The 13th Warrior

(Buena Vista)

John McTiernan's adaptation of the Michael Crichton bestseller Eaters of the Dead has 10th-century Vikings meeting up with Arab emissary Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan (Antonio Banderas) and determining that he is the non-Viking "13th warrior" whose help they need against a mysterious flesh-eating enemy. Banderas, charismatic as ever, turns out to be pretty kick-ass, and this literate entertainment -- it's a loose retelling of Beowulf -- turns out to be a pleasing actioner.