Wiedzmin

Methinks the vicious slams against this film, made by hardcore fans of source author Andrzej Sapkowski, are a bit out of line. Sapkowski's books, very popular in Poland, are not available in English yet (a UK edition comes out in 2007), and I have not read them, so I watched the film with no expectations. There is some excellent film-making here, an unusual atmosphere (helped by a fine music score and great scenery), and, most memorable, the magnetic performance of Michal Zebrowski in the lead. In WITH FIRE AND SWORD, Zebrowski seemed merely ornamental (he is very good-looking); here, he truly claims the role of the lonely warrior moving through a broken world determined to find a higher moral code.

Comparison with Tolkien is largely misplaced, although this fantasy also clearly grows out of the catastrophes of the 20th century. In HEXER, we enter a world of vicious power struggles and atrocities. When a ruthless band resembling Teutonic Knights wipes out a sacred retreat of women, you can't help but think of the Nazi atrocities in Poland. The content also draws on older Polish history, such as the 17th century practice of impaling captives; you won't find that in Tolkien! The resonance of this exotic background and the seriousness of these themes give the film a welcome sense of gravitas that results in some haunting images and moments.

Regarding special effects, I grew up in the 1960s on Ray Harryhausen claymation, and while I appreciate the tremendous advances in FX, they don't make or break a film for me. The special effects here are certainly not Hollywood state of the art, but nor are they cheesy; they are respectable.

The film's biggest weakness seems to stem from the fact that a longer version appeared as a TV series in Poland, and this feature release was edited from that. Indeed, some developments seem too rushed and some characters pop up very abruptly; the story is not unintelligible, but does require a bit of concentration from the viewer. I would love to see the longer, more fleshed-out version on DVD someday.

I love Polish cinema. I love Michal Zebrowski, he was awesome in Stara Basn or in Ogniem I Mieczem. I love the fantasy books in LOTR style. But this film killed nearly all my sentiments. What do we see here - very badly done video effects (the scene of the battle with a dragon is especially hilarious), pathetic play of all the cast and above it all - too much of Zebrowski - this time, blond, dirty, proud and uttering such laughing stock lines that it is hard to believe your ears. Nay, do not waste your precious time - this is a random mixture of the images of Sapkowski's books, badly filmed and with a laughable budget. Nothing of the good kind here - just a constant yawning disease all throughout the endlessly boring film.

a very mediocre film based on a superb series of stories and novels. I hope Somebody, someday will be able to film it the right way. In the meantime, look for the books (by A. Sapkowski), a very inteligent, postmodern fantasy. By now there should be a translation in english, there translations in german for sure.

Wiedzmin books (the first two volumes are stories on which this fatal movie is based) and five further volumes i.e. Wiedzmin Saga are perfectly written piece of fantasy literature. I can agree that their author borrowed a lot from Tolkien but he added so much his own spice that at least in my opinion

they are much more exciting that Tolkien's Middleearth Saga.

If only we(Poles) had someone like Peter Jackson to direct the movie based on Wiedzmin Saga (and enough money, but not so much as for LOTR) that potential movie would shake Hollywood.

But for now we can only cry in despair that someone spoilt such piece of great fantasy.

Kind regards, Paul Wiedzmin's(book version) fan

This is actually a compilation of TV-series. A lot was left out, and maybe that's why it feels so inconsistent in places. Geralt was good, as was the little heiress. I'd say the TV-series was okay, the movie - not so good. Go for the books instead.