Real Vikings Collection

Three featurettes, two good, one miserable
There are three featurettes included on this DVD. The first one is just miserable (1 star). The next two are good (4 stars each). Thus, the 3 star rating.

The first 45 minute feature is "Food Soldiers: The Vikings". It was made in 1998, and the host is Richard Karn, who was from the TV show Home Improvement. The presentation is very basic, full of supposed jokes (which were never funny), used the same stock footage over and over again. The film made it very clear that Vikings never used horned helmets, but the stock footage and drawings they used to illustrate their points almost always had Vikings in horned helmets. The whole thing was treated as one big joke. If you buy the DVD, you can safely skip this one.

The second 45 minute feature is "The Vikings: Lost Worlds", where archaeologists and historians try to reconstruct some of the buildings, fortifications, ships, etc., of the Vikings based on discovered evidence. They traveled to...

Informative and entertaining
I think we can all agree: Vikings are cool. However, most people may not really know the truth behind the infamous warrior culture. For example, they didn't wear winged or horned helmets as we so often see in popular culture. This History Channel DVD special gives an in-depth look at the real Vikings and their history in three separate specials. Each one is aimed at uncovering the history, myths, tactics, and other facts about them. The parts include: Foot Soldiers: The Vikings, narrated by Richard Karn (of Home Improvement and Family Feud fame), The Vikings: Lost Worlds, and Viking Terror, which is narrated by Green Beret Terry Schappert. Each part is equally eye opening and interesting in uncovering the many skills, conquests, and lifestyle of the Vikings. The Foot Soldiers segment stood out to me the most, which is perhaps the most family-friendly of the bunch, with sometimes goofy animations and music tracks (even a Viking-theme rap!), but even so it provides excellent facts and...

A mixed bag - but you will learn something!
"Real Vikings Collection"
(History Channel, 2013)
3.5 stars

This DVD gathers three separate short productions about Viking culture and history, each aimed at a generally younger audience. The first video, narrated by TV actor Richard Karn from "Home Improvements," aims the lowest, with a joking, flippant tone that I guess is meant to appeal to kids who the producers thought wouldn't pay attention unless you dumbed it down enough. I didn't care much for the presentation, but there's still good information presented, so I suppose it might be a good angle to reach some kids.

A lot of the same information is presented in the other two features - the second one is a pretty straightforward, Nova-esque documentary, with a general overview of the Viking role in Norse society and European history, with an emphasis on their organizational and technological skills. The third program is hosted by an ex-Marine who explores the Viking's military prowess, generally...

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