Viking legend has fascinated many for years, and yet there are myths that persist today (like the matter of horns on their helmets, for instance) that are patently false. The IMAX-born Vikings: Journey to the New Worlds attempts to clear up some of these misconceptions, blending together reenactments, digital recreations, aerial photography and footage of historical maps and artifacts.

Much of Europe’s traditions, technology and institutions come to modern folk from these fierce northern men of the past. In Vikings, we get information about the social structures and types of gods the Norsemen worshipped, and the North Atlantic sagas come to life as follow both Eric the Red and his son Leif Ericsson to Greenland and then onto North America 500 years before Columbus. The 3-D stuff doesn’t necessarily play as well on the small screen, but the interesting facts about the rise in 8th century shipcraft — including thin, overlapping planks with tar and animal fat — make for fascinating listening. This led to revolutionary long ships with dragon-shaped bowheads and shallow drafts, which allowed for Viking marauders to travel further up rivers and beach quite easily.

Packaged in a regular Amray case, Vikings includes a 22-minute making-of featurette anchored by interview narration from producer Carl Samson. Audio comes with English 5.1 and DTS tracks, and Spanish and French 5.1 tracks, with optional English subtitles. B- (Movie) B- (Disc)