I finally got round to seeing the Best Animated Film Oscar winner and really enjoyed it. So now it’s time to compare it to another film I really enjoyed. Valhalla Rising. Don’t shake your head now, there are more similarities between these guys than you might think.
I liked Flow a lot, and I like Valhalla Rising a lot. But which is better? There’s only one way to find out. FIIIGGHHT! If you didn’t get the Harry Hill’s TV Burp reference there, then…shame on you. Anyway, it’s time to look at a few questions to have a sense of what film has what. And what would be helpful at this point is a kind of grid thing to make things look more visually appealing/understandable. But I don’t think WordPress has anything like that. Well, apparently it does, after doing a quick check, but I can’t work out how to use it right now. It is what it is. So, some questions. Oh, and F = Flow, while VR = Valhalla Rising
– What is the name of the central character?
F = No name VR = No name
Yep, neither have an actual name. Although Mads Mickelsen’s monolith (alliteration, hooray) is technically named One-Eye by the boy, he has no official name. Likewise for Flow’s titular tabby (more alliteration, woo).
– How many words are spoken by the central character?
F = 0 VR = 0
Not a single word. Not one. Both directors use music and imagery to let the story tell itself. None of the cat’s animal friends say anything either. And sure, some of Valhalla’s surrounding characters say a bit, but not that much. You’d better get ready and hunker down for some non-verbal storytelling. Awww yeah.
– Does the film feature a gargantuan statue of the main character?
F = Yes VR = Yes
Well, it’s not really clear if that huge cat statue which the cat sits on is modelled on that particular cat (confusing sentence? Yes), but it’s definitely a big cat statue. And Valhalla also features two creepy heads of One-Eye at one point in the film, emphasising the character’s god-like omnipotence. Cool.
– Is there a traditional plot?
F = No VR = No
What’s that? You like your expository dialogues with plenty of description? Tough shit, you’ll get none of that coddling tomfoolery around here. You’ll sit down on your seat and enjoy what you’re watching, goshdarnit.
– What is the film’s running time?
F = 84 mins VR = 90 mins
Short and sweet on both counts. Or perhaps bloody and bitter, in the case of Valhalla. Flow has a pretty short running time, which is standard for a film aimed at a young audience. It’s an understatement to say that Valhalla is really not a film aimed at the tykes. It is short, though. I mean, if you see the name Nicolas Winding Refn on any particular film, you know that joint’s gonna be a heavy 18 (the guy hasn’t directed any flick below that age rating, as far as I’m aware).
– Are a group of individuals travelling towards a sacred land?
F = Yes VR = Yes
The animals in Flow don’t exactly vocalise this, but imagery of a glowing area in the distance definitely implies that they’re trying to seek refuge in a nice, shiny place that’s unharmed by destruction. One of the Christian leaders says that they’re looking for the Holy Land, and decides to take One-Eye with him on his quest (bad idea, bud).
– Does this plan go well?
F = No VR = Also No
I mean, if those plans went well, there wouldn’t be much of a film, right? You’ve got to inject some jeopardy into the equation to make your audience tense. In the case of a U-rated film, well, there’s a bit of bad weather and such like. In Valhalla, I guess there’s also some bad weather, but there’s also a load of violence too. Awesome.
– Is there a boat involved?
F = Yes VR = Yes
There’s a lot of sea travel involved in both films, so you’re gonna need a boat. Not a bigger boat, necessarily, Spielberg, but y’know, a boat of some kind. The animals of flow experience plenty of tight situations on their journey as arguments break out and weather attacks their ship. As for Valhalla, there’s a trippy boat scene in weird mist where all the men get tense and one man tries to kill the boy. Again, bad idea bud.
– Is anyone killed on the boat?
F = No VR = Yes
You’ll be bowled over to learn that, yes, someone is indeed killed on that book in Refn’s film. Wow. Don’t mess with the boy, or One-Eye’s gonna make you regret it. As for Flow? No, don’t be silly, this is a kid’s film we’re talking about.
– Is there a visually striking sacrifice scene in the film’s final act?
F = Yes VR = Yes
Yes, now you mention it, there is. But, yeah, spoilers.
There you go, ten questions asked. Who’s the winner, you say? Well, no-one. There’s never a clear cut winner in Harry Hill’s TV Burp, so there won’t be one here. ‘Dem’s the breaks.