Rated R for strong brutal violence throughout.
Directed by Marcus Nispel (First feature film)
Starring Karl Urban, Moon Bloodgood and Russell Means
Pathfinder is a red-headed step-child compared to Apocolypto.
Maybe I should apologize…to red-headed step-children.
Set in North America five or six centuries before the arrival of Columbus, Pathfinder is the bloody story of Ghost (Karl Urban), a Viking boy, who was left behind and raised by Indians. “You were born to the Dragon Men, but you are ours,” Urban is told, when he grows up and questions his heritage (and his skin color). One day another group of Vikings show up and do what Vikings do best. Ghost decides to take on all of them in order to save his adopted family.
I kept trying to find a bright spot, but just like the way the movie was filmed… there was none. Both the acting and script are weak and although the action is pretty intense, there was nothing that actually made me care who won. Not to mention the fact that it offered nothing new. You know what I am talking about…the booby traps, running into a branch during the chase scene, and limbs being removed from one’s body. Not to mention Ghost actually uses his shield as a sled to escape the pursuing Vikings…LAME!!
Maybe my expectations were too high, maybe I just wanted it to be good, but everything about Pathfinder left me disappointed.
If you want to see a better film of the same genre… go back and rent the 1999 John McTiernan film The 13th Warrior with Antonio Banderas.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
The violence is way over the top for kids to see. It should be fine for older kids, although I don’t think they would want to see it.
Side Note:
We don’t recommend your kids see this film. But on the occasion that they actually have already seen it, you may want to dialogue about the film with them. These questions below may be a help to you.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
