Now Showing: Norse: Valhalla

 

Norse: Valhalla

Genre: Action/Fantasy

Director: Martin Campbell

Writer: Jimmy Ellis

Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Jeff Bridges, Sam Heughan, Naveen Andrews, Kirstofer Hivju, Iain Glen, Lena Headey, Meghan Ory, Jamie Campbell Bower, Richard Armitage, Pilou Asbeak, Anna Åström, Kaya Scodelario

Plot: Odin (Jeff Bridges), Allfather and King of the Gods stands at the door of a great hall. He places his lips close to the door. Speaking in a whisper he gets the door to open. Walking in, the immense size makes Odin look small. He walks the hall with paintings of prophecies on either side. He approaches a well, the well of Udr and awaits the arrival of the Norns. The three Norns, Urd (Past), Vernandi (Present), and Skuld (Future) approach the well carrying buckets. Urd and Vernandi fill the buckets from the well and carry them off. Skuld (Kaya Scoledario) stays with Odin, apologising that her sisters cannot stay, they must keep the Yggdrasil healthy. He wishes to hear the prophecy of Ragnarok. Skuld tells him that his uncle Mimir wanted this kept from him for a reason. Odin tells her that he does not care what his uncle had said. He demands she tell him. Skuld begins, Ragnarok shall be brought forth only after Odin’s first-born child, Baldr is murdered. Odin asks if she is sure. She shushes him. Followed by a Great Winter, one unlike any other the world has yet seen. The winter shall last for the length of three normal winters, with no summers in between. She continues that the offspring of the great wolf, Fenrir will devour the sun and the moon, and finally, the shake of the Yggdrasil tree will raise the nagflar ship, and free Fenrir from his chains. Odin questions Skuld asking if it can be stopped. Skuld tells him it cannot before returning to the well to retrieve more water.

Kætil Hjalkarsson (Charlie Hunnam) stands on the battlefield as men die all around him. He uses his shield to block an axe and commences to slice through his enemy. He ducks a swinging sword and stabs the man through the jaw. Kætil is shot by an arrow in the arm. He grabs a bow and arrow from a corpse and aims it, shooting the man that shot him. Kætil calls for his clan to fall upon him. With his remaining clan Kætil takes out the rest of their enemies. Kætil has saved his Thwaite (meadow) from falling into the hands of a neighbouring tribe. He sits in the aftermath of the battle and calls for Sverting (Naveen Andrews) to retrieve the women and children from the cavern for they feast tonight.

Kætil is seated at the head of a table, two seats over, his wife Una (Anna Åström). Their son Borgar sits in between the two of them. Maidens fill their drinking horns with ale. Sverting stands and leads a toast to the Gods and to Kætil, may he live a long and prosperous life.

The doors of the hall opens and in steps a regal looking Viking, Thorfinn Värmodsson (Iain Glen). The Vikings in the hall grab their weapons and face them towards Thorfinn. Thorfinn raises his hands, telling them that he is here for talk, not fight. Kætil tells his men to lower their weapons, he then stands walking toward Thorfinn. He wants to know what brings him here. Thorfinn tells him that he would like a word in private. Kætil laughs saying he can tell everybody what he is to hear. Thorfinn stands on a nearby table and declares he has talked with Tyr (God of War) and Tyr has told him that come nightfall there will be bloodshed upon all of their families, both Kætil’s and Thorfinn’s. He says that those who strikes blood first will take it with them to Hel (no honor), however those that react will have an honourable death and be taken to Valhalla to be with the Gods. Kætil hands Thorfinn a drink, a sign of good faith. After Thorfinn finishes it he tells Kætil that he believes they will be seeing each other soon enough.

Odin, with his two ravens by his side welcome the giant, Hrungnir. Served with the God’s Ale and food. Hrungnir welcomed the gesture and began to drink, “for peace between the realms”. After a few too many drinks, the giant began to say that he would kill all of the Gods, except Odin’s wife Frigg (Lena Headey), and Björn’s Sif (Yvonne Strahovski). He will take them home to Jotunheim. Balder (Sam Heughan), Odin’s first born, took immediate offence to that, however Odin tells him to be seated. The Giant then threatens to destroy all of Asgard, Odin does not take kindly to that and tells Balder to retrieve Björn (Kristofer Hivju) from the East.

Balder arrives to Björn’s location where we see the God of Thunder taking down a mythical beast. The lightning strikes the beast, killing it swiftly. Balder tells him that father (Odin) has invited Hrungnir to feast and that the giant has made a fool of himself. Father wants Bjorn to come and take care of it.

Una sits with Borgar and some other children Kætil stands in the background, smiling. She tells the story of Jörmungandr. The World Serpent, so large that it wraps its body around the whole world, keeping its tail in its mouth as to fit. One day Bjorn tried to fish for Jörmungandr but he did not like this, so Jörmungandr thrashed and thrashed causing great big waves in the ocean. Jörmungandr was only calmed when Thor’s fishing line was snapped, however they say the day will come when the two will face once more. The kids sit with smiles.

