The Navigator: A Mediaeval Odyssey (1988)

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   Siskoid

   There's a lot to admire in The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey, but I don't think it actually works well enough as a story for me to recommend it wholeheartedly. And that's too bad because it is a very striking and original time travel film. 14th-Century Cambria is represented by stark black and white, while the trip to the future is in color, as likeable characters try to flee the Black Plague by digging through the center of the Earth to the other side (20th-Century New Zealand) on the word of a boy who is having divinely-inspired visions. It's unfortunate then that the boy in question acts so woodenly, and that, be it because of thick accents or strange editing choices, it's sometimes hard to understand just what's happening. People seem to be doing what they're doing because a premonition told them they'd be doing it, so justifications and motivations are hard to come by. And while I appreciate the idea of making the 20th Century a fearsome, dangerous hell from the POV of the characters, the film seems to forget about our own POV and cheats. For example, we know that cars aren't demons from hell, so it's not credible that absolutely no one ever tries to swerve or stop when Medieval pilgrims cross the road. So yes, original enough that I'm glad it exists; I just wish it was a little more coherent and engaging on a character/plot level. 4 years 8 months ago

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