Beowulf & Grendel

Why this movie has been ill criticized by many critics and plain movie goers is a mistery to me. I know that many complaints come from the fact that this is not a faithful adaptation of the epic poem. But first of all, it's been said many times that a movie should be judge by its merits alone (movies have a hard time translating the emotions and content of a book or a story) and I don't see any problem with making a movie just inspired in a legend, if it is well done.This is the case with B&G. First of all, in spite of not having special effects, or CGI's, or big sets, it never looks cheap. The landscapes of Iceland are its best asset, because of their beauty and their quality and look of a legendary place. The costumes add authenticity too.The acting is very good, specially Stellan Skarsgard as the tormented King Hrothgar and Sarah Poley (as usual) as Selma the Witch, with Gerald Butler providing an acceptable charaterization of the hero (which by the way is far from being a super-hero, and more down to earth).The movie hasn't forgotten completely that some fantasy, legend or myth must remain in the story, but its approach is that all those legends must have had a human origin, magnificated and made mythical by the passing of time and oral tradition. And for me, this is a plus: it provides a human background to the story, and keeps it human for the most part. That may be a shock for many: if you expect a typical legendary monster movie, you won't find it here. Neither will you find a non-stop action movie "300" style. B&G is more drama than action.I'm afraid to say that as a commercial product, the movie has some hollywod-esque concessions (constant cursing -somehow justified by the director and crew in their commentary-, the obligatory romance). But those are minor flaws, and I don't think that will affect you appreciation of the movie, once you have the proper frame of mind to watch it.NOW ABOUT THE BLU RAY: I've read that the transfer has been criticized by some. The fact is that in daylight scenes this tranfer is as good looking as any I've seen. Believe me, the grandeur of the landscapes is reason alone to own this movie in Blu Ray. The mountains, the waterfalls, the beaches...make me wanna be there.It's the nightime scenes that look a little ordinary, just standard, closer to a plain DVD. But I wouldn't put the whole blame in the quality of the transfer; it is that those scenes have been filmed with just the neccesary light. Is this a flaw? I don't think so. It provides more authenticity.But yes, there is a particular scene (a dialogue between Beowulf and Hrothgar) that isn't even a nightime scene, in which the quality is very low, and that is because of the transfer and the original print: it looks stained and with a constant flashing. (That flashing is present also in another early daytime scene -when little Grendel is seen running in the beach-, but is less perceptible). But these are no reasons to dismiss the Blu Ray as a bad product, because most of the movie look pristine and very clear and detailed.As for extras, well, this is the part in which the Blu Ray will leave you wanting. There's a commentary, which is said to be done "by the director and screenwriter" but that in fact includes a couple of more people, and that is very entertaining and informative -and is very insistent about this movie being made the old fashion way, little computer help). There is also "storyboard comparisons", and some trailers. The DVD version of the movie has more extras and that's something that I will never understand: do they really expect us to buy the DVD also just because it has more material in it?. Come on, be fair, and include the same material in the blu ray release !. This is what made me downgrade my rating.The audio track is Dolby Digital, plus a PCM option. The dolby track is very good, just check a couple of scenes near a waterfall, or near the ocean and you will hear the water all around you. It also provides a good enhancement of the music during the movie. The feature only has ENGLISH subtitles.So, if you loved this movie, there's no reason you shouldn't own this blu ray. If you have a blu ray player, this is a good movie to own. There's no reason why you shouldn't enjoy the story (I repeat, as long as you don't expect a faithfull retelling of the old poem, or an action-packed movie) but anyway, the Iceland landscapes won't let you regret it.

