Die Nibelungen

When i first heard of this film i wanted to see it, so i sat and watched it. Unlike other people i actually enjoyed it. I liked it that much a year and a half later i bought it. Personally i liked the actors in this especially Kristanna Loken. She was terrific in this film. She portrayed her character the Queen of Iceland very well and she is quite terrifying. I had no problem with Benno Furmann either. I think Benno and Kristanna were a good match on screen, made a good couple. The story is very good, its a bit Romeo and Juliet-sh which i like especially when it is a fantasy film as well. Good effects, the dragon Fanfir was believable. Julian Sands as ever makes a good bad guy, just brilliant! I never listen to other peoples comments as i like to see things for myself. I give this film 9 out of 10, because its no Lord Of The Rings i agree but this is in my eyes a love story. Lord Of The Rings was more about war.

Short of producing 2+ hour versions of each of the 4 operas in the Ring Cycle, this is simply excellent storytelling. Truly entertaining and worthy of viewing.

Given the obvious production and time constraints common to almost all television productions, the writers, director and cast have made a quite enjoyable film based on the Norse legends. They know they can't hope to surpass more traditional Wagner opera productions or the cinematic spectaculars like Lord of the Rings or Chronicles of Narnia and they don't try. They simply succeed brilliantly at presenting a quite entertaining and enjoyable film variation of the well known tale.

Kudos!!

Uli Edel did a damn fine job on resurrecting the Volsung Saga. I think that "Das Nibelungenlied" is not as much of a fairy tail as LOTR what gives this ballad a bit more of the realistic drama-feeling. No offence, but this is not the usual happy-ending US-Style flick that most of the audience is used to. Maybe that is the reason for this quite low avg. rating.

I really couldn't imagine anyone better suited for the role of cold queen of the cold Island. Kristan(n)a Loken prove to be as cold as beautiful, also a great actress in a role with much more script than she had in T3. Arnold knew back than that "she'll be back!" and she indeed is in this truly wonderful movie.

It was by accident that I happened upon this movie on the sci/fi channel and realized what the story was really about- I enjoyed it very much and purchased the DVD after seeing it. I do wish the DVD was the original, however instead of the edited version. I am a major supporter of the new Beowulf and Grendel film by Sturla Gunnarson and think it's of interest that Nordic tales are making a comeback. We are definitely in need of some heroic myths that demonstrate the dichotomy/conflict inherent in these stories- That the human experience is not black versus white extremes- but all the colors in between..Finally I actually get the basic story of Siegfried and the ring of the Nieblungs..and I want to find out the rest of the story!

The picture is based on Germanic mythology ,¨Der Niebelungen¨, a Nordic legend that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to write the Lord of the Ring trilogy . It narrates the legend of a hero named Siegfred (Benno Furmann) who, not knowing that he is heir to a conquered kingdom, becomes popular with the Burgunds . As the young blacksmith meets the location where is stashed the Niebelungen treasure that's protected by a dwarf and a giant dragon . Siegfred slain and kills the dragon and he bathes in its blood (exception a body part where falls a leaf) . He'll become invulnerable vanquishing every enemies after numerous battles and confronting many dangers , misfortunes and risks. He marries a princess of Burgundios named Kriemhild (Alicia Witt) by means of a potion and then the Queen of Island Brunnhild (Kristinna Loken) will execute her vengeance , fulfillment a prophecy of rampage , ravage and destruction . In addition , Hagen (Julian Sands ) will try to take the Niebelungen gold .

This mythological , dark , epic, brooding film is plenty of archetypal personages and were jingoist tributes , in fact the Niebelungen heroes were even loved by the same Hitler. The movie is adapted from Germanic legends , even Richard Wagner made Operas about these deeds as ¨ Gold of Rhin¨ , ¨Cavalcade of Walkirias and ¨Ring of Niebelungen¨ . Besides , it inspired to J.R.R. Tolkien and his ¨Lord Of the Rings¨ . It has recently discovered a treasure next to Haelsinburg (Sweden) that's called ¨the Atila gold¨ and can be the legendary Niebelungen treasure . There are other versions about these epic facts , such as the 1967 movie featured by Terence Hill , Karin Door , Herbert Lom and directed by Harald Reilm which is considered average and of course the classic silent adaptation directed by Fritz Lang that is the best deemed . This modern rendition for television is spectacular and colorful and its narration is quite well . The flick will appeal to historical epic buffs and legendary heroes fans. Rating : good and well worth seeing.