EVERYONE'S FAVORITE VIKING IS BACK

Vladimir Kulich celebrated his 55th birthday this week, but age doesn't seem to have quenched his lust for blood. He's back in furs and swinging an axe this time in 'IRONCLAD'.

Born in Prague, Vladimir and his mother moved to Quebec when he was 12 where he became a professional Ice hockey player, at 6'5" ...... the blue eyed blonde was an imposing figure on the ice.

VLADIMIR KULICH PLAYS TIBERIUS IN 'IRONCLAD'

After voluntarily ending his hockey career, Kulich explored a variety of callings. He took a job at a summer camp that catered to handicapped children, began reading more, and tried his hand at painting. Unable to find a definite focus, Kulich eventually moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where he started a whitewater river rafting business located near Chilliwack, BC. Kulich would serve as owner, operator, and occasional guide for the rugged outings over the course of the next ten years.

One weekend, a couple of producers from the program 21 Jump Street scheduled a whitewater rafting trip with Kulich’s company and were impressed by the unique look of the Czech-Canadian. They offered to give him a small role on an episode of their show, which Kulich accepted.

He was best known for his role as Buliwyf in the film The 13th Warrior ............. and now he's back.

Prologue lays out how in 1215, Giamatti's King John is forced by rebellious feudal lords to sign the Magna Carta, which effectively undermined his absolute power and is still revered today as the cornerstone of English common law. But the king isn't happy about this, and sets out with a mercenary army led by Viking Tiberius (Vladimir Kulich) to wipe out the barons who co-signed the document. Taking control of Rochester Castle, in what is now contempo Kent, will give him complete control of the country.

A proto-democrat of sorts who tartly describes the king as "a tedious little man," Baron Albany (Brian Cox) mobilizes a team of men to help defend the castle until the French send reinforcements. His core of seven less-than-magnificent-but-at-least-adequate heroes includes battle-shocked Knight Templar Marshal (James Purefoy), newly back from the Crusades; greedy hard man Becket (Jason Flemyng); unsubtly monikered marksman Marks (Mackenzie Crook); and, along with a few more disposable others, idealistic pretty boy Guy (Aneurin Barnard), in what might be termed the Orlando Bloom role.

Helmer English and his team have clearly taken pains to emphasize the brutality of 13th-century combat, the hardship of life in a besieged castle and the acutely religious sensibility that permeated the era. ("Damn your Templar vows!" shouts Isabel when Marshal refuses to break his vow of chastity). Like Ridley Scott's "Robin Hood," "Ironclad" strives for a revisionist brand of realism that emphasizes historical roots.

I have to say that this movie smacks of 'The Magnificent Seven' set in the 13th century, but there is enough blood and gore to satisfy all red blooded Viking fans.