Directed by:
Sturla GunnarssonScreenplay:
Andrew Rai BerzinsCinematography:
Jan KiesserComposer:
Hilmar Örn HilmarssonCast:
Gerard Butler, Sarah Polley, Stellan Skarsgård, Ingvar Sigurðsson, Eddie Marsan, Steindór Andersen, Gunnar Eyjólfsson, Egill Ólafsson, Ronan Vibert (more)VOD (2)
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Loosley based on the 9th century Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf. It tells the blood-soaked tale of a Norse hero´s battle with a great and murderous troll. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (2)
I acknowledge that this somewhat philosophical and moralizing approach is interesting; on the other hand, it could be approached in a more interesting way, revitalizing it. There are occasional scenes that are good and interesting, but they are scattered throughout the entire film, which does not have a particularly strong impact as a whole. However, the story itself is powerful. It is about defeating a monster, which is a reflection of the times and was created because the king did not care much about his rule, how he would ascend to the throne, or what actions he would take. This aspect is strong, but it is embedded in a story that, surprisingly, does not captivate at all. Some work on the script, reducing empty scenes and speeding up the plot, would make the film deserving of an above-average rating. As it is, it is rather disappointing.
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A great, albeit extremely low-key version of the Beowulf saga. Unfortunately it is spoiled a little at the beginning by the storylines being rather inconsistent and somehow confused - and it isn’t helped by the rather slow pace. But if you can get used to these strange aspects (it helps being familiar with the original), there is nothing to reproach. The actors a well-suited to their roles, the production design is more than decent, the music isn’t the worst I have ever heard and the rugged Scandinavian landscape makes wonderful locations. Primarily it maintains the “European" poetry of the original saga in a way that Hollywood might well not be capable of.
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Photo © The Film Works Ltd.
![Beowulf & Grendel - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/160/771/160771000_40b05f.jpg)
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