Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17652 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-03-17
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
• Formats: PAL, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Colour, Subtitled
• Original language: English, Catalan
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 109 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
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 physicalised 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 beautifully 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

DVD Description
Robert Zemeckis directs the CGI-animated Beowulf, starring the voices of Angelina Jolie, Ray Winstone and Anthony Hopkins. After destroying the overpowering demon Grendel, Beowulf incurs the undying wrath of the beast's ruthlessly seductive mother, who will use any means possible to ensure revenge. What follows in an epic battle that will resonate through the ages, and immortalise the name of Beowulf.

Special Features:

- A Hero's Journey: The making of Beowulf
- Beowulf: Mapping the Journey. Production Pods Gallery
- The Origins of Beowulf
- Beast of Burden- Designing the creatures of Beowulf
- The art of Beowulf
- Creating the ultimate Beowulf
- Additional Scenes

Customer Reviews

I rather enjoyed it - but I did think it was a bit gory for a 12 rating
Being a Noggin the Nog fan at 6, I naturally warmed to the Beowulf saga as a teen. Plus I enjoyed John Gardner's 'Grendel' novel as a student, where the Beowulf story is retold from Grendel's perspective: "His mother is totally incommunicative. In fact, his only real friends are the Danes he kills. Still, he knows he is dependent on Hrothgar's survival. If I murdered the last of the Scyldings, he muses, what would I live for?".

When I found out the writer of the book 'Stardust' was helping to produce two movies, 'Stardust' and 'Beowulf', I knew I had to see them at the cinema. I took my son (11) to see both ('Stardust' was great). However, although my son enjoyed the film (well the two main action bits anyway), I did feel Beowulf was rather violent for just a 12 rating - this is one of the few films where I was actually shocked at one point. Beowulf fights Grendel without any clothes to prevent his armour hindering him, and there are articles placed about the mead hall that conveniently hide any obviously male bits from the viewer - and this overt coyness irritatingly distracts you from the horror that's unfolding - i.e. Grendel's attack (after that Beowulf faces Grendel's mother in a loin cloth). When Grendel breaks in to the banqueting hall, looking frankly a bit too decayingly revolting, he proceeds to bite off the heads of the hapless Dane warriors and spray them up the wall (but that apparently isn't as disturbing as a PC generated male figure in the buff - although even the Crazy Frog was anatomically correct on kids TV, and Bart Simpson for that matter). Granted my son didn't seem perturbed by the graphic violence, but a 12 rating can bring in kids of any age with their dads. It doesn't look quite so shocking on the small screen via DVD, but be warned if your young preteen sons want to watch this movie (I found this aspect slightly worse than similarly 12 rated King Kong, also a great movie otherwise). However for a 9+ audience all should be fine, and on the big screen this film is probably less disturbing for little ones than PG rated Jurassic Park.

Otherwise I loved the movie (other than wishing Grendel had inherited his mothers, fathers and step-brothers good looks). The change to the story and Grendel's family tree/mothers fate was fine (it made Beowulf more vulnerable and so an even greater hero in overcoming his shame to defeat the avenging fire dragon). The mix of accents didn't worry me (who wants a Danish `allo allo', and Beowulf and Hrothgar are from very different settlements anyway, being born in Sweden and Denmark respectively). The PC animation was pretty good if a little stilted occasionally, and I could certainly see the attraction of Grendel's mother (killing her looked a heck of a lot harder). Plus Anthony Hopkins [Hrothgar], Brendan Gleeson [Wiglaf], Angelina Jolie [Grendel's mum] and John Malkavich [Unferth] provide superb support for Ray Winstone's Beowulf. Perhaps I would have preferred a live action `Conan the Barbarian' style version, as much of the fighting and monsters would have been the same CGI anyway, but I was impressed with Beowulf the great Nordic warrior, he cut a believable tough heroic figure and the film evoked well the tragedy of his plight as he goes from hero to zero, and back again. Besides, any Beowulf is better than nothing and this was a good stab at the story. The original poem is a long slog anyway, but worth scanning through - you can find it on the web for free. Also try Gardner's Grendel, and Seamus Heaneys poetical interpretation `Beowulf' (it's more than a translation and has the original alongside to compare). The original Beowulf isn't impossible to read, and rather like Mallory's Morte d'Arthur it puts you closer to those of the era if you read it as written down.

I didn't actually notice much had changed in the director's cut other than the fight scenes are noticeably more gory than the movie release, but this doesn't actually detract from the film at all and does add a bit more gritty realism - after all Grendel and his mum are the stuff of nightmares. However those watching with their sons might opt for the standard release. As usual I haven't watched the extras yet, other than the `making off' which was interesting, showing how the live actors helped the CGI movements - and it made you wish the actors were in the film when you see every nuance of their real facial expressions. But otherwise a pretty good movie.

HAIL!!! BEOWULF
I didnt get the chance to see this movie at the cinema so I decided to wait until the DVD release,it was well worth the wait. To all the people thinking of purchasing this movie DO SO!! if you are interested in Norse legends then this is a must. The storyline is so gripping keeping you hooked until the end credits (you may not want to blink in case you miss something) the fight scenes are AMAZING especially that of the battle between Grendel and Beowulf and the graphics are truely stunning I couldn't believe the realism of the characters, at most points in the film its hard to believe that they are CGI, and with a cast of stars such as Anthony Hopkins, Ray Winstone, Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Crispin Glover what more could a person ask. The only drawback to this movie is that you dont really see enough of Beowulf. He was the slayer of dragons and monsters and yet we get to see him in battle only twice (well if you exclude the story of the sea monster battle) but even so this is definately a movie to go down in history much like the sacred legend of BEOWULF!

A rare thing a action film with a great story.
Beowulf is the oldest story written in the english language over a thousand years old which would, have influenced other great fantasy stories/films such as Lord Of Rings and Star Wars. The special effects are of a very high standard with Ray Winstone being made over 6ft tall with a six-pack and large biceps. Anthony Hopkins is as great as ever and lets not forget the very sexy nearly naked Angelina Jolie (wow!!!). Robert Zemeckis has done a great job on this old story what a rush. I nearly forgot to say you can watch this film in 3D at certain cinemas. I don't know what excited me more seeing a dragon in 3D or Angelina Jolie.