***Superb colorful Norse adventure/fantasy highlighted by protagonist Anna Demetriou*** The sole rightful heir of a Scandinavian kingdom (Anna Demetriou) is unjustly exiled and must survive the unforgiving wilderness while figuring out a way to win back her father’s throne. "Viking Destiny" (2018) may be low-budget, but it’s superb for what it is: A simple heroic fantasy flick with a compelling story that flows, great Irish locations, colorful cinematography & costumes, an effective score, a quality cast, and a runtime that doesn’t overstay its welcome (the credits start rolling at 84 minutes). I’m assuming the events take place during the Viking era, 793–1066 AD. In any case, Anna Demetriou is both beautiful and convincing as the Viking princess, a thoroughly worthy protagonist. The budget is comparable to similar low-cost flicks like “The Viking Queen” (1967) and “The Lost Future” (2010), but with the modern production sheen of quality sword & sandal TV series’, like Vikings, but more colorful and less dismal & brooding. Nevertheless, there are several bits o’ wisdom to mine. If you like movies like “Tristan + Isolde” (2006), “The Vikings” (1958), the aforementioned “The Lost Future,” “Conan the Barbarian” (1982) or any of the D&D pictures, I guarantee you’ll find a lot to appreciate here. There’s one story issue that might turn-off some viewers and that’s the idea that a couple of Norse Gods appear to the protagonists and antagonists. But it’s explained that only the person in question can “see” these gods, whether Odin or Loki. It might help to accept this on the grounds that people in the modern day are motivated through God or the devil & evil spirits (or however you want to put it). The character of the individual determines which ones from which they receive. The film runs 1 hour, 91 minutes and was shot in Northern Ireland. The action gets pretty brutal and there’s one overt sex scene in the forest. GRADE: A-

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