Björn arrives at the feast and is instructed by Odin to remove the giant from Asgard. Björn stands before Hrungnir and points Mjolnir directly at him. Hrungnir asks if he would dare kill something that has not lifted a finger to him. Hrungnir in his drunken state instead challenges Björn to a battle. Björn immediately accepts against Frigg’s wishes. Hrugnir tells him that the battle is to happen on Jotunheim. Björn tells him that he will be there.

Hrungnir walked to the field near Jotunheim where the duel was to be held. He wore stone armor, brandished a stone shield, and menacingly waved a whetstone, his chosen weapon, in the air above him. Suddenly, he saw lightning and heard thunder clap above him, and Björn roared onto the battlefield. Björn threw bursts of lightning at Hrugnir, knocking him back slightly. Björn hurled his hammer at the giant, and the giant slung his whetstone at the god. The stone burst against Björn’s forehead and shattered into pieces. Björn’s hammer also struck Hrungnir’s head, but this time it was the giant’s head that was shattered. A piece of the whetstone lodged itself into the head of Thor.

Kætil awakes, hearing screams. He turns to his side where his wife should lay but she is not there. Kætil grabs his sword and calls out for Una. She stands crying before a dead body on the ground. The body of Borgar. Kætil swears vengeance on those who have wronged him. He tells Sverting to take his wife and put her back to bed. Kætil begins to walk, with an enraged face, he talks to Odin. “Lord Odin, far wanderer and wisest of all the gods, grant me wisdom, courage, and victory in my travels.” Kætil grabs a shield and axe as he walks. Sverting follows suit. The two of them go alone, in the early morning. A raven lands on a tree. “Thank you Allfather Odin, I will fight until I reach Valhalla.”

After a short journey, Kætil and Sverting arrive at a valley. They see a camp set up. The two of them approach the camp silently to remain undetected. Around a fire are three men. Kætil takes one by the head and slices his throat, another runs for a horn but Kætil throws the knife into his neck. Sverting takes the other out with an axe. The two of them go from tent to tent, only the sounds of slicing can be heard. Kætil awakes one man, knife to his throat. He takes the man, presumed to be the leader of the clan and shows him to every tent. Seeing the massacre that has occurred the man can only laugh, saying that his father, Thorfinn, will have vengeance against him. Kætil says that his father will receive the message not to come near him or his clan. He adds that he caused this bloodshed. And a blood vengeance is to be paid in full. Kætil slices the throat of the man. Sverting grabs the flame from the fire and places all the tents on fire.

Kætil and Sverting go into the mountains and sit. Kætil asks Odin for guidance through the oncoming battle. He knows that a war is to come and tells Odin that if his time must come, he will gladly die on the battlefield in glory.

Upon return to their own Thwaite, Kætil stands before his clan and has Sverting use the Gjallarhorn to gather the men, women and children. In the distance Kætil can see a raven. Kætil smiles and tells them all that a fierce battle will be fought in 2 nights time. He says that the women and children will take the longships and sail to a valley where they will stay until retrieved by one of the men. He tells them that if this is to be their last battle together, they shall all meet once more in Valhalla.

Baldr is sleeping in his chamber when he begins to have a dream, or rather a nightmare. Baldr sees himself dead and sees the end of the world thereafter. He sees snow fall and freeze all things in its path as well as the moon and sun disappearing. Baldr awakes from the nightmare sweating. He wants answers.

Kætil, Sverting and Una, along with the rest of the clan, stand around a pyre. The body of Borgar is carried and placed onto the pyre. Kætil takes a flame and sets it on fire. Una places her head on her husband’s shoulder as tears run down her face. Kætil lets out a loud scream before telling them all to get ready for battle.

Kætil sees Una onto the longship. The two place each other’s forehead on the others. Kætil assures her that whether he see her soon or in Valhalla he will see her once more. She tells him to bring justice to those that have wronged their family. Kætil looks directly at her telling her Thorfinn will pay with the blood of a thousand nights.

Odin holds a meeting with all of the other Aesir Gods, Bjorn is missing from the meeting, Frigg saying that he has gone to seek the sorceress Groa. Baldr, Frigg, Heimdall (Richard Armitage), the watchman of the Gods, and Tyr (Pilou Asbaek), the one handed god of war are present. Odin commences the meeting before being interrupted by Loki (Jamie Campbell Bower), God of Mischief, he walks in apologising to the Gods saying he had been in Midgard when he heard the call. Odin tells him that he does not like him going to Midgard without his blessing, Loki just blows this off, turning his head and giving Heimdall a sly look with a wide smile. Odin tells them why they are here, Baldr’s draumar (dreams). He hands over to Baldr. Baldr explains his dreams in vivid detail, explaining that he believes it will all come to pass. Odin tells them of what the Norns had told him, Ragnarök is upon them, and it all starts with the death of Baldr.

