Trailers for "Alatriste", the last Viggo Mortensen film.

[Neville]

The historical epic "Alatriste" has just been released in Spain. The film stars Mortensen as the titular character, a soldier and sword for hire in the Madrid of the XVII century, and pretty much every Spanish actor who has a name. The film is based on a series of acclaimed novels by best-seller helmer Arturo Perez-Reverte.

So far the reactions are mixed. While reviewers seem to like it a lot, regular viewers' comments are mostly negative, the main criticism being Mortensen's accent (he was raised in Argentina) and a muddled script.

American audiences will have to wait until december the 26th, according to the IMDB. Meanwhile, here is a pretty long trailer (3 minutes) with English subtitles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN7SNjVCOG4

[Scott]

This is my kind of film Neville. I like the settings and color. Hope it's as good as it looks.

[Neville]

It does look good, indeed. For a Spanish film it's very expensive, it's costed more than $25 million. I may watch it soon, it's my type of film as well.

[RCMerchant]

Why is it the last Viggo film? is he dead? I'm pretty isolated,and don't watch alotta TV,alotta times I don't even think I am up to date enuff to post (ie.my book reference.I read. ALOT.)

[Shadowphile]

Maybe he meant latest....

[Neville]

That's it. I meant latest.

[RCMerchant]

I reallyenjoyed A History of Violence. The first flik I saw him in was TEXAS CHAINSAW3,which Iliked alot.

[Neville]

Well, "Alatriste" has been on spanish theatres for about a week now, and the impressions from the audiences are terrible. Literally. It's been some time since I heard people panning a movie like they are doing with this one.

I'll watch it anyway, but right now I'm much less excited about it than I was last week.

You can read some opinions at http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=24387

[Neville]

Just seen it a few hours ago, and I must agree with the audience. This is a monumental failure, a wonderful project made the worse way possible.

The idea behind the film is excellent, I'm giving credit where credit is due, but it's too ambitious: to depict the decline of the Spanish empire (it's XVIIth century we're speaking here) through the eyes of a soldier and sword for hire that gets involved in several adventures.

But the results are appalling. It's not lack of a budget the one to blame here, although the film is certainly much less spectacular than its American counterpaurts, but the sheer insanity of the filmmakers who though it was possible to adapt five novels (!) into a 130' film, a script where everything is sudden and blunt and nothing is properly explain or explored, and a camerawork too restrained and limited that fails miserably at all levels.

Any good things? Well, although generally speaking the acting is nothing short of terrible, Viggo Mortensen makes a surprisingly decent Alatriste, more laconic and introspective than usual action men in the genre. And there's also Elena Anaya, from "Lucía y el sexo" and "Van Helsing", who does a decent job with her character, but both have little to do in such a messy film.

I should also mention the inspired cinematography, unexpectedly dark and somber, which seems to recreate the style of Velazquez (a few nods are made in that direction). But if looks sometimes make a good film, this is not the case here.

[Scott]

Thanks for the update. Maybe it will come on TV one day.