Product Details

• Actors: Hringur Ingvarsson, Spencer Wilding, Stellan Skarsgĺrd, Ingvar Eggert Sigurđsson, Gunnar Eyjólfsson
• Directors: Sturla Gunnarsson
• Format: Color, Dolby, Import, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
• DVD Release Date: September 26, 2006
• Run Time: 103 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (224 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000GIXEIG
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,869 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Beowulf & Grendel" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The otherworldly landscape of Iceland lends an appropriate touch of dark fantasy to this modern retelling of Beowulf, the oldest epic poem in the English language. Gerard Butler (The Phantom of the Opera) brings the right balance of physicality and world-weariness as the Swedish hero Beowulf, who travels to Denmark to fight the monstrous troll Grendel (Icelandic superstar Ignvar Sigurdsson), which has been plaguing the house of King Hrothgar (Stellan Skarsgård, buried under a mound of prosthetic hair). However, what transpires is not a battle between good and evil, but a convoluted mystery of sorts, with Beowulf playing the detective who discovers that his foe is more human than monster, and Hrothgar less wronged innocent than catalyst for his own downfall. Director Sturla Gunnarsson succeeds in pulling this legendary story from the dust of academics by contemporizing the dialogue (Andrew Rai Berzins has an excellent ear for hard-bitten palaver), and his visuals are nothing less than striking, but the film attempts to be both monster movie and melancholy drama, while never quite satisfying the requirements of either genre. Regardless, the quality cast (which includes Sarah Polley from Dawn of the Dead as a sharp-tongued witch with a connection to Grendel) and some well-handled action sequences should hold viewers’ attention even when the unnecessarily complex plot does not. --Paul Gaita

Product Description

Adapted from the Anglo-Saxon epic poem, Beowulf, BEOWULF & GRENDEL is a grandly staged medieval adventure that tells the blood-soaked tale of a Norse warrior's battle against the great and murderous troll, Grendel. The monster, Grendel, is not a creature of mythic powers, but one of flesh and blood - immense flesh and raging blood, driven by a vengeance from being wronged, while Beowulf, a victorious soldier in his own right, has become increasingly troubled by the hero-myth rising up around his exploits. Beowulf's willingness to kill on behalf of King Hrothgar wavers when it becomes clear that the King is more responsible for the troll's rampages than was first apparent. Starring Gerard Butler.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

107 of 119 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Epic with Universal Appeal, Serious & Comic Touches April 10, 2006

By Erika Borsos VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

This film was shown three times at the Sarasota Film Festival although it was originally scheduled twice. It sold out so fast a special third screening was added due to popular demand. On Sunday April 9, 2006 I was fortunate enough to attend. Prior to the show, the Producer and Director were introduced who answered questions after the film. The most interesting questions and answers related to how the ideas and vision of this epic story were creatively conceived and made into reality within the setting of Iceland. It was a six year project from idea to finished product ... It was a huge hit at the Toronto Film Festival and was an equal smash at the Sarasota Film Festival. This film deserves wider distribution at theaters throughout the USA and internationally. It has all the qualities of a multimillion dollar multiple-award Oscar-winning film.

Gerard Butler is superbly cast as Beowulf, a hero and fighter from Greatland who comes to help the Danes fight a troll who has been wreaking havoc among them ... The King of the Danes provides a background of the troll's murderous activity but fails to tell the whole truth to Beowulf and his mighty warriors. The scenery in Iceland is breath-takingly beautiful - views of stark rocky mountains, steep icey cliffs, green hillsides and crashing waves against the shoreline. Although, the Danes were fierce fighters a certain fear had taken hold - they no longer trusted their own gods to support and protect them. They were fighting a troll who managed to elude their fiercest efforts ... The Danes succumbed to baptism and the beliefs of the after life as taught by wandering Christian monks. Amazingly, even the Danish King was baptized after falling deeply into depression and alcoholism while watching some of his best men die.... Perhaps the soul of the King was tortured by some dark untold secret? Along with the obvious good versus evil aspects of the story, there are unexpected gems of hilarious moments with respect to the literary license used in the dialogue and deeper hidden meaning of the plot and story line.