Kætil stands with Sverting by his side. He delivers an uplifting speech to all men of his clan. He tells them that this battle is not only for his son Borgar who would’ve been standing with them, but for the future of their own children. He continues by confessing that he had seen a vision from Tyr that many of them will not survive this battle, but that they should have no fear. They will have their eternal life soon enough in Valhalla amongst the Gods.

Kætil and the others sharpen their blades as they prepare for war. Sverting hands out some psychedelic mushrooms, he describes it as the plant of Bjorn, it will give them a great power and connectedness with the Gods. Kætil and Sverting go one by one to their brothers forehead to forehead.

Odin and Tyr have finally a moment to themselves. Tyr tells Odin that he fears what the death of Hrugnir might bring to Asgard. Tyr believes that a war between the giants of Jotunheim and themselves is on the horizon. Odin tells him that is ridiculous, and the giants cannot reach them on Asgard. Tyr leaves in a huff. Odin stands still for a moment looking the way of Tyr, before transforming to show Loki, the God of Mischief.

Odin storms into the hall of the Norns, he yells out to them bargaining. He even goes as far as to offering up Bjorn. Skuld tells him that fate has been set, there is no bargain that he can make to change the coming Ragnarök.

Kætil stands with Sverting by his side, the two of them wear a wolf coat over their head, face paint on, ready for war. On the other side of the valley is Thorfinn and his clan. Kætil yells out to his men, “We will meet each other once more in Valhalla, In the name of the Allfather!” Kætil and co. begin the charge on Thorfinn. They get 50 metres before setting their shields up to block from incoming arrows. They open the shields slightly as they send 12 arrows back. Thorfinn sees this coming and commands his men to shield up also. Some are killed by the arrows sneaking through. Both sides move closer to one another. Kætil looks to Sverting and nods, “To Valhalla.” Sverting and Kætil break off from the group and charge toward Thorfinn and his men. Kætil slides under the shields and cuts the feet of two men either side. He blocks strikes coming from every direction as the rest of his men follow Sverting and himself. The battle rages on with viking on viking. Sverting and Kæti are the dominant ones while Thorfinn is nowhere to be seen. Kætil has his axe knocked from his hand, Sverting sees this, calling out to him, Sverting throws Kætil his axe, Kætil blocks a sword from behind and swings the axe taking off his head. He can see a man charging toward Sverting and kicks an enemy to their knees. He uses this man to jump in the air and throw the axe at the charging man, landing back on the ground. Kætil and Sverting nod at each other before Sverting is stabbed in the back. Kætil lets out a scream, killing every man that tries to take his life. Sverting mouths the words, “In Valhalla.” Standing behind him is Thorfinn, with a smile. Kætil points his sword at him. One of Thorfinn’s men run toward Kætil but Thorfinn kills him himself before yelling that Kætil is his. Kætil and Thorfinn duke it out, both as good as one another with the sword. Something switches however as Kætil begins to get the better of him. Thorfinn drops to a knee momentarily but its all a ploy, he grabs a knife and throws it at Kætil hitting him in the eye. Kætil screams in pain but continues on, knife in eye. Thorfinn seems to have gotten quicker, dodging everything Kætil throws his way. Thorfinn eventually slices Kætil’s hand causing him to drop the sword. Thorfinn pulls him into his own sword, dropping to a knee with him. Thorfinn whispers in his ear, “You are needed in Valhalla.” Thorfinn and begins to walk away. In Kætil’s final moments he sees one of Odin’s ravens fly in the sky, he screams in agony before picking up his sword and swinging it for the last time, he kills two enemies before continuing to Thorfinn. He swings his sword many a time, before finally hitting Thorfinn in his neck. The two of them are on their knees, bleeding out. “And you in Hel” Kætil smiles as his last breath leaves his body.

On the same battlefield he was just on, Kætil stands. In the sky he sees a golden door open, the gates of Valhalla. Hundreds of beautiful women riding winged horses fly from the gates, wearing scarlet corsets and carrying spears, the Valkyrie. One of the Valkyrie approaches Kætil and reach out their hand. He takes their hand and gets on the Winged Horse. He is flown up toward the gates. Upon entry a blinding white light changes into a Great Hall, filled with noble warriors that have died on the battlefield. There he sees Sverting, eating the flesh of a boar. The ceilings adorned with shields and axes. Paintings of the Gods, Odin, Björn, Baldr, Frigg, Heimdall, Tyr, Loki and Idun. Odin steps out on a platform and announces that the all in Valhalla shall feast like Gods and battle like animals. Kætil smiles, he is there, in Valhalla.