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Category:    Home > Reviews > Documentary > History > British TV > Mini-Series > Vikings: Raiders From The North (2012 - 2014/Eagle Media DVD)

Vikings: Raiders From The North (2012 - 2014/Eagle Media DVD)


Picture: C Sound: C Extras: D Episodes: C+



The Viking Age ran for about almost 3 centuries but became infamous throughout time. The Vikings were known for their cruelty, lust for bloodshed, murder and rape were only rivaled by their greed of gold. Legends made them heroes, history painted them as glorified bandits, but who were they really?


Vikings: Raiders From The North is produced by Neil Oliver with the BBC and it turns out Oliver has been behind a slew of UK productions on various subjects, so this is the latest if many he's tackled. The Vikings were known for many things, but the only reason we know about them is because of writings left by monks. Largely illiterate, Vikings kept their history mainly through oral traditions, songs, poems of epic/legendary battles. The Vikings were a nomadic warrior culture, believing might makes right and that dying in battle to go to Valhalla was the greatest honor a Viking could hope for. They existed between Dark Ages and Medieval age, but in truth they were the first seafaring pirates, and (unintentionally) they helped spread the cultures in which they plundered from. They also seemed to have reached North America before Columbus.


Presented in two multi-part waves, this is a documentary series about Viking culture, is largely narrative and used what looked like stock footage and re-enactments done by weekend warriors. While their contribution to history was a step backwards for society, their deeds will never be forgotten and the only reason why people remember them today is because of their epic tales of them being the greatest and most feared warriors of the time.


The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is mixed, rough and detail-challenged in both cases, while the lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is on the flat side. There are no extras.



- Ricky Chiang.


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