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List Price: $29.99 | | Label: Paramount
Salesrank: 10938
Released: February 26, 2008 |
| Our Price: $4.25 |
| Used Price: $1.72 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
In the age of heroes comes the mightiest warrior of them all, Beowulf. After destroying the overpowering demon Grendel, he incurs the undying wrath of the beast’s ruthlessly seductive mother who will use any means possible to ensure revenge. The ensuing epic battle throughout the ages, immortalizing the name Beowulf. Academy Award® winner director Robert Zemeckis tells the oldest epic tale in the English language with the most modern technology, advancing the cinematic forum through the magic of digitally enhanced live action. A stellar cast is led by Ray Winstone ("The Departed," "Sexy Beast") in the title role. Joining him are Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins as the cursed King Hrothgar, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover, Alison Lohman and Oscar Winner Angelina Jolie as Grendel’s mother.
Description of Beowulf:
Spectacular animated action scenes turn the ancient epic poem Beowulf into a modern fantasy movie, while motion-capture technology transforms plump actor Ray Winstone (Sexy Beast) into a burly Nordic warrior. When a Danish kingdom is threatened by the monster Grendel (voiced and physicalized by Crispin Glover, River's Edge), Beowulf--lured by the promise of heroic glory--comes to rescue them. He succeeds, but falls prey to the seductive power of Grendel's mother, played by Angelina Jolie... and as Jolie's pneumatically animated form rises from an underground lagoon with demon-claw high heels, it becomes clear that we're leaving the original epic far, far behind. Regrettably, the motion-capture process has made only modest improvements since The Polar Express; while the characters' eyes no longer look so flat and zombie-like, their faces remain inexpressive and movements are still wooden. As a result, the most effective sequences feature wildly animated battles and the most vivid character is Grendel, whose grotesqueness ends up making him far more sympathetic than any of the mannequin-like human beings. The meant-to-be-titillating images of a naked Jolie resemble an inflatable doll more than a living, breathing woman (or succubus, as the case may be). But the fights--particularly Grendel's initial assault on the celebration hut--pop with lushly animated gore and violence. Also featuring the CGI-muffled talents of Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs), Robin Wright Penn (The Princess Bride), and John Malkovich (Dangerous Liaisons). --Bret Fetzer
Beowulf Reviews:
Definitely worth watching 
2009-11-26 - I don't usually write reviews, but I thought this movie was being unfairly lambasted, so I decided to throw my 2 cents in.
I was not familiar with the original poem before seeing this movie in IMAX 3D. It was an amazing experience. I liked it so much that I had to have a copy for myself and so I bought the blu ray version.
Even without 3D the movie is still spectacular. Most of the bad reviews are angry at the movie's straying from the original "classic" version of the story. This should not be held against the writers. They managed to produce a thrilling spectacle that offers CGI at its most impressive. Angelina was breath-taking, the monsters were awesome, and the characters were quite individual and interesting. Definitely worth watching.
multi-clutural-pluralism-overkill 
2009-11-23 - In creating Beowulf, evil marketing was in trouble for previously declining sales and let the world's smartest computer make it, by key-entering: Aunt Jamima pancake lady composite of 23 races; Asians like fantasy movies; 80% of US economy composite divorced female purchases; Immerging gay audience; Madlibs; And, oh yeah, guys like violence too ... tap .... tap ... tap ... punch [enter]. They were like OMG, will someone actually watch this? Or, is this GIGO (garbage in, garbage out).
This movie is guaranteed to make you wish you had washed your car instead, dream of what you could have done with that $6, and never ever talk about watching it at work with the guys, or girls for that matter. This was produced in a series of shows like Borat, the new Battle Star Galactia 'less guns' mega-sopa-opera-style character development, X-Men flop, with people like Jesus hating Brad Pit, Tom Cruz Scientology, Wack-o Jack-o, etc. that appeal to the 'new' marketplace, with an old story, just well, er...only with evil marketing to spice it up. Affluent people will be thinking, "My subordinates waste their weekends on World of WarCraft and movies like Beowulf." Blue colar works will believe, "I work hard to get my boss a bonus, so he can take his family to see freaky stuff like this?"
10,000 years from now when archeologist dig down into the strata containing dividing layers of new and old Coca-Cola, they will begin to see the fall of Hollywood, and should not be quick to blame it on pressures of India, China, or other cheaply made imported films.
dvd
2009-11-18 - The DVD I purchesed was great just as described will do business with seller again
Note the red graphics on the packaging -- a terrific film! (details)
2009-11-12 - I specifically mentioned the red graphics as there is one version with white lettering on the cover.
So first, to make sure we're discussing apples and apples, I'm reviewing the version which says "Beowulf, Director's Cut" in red lettering on the face of the packaging. I paid four bucks for mine at the video store -- it was pre-played and in like-new condition.
The technical stuff is that this film/DVD IS in widescreen and runs for 114 minutes. The film is un-rated (IMDB has it at PG-13, mostly for some mild nudity and sexual scenes which aren't very graphic.) There has been a lot of digital enhancement of this film, particularly to punctuate the action scenes and this feature has been well-done throughout. You might characterize it as semi-animation but it's not cartooney in any way and looks very realistic.
WARNING: MINOR SPOILER HEAD!
THE STORY: The time is 507 A.D. where Beowulf is a mighty heroic and pagan warrior who comes to the aid of the King of Denmark whose kingdom is plagued with periodic raids by the demon-monster Grendel. Grendel, a pathetic and violent gigantic creature who has a taste for human flesh and blood, is soon dealt with by Beowulf but Grendel's "mother" is much more formidable and she's really ticked off that Beowulf snuffed her offspring. The final two-thirds of the film deals with that conflict as well as with Beowulf's mercenary exploits.
This 2007 film is loosely based upon the anonymous epic poem (written sometime between the 8th and 11th centuries) of the same title. The story is considered very important to Anglo-Saxon literature. In both the poem and the film Beowulf overcomes various mythical creatures which threaten humanity.
I first saw this film, having borrowed the DVD from the local public library -- this was an inferior version, rendered in full-screen which I do not recommend. Watching this movie in the widescreen version on a widescreen television is a must.
The two big stars include Ray Winstone as Beowulf (also terrific in Henry VIII) and Anthony Hopkins (a little known youthful performance here: War & Peace (1972)) as Hrothgar. The movie also stars John Malkovich and Angelina Jolie. The casting is excellent and the cinematography is equally terrific.
While this film doesn't quite compare in magnificence to The Lord of the Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition) I still thought it was even a little better than Eragon (Widescreen Edition).
In any case, this fine film earned my highest rating.
Missed opportunity 
2009-11-12 - If you appreciate the original tale of Beowulf, then this film doesn't add much and in fact is a poor version on multiple levels: story-wise and technically. First off, Zemekis has taken way too much liberty with the source material (the portrayal of Grendel's mom and some other less needed story elements). Beowulf's relations with Grendel's mom is very inaccurately portrayed, along with the final revelation in the film which is really not present in the original story. In order to flesh out and pad a relatively straight forward story of a hero, Zemekis has managed to create a wasted opportunity with extraneous plot none-sense.
Beyond that, this film still suffers from the zombie-eye cg puppet syndrome ailing all of the director's motion captured films (though less creepy than the now famous Polar express). The animation is very weak because relying too heavily on mocap info deadens the action. Realistic portrayal of digital actors is still a work in progress, and it does this movie no favors. Too bad, because despite it all the story of Beowulf could make an interesting film when done right.