The movie titles over the ancient map with demons in the sea; the music of strings and drums sets the tone of otherworldlyness; tribal tales told round the campfire - and the dark beyond where terrors dwell. Into this world of fable and myth we are told the tale of the hero Beowulf. Is what we see and hear true - or along with other ancient stories, an entertainment to pass the time as we enjoy our drinks before sleep, as those ancient peoples did?It has been over 60 years since I had to read Beowulf in Senior English. All that I remember is it was a hero tale and I was glad to finish it. But it did have a great hero.I think the whole film is like a dream - not real, but fantasy. We see Beowulf (Gerard Butler) emerging from the ice cold waters which would kill in minutes, to say G'day to a fisherman. He is not cold - he is just wondering where he is.In the opening moments we are introduced to the backstory of what happened to Grendel(Ingvar Sigurdsson), a troll, and why he is murdering the Danes. The sea behind Grendel as this unfolds, with the huge ancient primeval rocks and the waves are awe inspiring, giving meaning to the quote "what is man that you are mindful of him?"Back in Geatland, Beowulf hears of the Danes troubles and decides to take his warriors to rid his friend, King Hrothgar(Stellan Skarsgard) of the menace. The meeting with the king and the next days, show him to be a drunken weakling. And there is something not right.Selma (Sarah Polley), a witch, sees with clear eyes, maybe because she is considered "the other" a nonperson who would be killed except for the troll. For some reason he protects her. This is a secret, along with others, that Beowulf will begin to uncover, until he has become aware that all is not as it seems. Is he doing good? or evil?The final denouement of Grendal is gruesome but the final honor paid by Beowulf to him is sad and dignified.Comments: Of the cast, Butler is perfect as the conflicted warrior, big, strong and questioning.I was most dissapointed in Skarsgard. After reading so many comments praising his performance maybe I expected more. I thought he overdid some of his scenes and other lines just threw away. He just did not make me feel anything for this wimpy king.Sigurdsson was okay but again, I was expecting to feel more for him after reading soooo much praise for his performance.Sarah Polley is the one I thought was spot on. Now this is where I canna understand the dissing she has had over her Selma. I GOT it and thought it was most telling that no one mentions the horror that her character must have endured by the time Beowulf meets her. She asks him, when he mentions that both there peoples were annihilated by the same tribe, "but did they make you a whore?" I thought Polley played her as a survivor, and did it well.The priest - was he supposed to be going mad? That is the way I felt.The Iceland horses - I loved watching the riders. Did you notice that their gait makes the rider almost completely motionless? No bouncing around. The Tennessee Walker, that people ride in the US who have to be riding all day, has the same gate. The horse does the moving, the rider is still. I thought the shot of all of the Geats riding towards the waterfall was great. No laughing from me.The language. Come on!!! This is so tame I hardly noticed it - I was expecting something like "GoodFellas" with every other word a curseword. Sorry, I was underwhelmed - seemed just about right for a bunch of men doing the dirty work of killing for the citizens.Beowulfs comment on seeing the glacier "We're in a different world here" and his final words "Sleep Grendel" brought tears to my eyes.A wonderful trip indeed into "a different world." A myth - told round the campfire. And the monsters are still out there in the dark.This was a review of the DVD. Rating 9/10

"Beowulf & Grendel" is frequently commended by lovers of Viking movies, but this is actually quite an average film. The storyline and script are simplistic at points and the acting is sometimes below standard. There are some points that I liked, tho': turning Grendel from a heinous monster into a sort of gigantic Neanderthal with a chip on his shoulder against Hróðgár is ingenuous, while the ascendancy of Wealhþéow over the king is also interesting (particularly in a deleted scene); this is even more clearly marked in Zemeckis's version. The representation of a Danish hall seems all in all quite accurate. (The OE scholar Andy Orchard is thanked at the end of the film but not credited as advisor, so I wonder about his exact role in the film...) If you know the actual story told in the Old English poem, there are some noticeable departures, mainly the presence of an Irish monk and the witch. I like the former but cannot see the necessity of the latter: the monk is surely there to remind us that "Beowulf" as we know it is actually a old heathen myth copied by English monks, who are widely suspected to have modified the original oral stories to make them fit their Christian vision. This is probably there to explain the scene of the Geats returning home, when Thorkel the scop is shown to have been baptized and he draws comparison of Grendel with Cain (this is in the OE poem, btw). Other than that and as far as the development of story goes, on the other hand, the monk is quite superfluous. The presence of the witch allows us to enjoy the pretty Sarah Polley, but her relationship with the troll is a bit ludicrous, as is the final surprise, which I see as an attempt to link the film with the third part of the poem (Beowulf's fight with the dragon, of course not shot for this movie).Concerning the edition, the DVD is devoid of any subtitles (always a mistake IMHO, and even more here as the thick accent of some actors may prove a bit hard for foreigners), but on the other hand it offers both 2.0 and 5.1 versions. There is an audio commentary by the director and the screenwriter, (short) interviews with some members of the cast, a few deleted scenes, a comparison of the storyboard with the actual film, and some costume sketches. Some excepts of the documentary "Wrath of God" (about 9 minutes; the whole documentary is 72') are also included.

The film is a fairly accurate telling of the story but doesn't include the end of the poem where Beowulf fights the dragon when he's an old man, therefore ends with Grendel's mother.The recreation of the period feels authentic and the acting is good. DVD includes a making of film which is really worth watching too. Quality.

Not so much as ye olde Englishe as ye modern American. Like the curate's egg, good in parts. I might watch it again, but I felt it a poor buy. However, costumes were suitably skins, leather, leggings and chemises - perhaps I should watch it with the sound turned off. Some of the settings were spectacular and I suppose, overall, I did get an impression of a mythical history of the north.

I had seen '13th warrior'and thought it was very good-----THIS I thought was very bad!!!!Sort of the same story,BUT nowhere near as much action.Dreadful acting, and awful,very odd story line.Very fed up very quickly----but I do know, many people have enjoyed this.To us,it was just not good and I couldn't recommend,but a lot have already watched,i am sure.

I've read various translations and seen every film made of Beowolf - this version is OK at best. A good cast and very moody filming, but it does have that 'boring' low-budget feel to it. Also, the story is not completely accurate although this version of the story does make you think and also have symapthy for Grendel, it is quite slow moving and not very exciting or scary.