After Beowful met Selma the witch and had personally encountered the troll, he uncovered some bewildering aspects of the troll's character and behavior ... rather than seeing him as a wild animal, as described by the Danes, Beowulf noticed the troll carefully selected victims each of whom had harmed or threatened the troll. Beowulf and his warriors continue aiding the Danes but the battle lines are not drawn as straightly or clearly as before. The amazing curves and twists to the story line are very satisfying. The cinematography is outstanding. The battle and fight scenes are just as gruesome as required for the subject matter ... The most appealing aspect of this film is how the big bad monster is shown in a different light toward the end when the deeper hidden meaning of its behavior is better understood. While the film does deviate from the original adventurous epic poem, it has a universal appeal due to the engaging mannerisms of the characters and the gradual blossoming of the character of Grendel. The use of comedy helps balance the more gory gruesome scenes and their aftermath. Due to some adult content should not be viewed by anyone under age 18 without parental consent. Erika Borsos [pepper flower] Read more ›

43 of 47 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Movie, Just okay; Gerard Butler, Intensely Watchable; Iceland, bleakly beautiful February 23, 2007

By Mir TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Unless you just get a kick out of--

1. sweeping, windy, frigid landscapes with a sort of terrifying beauty

2. modern revisionism that updates a classic adventure tale's meaning

3. extremely attractive Northern European he-males

--you may wanna skip Beowulf.

And yet...and yet, I suggest you try it, even though I was less than blown away.

Why?

Well, certainly number one above. Visually, this film takes you someplace stunningly cool (metaphorically, not just literally), an environment so bleak in spots and so callous in others and so apathetic to human suffering, that it's a fitting background for this stark tale of revenge and bloodshed and loss and heroics and loyalty. A cold wind surely does blow, outside and inside the soul.

Also, you may enjoy the revisionist take. Grendel is now the terribly injured party dealing with a sort of bigotry for his "monsterhood": He and his kind are hated for being different, ugly, smelly, not evil. (I believe, if memory serves from the long-ago high school reading, that Grendel did represent evil, and not merely a symbol of aggrieved minority.)

And almost certainly you will enjoy the charisma of actor Gerard Butler. That man is good. He can act--see THE JURY or PHANTOM OF THE OPERA or DEAR FRANKIE or even CRADLE OF LIFE to see how he can inhabit various types of roles and make them come to life with that combination of personal magnetism, vocal expression, facial expression, body language and just plain emotive power. I have no idea why this man is not a huge, huge star. He's got everything it takes, the complete package of ridiculous good looks and acting chops and versatility. He can be funny or menacing or romantic or so vulnerable you weep.... Perhaps 300 will do it for him in 2007.

As to the others: Stellan Skarsgaard is dependably good as an actor, if not always top-notch. He's good here, definitely a man chased by a Gredelian fury for his bloody deed long ago. Sarah Polley is less effective as the witch, and yet not totally ineffective. She simply was miscast. (She was terrific in THE SWEET HEREAFTER and I liked her in GO! and know she can act. It's just not a good fit for her, this role.)

Still, at the end of the day, Gerard Butler and the marvelous landscape are the two reasons to buy or rent or just borrow this DVD. Two potent forces of nature--Iceland and Butler--do manage to make a somewhat lackluster movie work in spots.

Bottom line: Try it, because parts of it work. And if you're a Gerard Butler fan, buy it, because he is a gift to cinema and quite easy on the eyes and ears. And if you can't travel to a high Northern wilderness, but kind of want to, visit a remote and windy spot with BEOWULF & GRENDEL. Read more ›

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Fair to Middlin', what a shame. October 9, 2006

By P. R. Lavorgna

Format:DVD

I have eagerly awaited the release of this DVD, as the movie itself doesn't seem to be appearing in U.S. theaters. That's a shame, really. The fantastic Icelandic landscape must be breath-taking on the big screen.

