Beowulf & Grendel

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nick s This adaption of the famous poem portrays Beowulf (the hero) as a sentimental people's poet, and Grendel (the 6 foot 6 ogre) as a misunderstood victim. I think they could have used forced perspective to make Grendel a tad more intimidating. There was a lot to like in the acting, fight sequences, sets and costumes. But the major letdown for me was the storytelling. It really didn't feel focused and a lot of scenes felt superfluous. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/28/24 Full Review Emily B We watched it in class after we read the story. It was pretty good. Letter Grade: C- Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/05/25 Full Review Jamy S The other Beowulf is terrible, this is offensive As I recall, the plot of the original begins with Grendel, a scaly beast with literal fire in his veins is savagely massacring Danes sleeping in their lords hall (did the poem mention that the Danes had killed Grendel's father? I don't recall, this was certainly beyond justice as a blood feud) So anyway, Beowulf comes from Gotland to aid his friends, proves himself not only bold but quite a wise and good man, slays the beast, then he's obliged to kill Grendel's mother to finally end the terror Afterwards he battles a dragon on a mountain top and dies valiantly This film however begins with a motley crew of Danes attacking a poor, lame troll who manages to put his son, Grendel, to safety before being brutally murdered… And so forth So instead of a story of a hero protecting the innocent it's a victim fetish film I highly recommend "The Northman" if you want a properly executed story exploring the tragic nihilism of the compulsory blood feud, that film forms a proper bridge from barbarism to stoic enlightenment Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 06/07/23 Full Review John S In my ongoing effort to right the critical wrongs of Rotten Tomatoes let me now celebrate the remarkable Beowulf and Grendel, a profoundly poetic and deeply authentic immersive retelling of the ancient Germanic saga. This version is stunningly beautiful, visually and linguistically. Shot in Iceland's epically primordial landscapes, the film also captures the mind-blowing oral power of the original poem, including all the ribald humour, the intense creativity, the tribal glories and the eternal themes. Gerard Butler is perfectly cast as the heroic yet self-aware and inquisitive Beowulf. Stellan Skasgard is great as the failing drunken King Hrothgar, and the monster Grendel is played by Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson with unforgettable cro-magnon power. The only false note is Sarah Polley, who looks but regrettably does not sound the part of the witch. Overall this is a great action film, a rich historical drama, and a memorable tribute to one of the great surviving poems of Old English. You need to work a bit, because they don't spoon feed you, but for those with the will and the ears and the imagination to dive in, the rewards are enormous. 5 stars. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/27/23 Full Review Ashutosh This film is possibly the worst screen adaption of Beowulf. It's even worse than 1999's the 13th Warrior. Here the villain is the sympathetic hero and the hero, so called, is a weakling and a nobody. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review steve d Some of the actors are solid but that must have been where all the money went. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Beowulf & Grendel

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