What killed this film in the theater was the lack of plot.
Pathfinder (2007)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:73
Fresh:8
Rotten:65
Average Rating:3.6/10
Consensus: A few rousing action sequences can't make up for Pathfinder's non-existent plot and silly dialogue.
Rated: R [See Full Rating] for strong brutal violence throughout
Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Theatrical Release:Apr 13, 2007 Wide
Box Office: $10,232,081
Synopsis: Wearing its R rating for violence like a badge of honor, PATHFINDER bears more resemblance to a horror film than most of its historical action-film brethren. Director Marcus Nispel cut his teeth on... Wearing its R rating for violence like a badge of honor, PATHFINDER bears more resemblance to a horror film than most of its historical action-film brethren. Director Marcus Nispel cut his teeth on the remake of TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, and that experience has left a bloody thumbprint on this film. PATHFINDER shares the horror movie aesthetic, with its generous use of blood, jump moments, and shadow. Centuries before Christopher Columbus reached American shores, the Vikings carved a bloody path through the continent. When a shipwreck kills a boat full of Vikings and their Native American captives, the only survivor is a young blond child. Adopted by the People of the Dawn tribe, the boy grows up into a warrior. As an adult, the former Viking, now named Ghost (Karl Urban, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING), is an important member of his tribe with only disturbing memories to tie him to the Norsemen. When another ship of Vikings destroys his village and all he knows, he vows revenge. This remake of the Norwegian film OFELAS boasts several innovative action sequences, one involving a shield used as a sled in the snow. With his work in the Lord of the Rings films, Urban has perfected his talent at swordplay, and his prowess is evident here. His character takes on the Viking invaders almost single-handedly and stalks them, picking them off one by one. This is an action-filled film that doesn't let dialogue get in the way of the elaborate fight scenes. [More]
Starring: Karl Urban, Jay Tavare, Nathaniel Arcand, Moon Bloodgood
Starring: Karl Urban, Jay Tavare, Nathaniel Arcand, Moon Bloodgood, Clancy Brown, Russell Means, Ralf Moeller
Director: Marcus Nispel
Director: Marcus Nispel
Screenwriter: Laeta Kalogridis
Producer: Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer, Marcus Nispel
Composer: Jonathan Elias
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Get This Movie
Rent DVD
Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.
Buy DVD
Release:
Mar 31, 2009
Blu-ray Disc Features:
- Region [unknown]
- NTSC
- Keep Case
- Unrated
- Full Frame - 1.33
- Widescreen - 2.35
Audio:
- 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio - English
- Dolby Digital 5.1 - French, Spanish
- Subtitles - English, French - Optional
Additional Release Material:
- Documentary: "Clancy Brown: Cult Hero"
- Trailers: Concept Trailer
- Alternate Scenes: Deleted Scenes (8; w/Optional Director's Commentary)
- Audio Commentary: Marcus Nispel - Director
Behind the Scenes:
- 1. "The Beginning"
- 2. "The Design"
- 3. "The Build"
- 4. "The Shoot"
- 5. "The Stunts"
- 6. "We Shoot Now! Marcus Nispel on the Set of PATHFINDER"
Reviews for Pathfinder
It's a movie that belies its title, showing neither a strong sense of direction nor the drive to do anything other than display a whole lot of slashing and stabbing.
... little more than an excuse to present a bunch of slice and dice battle scenes filmed with murky cinematography and a notable absence of emotional resonance.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who think slow-motion is cool and those who do not. If you are of the former, I can recommend Pathfinder.
Metal heads will be in Valhalla; everyone else should find a different path.
The movie is part Apocalypto (warriors, threat of hostile takeover, violence!) and part 300 (warriors, threat of hostile takeover, violence!), but with the commercial misfortune of being neither.
In the movie’s attempts to create drama amid the action, as in a downhill sled chase, all energy is sapped, and the audience ends up feeling nothing.
Though you can't say Pathfinder doesn't deliver the goods, action-wise, the movie often has trouble sticking to its story between battles or involving us with its characters and its self-consciously mythic hero.
Once the actual fighting begins, the film turns dull and lifeless. From beginning to end, the film plods when it should pulse.
Cool concept and stylish visuals aside, Pathfinder isn't strong enough to offer the type of prolonged escapism one might expect from a movie that pits Vikings against Indians.
Blood flows freely here, but the movie never creates a keen sense of involvement or mystery. Even a major cliffhanging (literally) set piece winds up blurred by the addition of a blinding snowstorm.
Though Pathfinder was completed before 300 and the equally artful and brutal Apocalypto, it can still do nothing but slog along in their footprints.
Filled with foggy shots stolen from LOTR and laden with decapitations, Pathfinder is faux-period gore trash with no redeeming qualities and a high dullness factor. Find another path.
Never has an idea of such splendid nuttiness been so squandered to the god of neurotic style.
Pathfinder's moody, muddy look is courtesy of music-video director Marcus Nispel, who doesn't distinguish between people and tree trunks when it comes to emotional content.
Latest News for Pathfinder
April 28, 2007:
Trailer & Poster review ![]()
More...
April 22, 2007:
Box Office Wrapup: New Films No Match For Scary Shia
In the battle of the single-word-titled thrillers, "Fracture" beat out "Vacancy" but neither could dislodge "Disturbia" from the number one spot... More...
April 15, 2007:
Box Office Guru Wrapup: "Disturbia" Scares Up #1 Opening
Paramount replaced itself at the top of the North American box office chart as its new teen thriller "Disturbia" opened ahead of expectations in first place bumping... More...
April 12, 2007:
Box Office Guru Preview: "Perfect Stranger" Heads A Crowded Field
This weekend Hollywood just doesn't know its limits. Six new releases will jam into an already crowded marketplace on Friday trying to connect with spring moviegoers. More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 78% 78% | The Hangover |
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 24% 24% | G-Force |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 90% 90% | District 9 |
| 86% 86% | 500 Days of Summer |
| 63% 63% | Extract |
| 06% 06% | All About Steve |
| 78% 78% | It Might Get Loud |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- Pathfinder at Rotten Tomatoes
- Pathfinder at IGN
- Pathfinder at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Last week, MSN gave us their top 09 films. Now see what their favorites of the decade are!

Here's a list of the 50 best movies of 2009, according to the good people over at Moviefone.

Hollywood.com takes a stab at determining who in movies will be on Santa's naughty list in 2009.

TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic



