An Epic Poem Brought To Life (Beowulf and Grendel (DVD))

Member Name: GoFigure

Product:	Beowulf and Grendel (DVD)
Date:	27/01/09 (13 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Authentic scenery and costumes - entertaining.

Disadvantages: None.

Directed by: Sturla Gunnarsson
Written by: Andrew Rai Berzins
(based on the epic poem Beowulf - anonymous)
Genre: Action - Drama - Adventure - Fantasy
Country: Canada/Uk/Iceland
Certification: 15+
Language: English/Latin/Icelandic
Released: 8th October, 2007 (DVD)


MAIN CAST:
Gerard Butler (Beowulf)
Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson (Grendel)
Stellan Skarsgård (Hrothgar)
Sarah Polley (Selma)
Gunnar Eyjólfsson (Aeschere)
Elva Ósk Ólafsdóttir (Sea Hag)


Based on the epic Norse poem 'Beowulf', the story begins with King Hrothgar and his warriors hunting down a troll (Grendel's father) and its offspring (Grendel) for no apparent reason other than they are trolls.

Grendel's father is murdered, and Grendel, who is hiding on the ledge of a cliff, is spotted by the king but spared. Waiting until the warriors have left, Grendel, who is just a child, cuts his father's head off and carries it to a cave where he vows to avenge his father's death.

Years later, having become a full-grown troll, Grendel tracks down King Hrothgar and the warriors responsible for his father's death, and starts killing them off one by one.

Disturbed by what is happening and guilt-ridden by the death of Grendel's father who was murdered without reason, King Hrothgar sinks into a depression that deepens as his men fall victim to Grendel. Luckily, Beowulf, Lord of the Danes, arrives with his troop of soldiers to assist King Hrothgar. However, when Beowulf begins to suspect that the king is responsible for the troll's murderous rampage, his willingness to kill for the king begins to waver... and when he befriends Selma, a beautiful and mesmerizing witch that has befriended Grendel, he becomes all the more confused. As Beowulf learns more about Grendel, and the outcast witch, Selma, his allegiance to King Hrothgar begins to waver.

Beowulf & Grendel is a feast for the eyes, a representation that is authentic in its scenic details of what a Norse village would have looked like (even the weather seemed to cooperate, adding a touch of bleakness), and its costumes. The story is set at a time when Northern European religions are giving way to Christianity, and where myths and legends are being quashed.

Beautifully filmed and directed with well-developed characters that the actors/actresses played to perfection, a great soundtrack and amazing attention to detail... what's not to like!

This is a wonderful rendition of Beowulf's epic poem, and with a runtime of 103 minutes comprised of battle scenes, village life, a touch of romance and an unwavering focus on Grendel the 'man' as opposed to Grendel the 'troll', there is rarely, if ever, a dull moment.

Summary: Beowulf, Lord of the Danes, is enlisted to murder Grendel...