the course of the following decade, the adopted young Norseman eventually grows into a strong warrior (Karl Urban) determined to prove his worth to the people he calls family. When the rampaging Vikings return to the New World to rain destruction down on the Native Americans and to claim the fertile land of the peaceful people, Ghost finds himself in the precarious position of having to stop his own people from destroying his village and ruthlessly slaughtering the woman he loves (Moon Bloodgood). Now, as Ghost's true destiny is revealed by the powerful shaman known as the Pathfinder (Russell Means), the fearless warrior sets out to stage a savage one-man war on the marauding Vikings and become the savior once prophesied to defend the Wampanoag people in their darkest hour. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Category: Adventure

Pathfinder

Format: Blu-ray

Release Date: 05/25/2010

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Language(s) English,French,Spanish

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish

Region: Blu-ray region A (North America, Central America, South America, Japan, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia)

Jeremy Wheeler

A true hybrid of its kind, Pathfinder tries desperately to sell its Native American vs. Viking premise to the audience, but despite a rollicking first half, the film fails miserably by not paying off on their own inspired setup. It should be easy, right? Vikings come in and pillage a village, only to feel the wrath of the mystic warriors as they defend their land against an insurmountable force with the help of a Viking boy turned Indian brave. Unfortunately, history isn't quite on the natives' side on this one -- and neither is this script. But is historical reality really what people want to see when they plot down their dough for a good bloody adventure? Yes, the movie's premise is all about the prophesized one that leads the tribe to victory, but when halfway through, the filmmakers decide to needlessly slaughter a huge batch of natives and have it be the hero's fault -- well, let's just say that it's a right turn curve that the film never recovers from. And while Pathfinder is brilliant to look at, with its stark shadows contrasting the real woodland locations and rich production design, it becomes a complete letdown halfway in and only gets more tedious by the time the poorly executed battle atop a mountain range hits. Opting for CG spectacle instead of gut-punching action, director Marcus Nispel and writer Laeta Kalogridis miss the chance entirely to pull off an Apocalypto -- i.e.: take a solid action formula and transpose it to a different time and place, but still deliver a solidly satisfying thrill ride. Instead, this film rides a lot on its brutality, both in gore and in its treatment of the characters. The dialogue is equally as brutal, at times screaming to be cut completely, which would have actually made the film ten times better. Still, as seen through Daniel Pearl's expert camera lens, Pathfinder is thoroughly haunting in its dark foggy beauty. Costume design is equally as impressive, with the Vikings looking more like bulky steel monsters than anything resembling men. Given the production's long road to release and eventual dumping into theaters, it's evident that far too much time was put into the look and not the entertainment value, which is too bad because the world really does need a killer Vikings vs. Indians movie! ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

Cast and Crew: Jonathan Elias  Composer (Music Score) 
John M. Jacobsen  Executive Producer 
Mike Medavoy  Producer 
Laeta Kalogridis  Screenwriter 
Marcus Nispel  Director 
Marcus Nispel  Producer 
Arnie Messer  Producer 
Lee Nelson  Executive Producer 
Bradley J. Fischer  Executive Producer 
Karl Urban  Actor 
Moon Bloodgood  Actor 
Russell Means  Actor 
Clancy Brown  Actor 
Jay Tavare  Actor 
Nathaniel Arcand  Actor 
Ralf Moeller  Actor 
Kevin Loring  Actor 
Wayne C. Baker  Actor 
Michelle Thrush  Actor 
Nicole Muñoz  Actor 
Burkely Duffield  Actor 
Ray G. Thunderchild  Actor 
Duane Howard  Actor 
Brandon Oakes  Actor 
Alain Hudon  Actor 
Cyler Point  Actor 
Stefany Mathias  Actor 
John Mann  Actor 
Ken Jones  Actor 
Mike Dopud  Actor 
Woody Jeffreys  Actor 
André Todorovic  Actor 
Marcel Petit  Actor 

Country: USA