Beowulf & Grendel

source: Beowulf & Grendel

I really enjoyed the film. I was surprised to see the film was so humorous. That is something you don't normally see in films of this genre and it added a touch of uniqueness to the film. The landscape was breathtaking and the music was beautiful. The acting was absolutely superb. Ingvar Sigurdsson performance was amazing, especially for not having any speaking lines. He did a phenomenal job. Being a fan of Gerry Butler's, he did a fantastic job! Bravo!!! It was wonderful to meet Sturla at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. He was very nice and took pictures with fans. This is a must see movie. I am hoping the movie gets a US distributor so many more people can enjoy it!

So this is an adaption of Beowulf, the great Anglo hero. Norse mythology is being replaced with Christianity, when the last monster snaps and attacks a Norse drinking party, massacring them all. Beowulf is called in to kill the monster. This is no hero's journey, rather the story of the last hero. We are lucky for this story to survive history. This adaption does well balancing the pagan elements with the Christian ones, Adds a love interest and adds more grit. Takes it time setting up the initial confrontation between the two slowing down the first act and completely missing out the third with the dragon. Creates a deeper Beowulf but takes too long doing it.

Beowulf and Grendel is about the troll Grendel whose father was killed by a Danish king in Vinland. Grendel grows up with his father's head on a shelf in his cave and little other human contact. When Grendel gets big and strong enough, he attacks some of the kings men and slaughters them handily. Grendel continues toying with the kings people on occasion until Beowulf shows up with his henchmen. Grendel battles Beowulf and his men killing many. The acting was very good and a classic story for fuel. Most of the action was not too gory and the sexual content was minimal. Good cinematography and site selection with weather that must have cooperated fully.

Thinking my hair would turn gray before this film gets a US distribution, three of us made a 195 mile trip yesterday to Montreal to see this film. It was certainly worth it. The scenery alone of this desolate and land and the adverse weather conditions added greatly to the feeling you were standing with them on the black beaches of Iceland. Putting this ancient poem to film was certainly a difficult task but I don't know how it could have been presented any more accurately without completely loosing the audience. Sturla did a tremendous job in presenting this tale. It needs to be seen more than once as some people will miss some of the dialog first time through. Great mix of story with humor, anger, sadness and questions our human nature regarding revenge. Casting a very handsome and masculine Beowulf certainly worked for me but my heart broke for Grendel. As with any other picture, each person has their own opinion. Ours was very favorable.

Oh my God.The stupid Danish spend their lives-worshipping a retard.No-wait-He's a troll.That's different. This is their national defining epic. Their Saviour is a Geat:BeoWulf. A Geat who kills a retard. Who has sex with a witch,who had sex with the retard. Then, the retard has a mom who gets really mad about the retard dying. All because some guy from Daneland killed Grendel's Dad. I'm thinking Homer's Iliad here. Or not. Thus,we have the European Union. The Europeans have a f-ing troll as a defining icon. And the Europeans criticize George Bush. This is just psychotic. No wonder the Romans kicked your European ass.

i watched this movie in my friends house me and like 4 other guys we didn't know what to expect at first and then the scene where grendel is bashing himself with a rock comes up, and we cant help but laugh then another scene follows this one where grendel throws pebbles at the guard and thats when we crack up at this point we just cant take the movie seriously.............. whenever he lifts a stone we burst out laughing CUZ ITS HILARIOUS and wait till u see him talk OH MY GOD and the sex scene HAHAHAHHAAHAHA. this should have been a ridiculous comedy but its not so illgive it a 3 i didn't like it, it was a good laugh, but thats not the point of the movie is it.

OK, I understand poetic license, but did any of the production staff read Beowulf?! Nothing was right. Beowulf is credited as the first English epic and they screwed it up. I'm sure it may of had some merit as a good film, but I couldn't get over the irritation factor. Please anyone that's hoping to get out of reading Beowulf by watching this (which I clearly am not one) realize that you will fail. I'm very sure that the story was great in its original telling, so... tell it that way! P.S. THE NORSE GODS WERE NOT MENTIONED ONCE IN THE ORIGINAL WRITING SO THEY SHOULD'NT BE IN THE SCRIPT! NOR DID GRENDEL HAVE HUMANITY!!

What this version of Beowulf lacks in big stars and cool CGI, it makes up for in story and realism. In short, this one actually tries to be historically plausible than the CGI incarnation. And I believe that gives this film a solid edge. Yes it does deviate from the epic Old English story, but it goes the opposite direction from the CGI Beowulf. Instead of Jolie's body in 3D glory, it has recreations of housing from the era with fighting that makes more sense. Grendel is portrayed as a wild man instead of a monster. His mother, a wild woman, protects her son. And Beowulf ends up respecting somebody he doesn't see as his foe. Overall, I would give this a good mark. Higher than the mainstream Hollywood version. "B"