Movie Thoughts: The Northman

Shot beautifully, another film that benefits primarily from the natural majesty of its settings, as Iceland is the New Zealand of the northern hemisphere —a small, well-run island nation with scenery that’s cinematic and beautiful and alien without even trying. Rolling green, steely skies, smoky darkness, glowing fire. Two butt-ass naked men swing swords among seething flows of lava. Bitter forest glades with CGI snowflakes whirling. Psychedelic caves, infinite ice fields. Brilliant setting after brilliant setting. The soundtrack howls, groans, moans, slams, pounds, screams as the drones give us swooping…