Stellan Skarsgard does an excellent job in his role of Hrothgar, the Dane king whose spirit is beaten and broken by the depradations of a vengeful Grendel. I am a huge fan of Gerard Butler, and enjoyed watching how he fleshed out the character of Beowulf, giving him far more dimension than the rather stilted script offered.

I think that is what I disliked about this movie. Most of the characters never achieved the level of credibility needed due to the stilted, and sometimes awkward dialogue, which ranged from poetic to middle-school boy's bathroom.

I didn't hate the film; I guess I just expected more from it.

42 of 50 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Saw this opening day in Toronto - magnificent!! April 16, 2006

By D. DArcangelo

Format:DVD

The Icelandic scenery is enough to make you want to see this movie more than once! I found myself wanting more as the credits rolled. It contains everything - including well-placed humor - and brings up so many varied emotions. Beowulf and Grendel was meant to be made and seen by so many. I've pre-ordered mine on amazon.ca and am hopeful it will come to the 'big screen' in the States. I want to see it again!!!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Great for the scenery, but cheaply made and misguided... September 30, 2006

By A Customer

Format:DVD

Admittedly, the fabulous scenery - and the hunky Gerard Butler - are the best things about Beowulf & Grendel. Shooting on rugged Icelandic locations, cinematographer Jan Kiesser provides some gorgeous wide screen vistas that give the film a visual power that goes a long way toward compensating for its narrative deficiencies and its penchant for silliness.

The film itself has moments that are astonishingly dull and fractured - particularly in the first twenty minutes - with most of the action composed of lots of misty eyed running around on rocks and howling at sunsets. Obviously, this Canadian/British/Icelandic co production from director Sturla Gunnarsson is trying to be reality driven, but the movie in the end, suffers from a definitive lack of scope.

The old English tale was majestic and epic, but this film ultimately lacks the grandeur and wit necessary to make the legend fully come alive. The Danish King Hrothgar (Stellan Skarsgĺrd) has built a new "great hall" but the implacable, seemingly invincible giant troll Grendel (Ingvar Eggert Sigurdsson) - seeking revenge for the murder of his father - is repeatedly attacking the King's people.

Hero and warrior Beowulf (Gerard Butler) is recruited by his friend the King to rid his kingdom of this murderous troll. It isn't long before Beowulf figures he's being manipulated by a beautiful a witch portrayed by Sarah Polley - a dead-ringer for Cindi Lauper - who is particularly generous with her sexual favors and who also seems to be hiding secrets about Grendel's mysterious ways....

In order to make the film appear realistically hip, the script is spruced up with long stretches of what seems like Old English with unexpected bursts of cussing, profanity and gleeful vulgarity - Grendel is constantly referred to as a "f*cking troll" and Butler says something about him having a "hairy *ss!" But the language - when you can hear it through the accents - ends up feeling as misguided and somewhat gratuitous as just about everything else in the film.

On the positive side, Beowulf & Grendel does a fairly good job of showing us how this old world functioned in the harsh and cold Nordic environment and how the onset of Chistianity was beginning to infiltrate the pagan Norse ways. Indeed Beowolf is quite sceptical of this new religion, whilst the sickly Hrothgar seeks to be baptised and ponders heavily on the truth of heaven.

The performances are at least competent, with Butler looking appropriately earthy and sexy and heroic-like, although Polley is woefully miscast, appearing in her impeccably contemporary makeup, she makes the film's obviously noble ambitions go entertainingly awry.

Grendel was obviously a murderer but he was also the son, father, lover, and playful child who enjoyed sumersaulting and bowling with human skulls. It's just a pity that this film doesn't really do him justice. All the protracted silliness that ensures along with the rather bland direction will ensure that even fans of the source material will be left scratching their heads in bewilderment. Mike Leonard September 06. Read more ›