- has anybody bothered going to see this thing yet? Decided to wait for the dvd to come out rather than waste money on the big screen, after I saw this -
(http://www.snuurg.com/monsters/grendel.jpg)
...the idea of CGI-ing the whole thing and making most folks look more or less like themselves - apart from the guy playing Beowulf - seemed pretty so-so to start with, but then that thing, sheesh.
Saw the Gerard 'SPARTAAA!' Butler version from last year and that was sort of okay, yeah it was a tall bloke in platform shoes with Popeye forearms stuck on, but still passable - whereas with this new-fangled effort they've coughed up a Grendel that looks like he's been chewed up and spat out, not to mention faffing about with the storyline and making his mum into Angelina Jolie, hmm.
Dunno really - anybody seen it and think it's good/okay/brill/crud*?
I have to admit the Grendel is what put me off going to see it. All the other stuff looked pretty swish but the Grendel just didn't look monstrous enough and seemed badly done. Looks like a half hearted attempt at a zombie giant (does anyone else remember the '80s phenomenon of every mini race having to have an equivalent giant?) mini by an average sculptor.
I gave up going to cinema when they banned smoking. Went once in last 10 years and watched LOTR part 1 and my lungs nearly collapsed from lack of smoke, never been back. Until they start catering for my needs I shall rip off their films thru bitlord muahahahahaha
I like that Ray Winstone is Beowulf, hes a great actor and a West Ham fan as a bonus :icon_w00t:
That above pic is a snapshot of an action scene by the looks of it so it will be moving fast and you wont see the detail so much. I think it'll all look well done
Think I will wait till it's on sky myself.
Best one I have seen is Beowulf & Grendel, nice action, good effects and decent acting, more ture to when it's set.
http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3437076/Beowulf-And-Grendel/ProductReviews.html
QuoteCustomer rating: 5 out of 5 starsLoved this film for its earthyness
1lovemovies| 14/12/2007 |See all 1lovemovies' reviews (1) »
I was fortunate to receive this movie as a Christmas Gift last year. I loved it - Why... well for one this isn't a great big epic nor does it feature oodles of special effects - it's basic and earthy and rather gruesome in places I actually felt sorry for Grendel on several occasions. I like Gerard Butler and I enjoyed the cast of characters. To me it read rather more realistic than Angelina popping out of the water like a gold serpent or the weird graphics that the lastest version appears to have. So if you like your movies more realistic and entertaining then get this one.
QuoteCustomer rating: 3 out of 5 starsThis Is The Original Beowulf
Alatriste| 10/12/2007 |See all Alatriste's reviews (11) »
I came across this dvd in Poland,and couldn't believe it hadn't been released...worse again,I had never heard of it!
With both Stellan Skarsgard(Bootsrtap Bill-Pirates of the Caribbean)and Gerard Butler(300) as leads, I was shocked to find that this 'european' film wasn't recognised as a result of the forthcoming mo-cap Beowulf made by Hollywood!What garbage!
This film exhibits the struggle of King Hrothgar Lord of the Danes against an ogre whom is picking his people off one by one....that is the basic outline,and if your worried about being bogged down literary mumbo-jumbo, don't be, everything is conveyed simply enough similar to LOTR.
Gerard Butler lets his Scottish accent rip in this,and Im proud of it. In fact everyone speaks a certain slang...apart from the muse who is bloody annoying anyway. In this regard, it's fresh as it moves away from the shakespearean toffness of Lord of the Rings.
Don't get me wrong, it isn't as good as peter jacksons masterpiece, but it will be a damn sight better than whatever hollywood will produce.
QuoteCustomer rating: 5 out of 5 starsEarthy and thoughtful
BlankBlank| 05/11/2007 |See all BlankBlank's reviews (1) »
A Canadian/Icelandic co-production, this is probably a film that can polarise opinions and may not be what you expect. This is not an action movie nor a monster movie. It's isn't any kind of distant cousin of an Arnie 'Conan' movie. In truth it has more in common in style with the last BBC production of Ivanhoe in look and feel than, say, 'the 13th Warrior' or 'Lord Of The Rings'. It has a small budget too, but never looks cheap.
Make no mistake though; it is a mythic film about a mythic hero.
In style it is earthy, grim and fatalistic and far closer to, say, the proper Icelandic Sagas than the fantasy novels that we see in bookshops in this country. The population is sparse. The surroundings are cold and bleakly beautiful and there is never any impression other than life is hard. The couple of fights are short and brutal.
The general conversation is foul mouthed and laden with a bone-dry humour. This is in stark contrast to the formal style of the boasting and skelling used in the hall of the king to praise and to announce intentions; something I have never had the pleasure of seeing in a film before. Characters are well drawn but nothing is laid out for you; the film makes you ask questions about their motives and also about your own perceptions of a time when the codes were so very different.
Grendel is in appearance a Neanderthal but is portrayed superbly by the actor; subtle and complex once you begin to look behind the grunts and roars and watch the body language and the expression. This brings in a strand of the re-evaluation of Grendel as being something other than a relentless primal evil; a theme that has been taken up by a few over the years. Instead it puts his actions into a context that Beowulf himself seeks to understand, despite still being driven to pursue his own goals. Selma, an addition to the tale, is an ambiguous character; an outcast who is defensive and often unpleasant but her motives are integral to the plot.
It is also, thankfully, a film where magic is real rather than a film of historical fiction through 'scientific' eyes: folk lore, faerie lore and religion (Norse and early European Christianity) are as intrinsic to life as breathing, even if peoples opinions of God(s) may be as blunt and practical as their lives need them to be. Grendel's mother, glimpsed before we really see her is both a reminder of the older pre-Christian world and adds to the theme present throughout the film that this is an end of times for some and a beginning for others.
Quiet and sparse, slow paced, wittily scripted, very earthy, thought provoking and superbly acted I would recommend this if that sounds good and if the old sagas still entertain you. Just don't expect CGI and Hollywood production values.
All IMHO :-)
QuoteCustomer rating: 1 out of 5 starsAs rotten as Grendel's loincloth!
JJCavill| 30/10/2007 |See all JJCavill's reviews (1) »
Having just wasted 100 minutes of my life watching this film, I'd now like to spend a few more minutes writing this review to avenge them.
Being used to but bitterly resentful of the fact that in Britain we are so often denied DVD releases of films set in our own country or at least starring our own actors, I was thrilled to see an upcoming release of Beowulf and Grendel, Region 2! I've been looking forward to seeing it for some time now, being a huge fan of Norse Mythology and the "practically perfect in every way" Gerard Butler. However, I now understand the reluctance of the studio to release this DVD here, knowing full well it is a load of pickled tripe!
Derived from a classic saga, this film is barren. No character depth whatsoever, just the usual cliches and a ton of poor direction and incompetent writing. The stupid script coupled with mumbling acting ensures that for most of the film the dialogue is actually incomprehensible, lost in a series of thickset Glaswegian accents, phoney Irish accents and Scandinavian accents. And I think most people who want to understand a film would choose The Lord of the Rings' articulacy over unintelligible muttering any day! Examples of the stupidly dire script would include a scene in which Beowulf is slapped by Selma, and instead of exclaiming "Where did that come from?!" he exclaims "Where did that have its birth?!" Seriously!
Even Gerard Butler's overwhelming sex appeal and sincerity cannot pull this film back from the depths of festering tripe salad. Devoid of any amazing fight sequences to speak of, the film is abundant with numerous silly ideas that kill its own credibility dead in its tracks and have you laughing out loud at the characters and moments you're supposed to be taking seriously. These include when Grendel chokes Beowulf and his men with the toxic fumes of his urine by casually urinating on their doorstep (lol!), and the general concept of Grendel being a half-naked Neanderthal with hairy thighs prancing around the Icelandic countryside like a frightened rabbit, incessantly moaning and gurgling. And God help you if you encounter his mother! "Old Bag" doesn't quite cover it, and it seems the budget didn't quite cover her make-up expenses, as she looked like a cheap Trick-or-Treater!
Parts of this film are also woefully vile, generally involving the revolting villainess Selma, who can only be described as "perverse". There is no chemistry between her and Beowulf, she only ever expresses contempt for him, and there is nothing appealing about her whatsoever, so it is impossible for us to see why our hero is attracted to her. The moment he jumps into bed with her, he becomes just as stupid.
And I don't see what's so much more "British" about this film, as the previous reviewers have emphasised. It features a couple of British actors, and that's it! Apart from that, it was made in Iceland by an Icelandic-Canadian and features a largely Icelandic cast!
In conclusion, you'd be crazy to buy this (unless you've already seen it and know for sure you can bear it). If like me you love mythical action fantasy films, LOOK ELSEWHERE! Instead try The Sword of Xanten (which I truly appreciate), 300, and of course the peerless Lord of The Rings trilogy. Heck, even Pathfinder is more credible (and that's not saying much)! Meanwhile, I shall be directing a flock of Odin's ravens to "decorate" the houses of all people involved in this production!
QuoteCustomer rating: 5 out of 5 starsBrilliant!!!!!
robmetalrules| 10/08/2007 |See all robmetalrules' reviews (3) »
Absolutly Awesome, its about time this film came out on R2. what the hell took those idiot film companys to release it in britain. i have a foreign copy of this. It is made to look more realistic. as you may know there is another beowulf film coming out. but the story has been completly americanised. and is CGI. it looks and sounds terrible. But WATCH THIS FILM IT IS EXCELLENT
that's one boring monster.
Half the films I see I see only because of scenery or special effects not being bothered wether the plot is interesting or not (even had dreams as a kid of becoming a hollywood special effects maker - my first attempts at sculpting where in fact masks for "special effects" use, mostly sores and similar stuff).
Guess I won't be seeing this then. I'll see the Golden Compass though. Have no hopes for the story but I want to look at the icebears and the steampunk environment.
Quote from: Wristaction on December 22, 2007, 03:05:39 PM
Best one I have seen is Beowulf & Grendel
http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3437076/Beowulf-And-Grendel/ProductReviews.html
- yup, that's the only one I've had a look at so far - also just got my hands on the animated 'epic' (about 30 minutes) from 1998, Derek Jacobi narrating and Joseph Fiennes as the voice of Beowulf, and a lot closer to the tale, the dragon doesn't come into it until Beowulf is an old man, unlike (at least, as far as it seems) with the new CG-fest where it looks like it turns up not long after the Grendely bits... meanwhile, there's also a Christopher Lambert version from about ten years ago that I may or may not get around to having a look at.
Quote from: Bodhi on December 22, 2007, 06:57:15 PMI'll see the Golden Compass though. I want to look at the icebears and the steampunk environment.
- Indeed, looking forward to seeing that. :)
...anyway, I'm off to do a bit of Grendel-Googling, see if I can find some of the great old drawings of the big fella that I remember having seen in days of not quite yore.
Quote from: Caerban on December 22, 2007, 04:48:59 AM
I have to admit the Grendel is what put me off going to see it. All the other stuff looked pretty swish but the Grendel just didn't look monstrous enough and seemed badly done. Looks like a half hearted attempt at a zombie giant
:yeahthat:
The dragon looked like a zombie dragon too :(. They ripped off their modifid storyline from someone else's "alternative" version that was broadcast as a radio play in the 90's but this time they even managed to forget that it's Wiglaf who slays the dragon.
It's worth watching for Wiglaf but everything else is pretty cack (the demon having "fleshy high heels in her feet" was just taking the piss).
They did actualy remember that the dragon turns up a lot later and managed to make all the characters look older for the end (although it looks like they cut the 50 year gap down to about 30 so Beowulf wasn't in his 60's/70's when he fought the dragon).
They also blatantly ignored the fact that dragons in viking mythology don't often have wings but are crawling land drakes (very serpentine).
Oh yeah, watch it for the music! It's got really great addictive stirring music. Unfortunately it's a bit like Ladyhawk in that they play the same music all the way through without respite but this time it actualy sounds great (lots of choral chanting) rather than some 80's keyboard nightmare.
And all the film's music is up on You Tube already (here's a link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHXFQC9jfVg) and another link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip5K0dlK8Go&feature=related) to give you an idea of what the film sounds like). So it's sort of like the Alexsander Njevski music :). The only bad bit in it is the wierd ff'ed up electronic bit in the opening credits. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se7xsM9qZpU&feature=related) After that it settles down (if that's the right way to describe it :p) into a really good rousing operatic feeling music score :).
The story really isnt too close either-and there was WAY TOO MUCH digital man ass for my liking.
Seriously. Beowulf strips naked to fight Grendel? Did I misread my old copy of Beowulf? Gawd I hope not
Yeah, I didn't get the whole "I must strip off and shout my name over and over again in every single scene just incase the stupid audience forget who I am" thing either. It started to grate about two thirds of the way through. The music was great 'though (apart from that little elecritc keyboard bit right at the start of the openning credits that really spoilt the immersion, similar to the electric guittar music during the fight scenes in Sharpe).