Review #2 - BIG BAD WOLF (7 février 1998)
Source : Ain't It Cool News
http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=695

"Capitalizing on a break in the Wrath of El Niño, I ventured up to the UA La Cañada for what we were told to be the first test screening of John McTiernan's new film, EATERS OF THE DEAD.
First of all, let me say I haven't read the book and knew virtually nothing about the story prior to seeing the film -- all I had seen was that dark and cryptic trailer.
Overall, I liked it very much. It wasn't orgasmically great, nor was it painfully bad... not even close. It was a solid adventure film, well-told and beautifully staged, and that, in and of itself, makes it a worthwhile film.
Shedding his annoying penchant for e-nun-ci-a-ting e-ve-ry damn syl-la-ble and dropping his laughable T-1000-style glare, Antonio Banderas turns in a good, likable, even laid-back performance that nicely balances out the darker tones of the film. Sort of a cross between Matthew Broderick in LADYHAWKE and Morgan Freeman in ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES.
But Banderas' kick-ass Viking comrades steal the show. All newcomers to my eye (except for the crazy Irishman from BRAVEHEART, if I'm not mistaken), I'm not familiar enough with them to single each out for praise, but suffice it to say they were all wonderful, and most them looking like survivors of a casting call for a movie version of "The Mighty Thor." The chemistry between Banderas' initially-pithy Arab politician and these Nordic war machines is the true backbone of this film.
Without a doubt, the most impressive sequence was the final battle between the Vikings and the, uh, "bad guys." Deliciously constructed through slow motion, no sound effects and rhythmic battle music, this climactic scene was an all-too-brief orgy of war that could make Conan and William Wallace turn white with fear -- that is, if they extend it a bit longer, letting it develop more. This is the final showdown, after all. But then again, better to leave us wanting more than bored. But seriously, you could barely tell the geysers of blood from the rain storm they were fighting in.
Temp-tracked with music from THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, THE CROW, THE POSTMAN, BRAVEHEART and others, I can't wait to hear the credited Graeme Revell's final score. And the locations and production design were absolutely amazing -- a thoroughly believable world.
Perhaps the only annoying filmmaking element here was McTiernan's now-trademark Sloppi-Cam(tm) shot design. His love of handheld camera has degraded from viscerally-thrilling to accidentally interesting to, now, embarrassingly amateurish -- but hopefully, McT can cut out some of the more awkward shots before release.
Audience reaction was lukewarm (and that's being polite.) Only a smattering of applause at the end and several walk-outs throughout the film. Considering the audience was filled with pot-smoking gangsta-wannabes (yes, that was Mary Jane's perfume making the rounds from the left side of the theater), I'm not surprised. This film will, sadly, probably not hit a home-run with the "kids." And it's a damn shame. I was so pleased with the film, I went out and bought CONAN THE BARBARIAN on DVD to maintain the mindset.
On the way out of the theater, I passed Michael "Redwood" Crichton, John "Noriega" McTiernan and Joe "Ho-Hum" Roth all intently discussing (read: "worrying about") the screening. Matters weren't helped by a moronic loud mouth not five feet away from McT boasting about how HE would have directed the film. I'm surprised McTiernan didn't turn around and "McClane" his sorry ass.
In a nutshell, EATERS OF THE DEAD -- a fine film for a limited audience."