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Beowulf - 1 Disc Edition [2007] | ![Beowulf - 1 Disc Edition [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51S6u5xr7mL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Robert Zemeckis
Actors: Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: £18.99
Buy New: £8.48
You Save: £10.51 (55%)
New (16) Used (14) from £4.15
Rating:  50 reviews
Format: Dolby, Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region: 2
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 110 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 7321902208022
ASIN: B000Y86NS6
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: March 17, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk
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 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
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| Customer Reviews:
 Absolutely Superb! December 1, 2007
A. walker
21 out of 28 found this review helpful
Dark, brutal and completely captivating. This film shook every emotion to the core. I went to the cinema with my wife and kids, a family outing, feeling that I would be disapointed. How could the poem that represents the earliest known piece of English literature be transformed into a film that actually works and entertains?
Well, work it did.The nightmare CGI world took little time to draw my complete attention. I can acknowledge the point in the film that I realised this, but are too embarresed to explain. I am sure that I will not be alone though!
The tension does not relent for the duration and at times I was genuinely scared, shocked or horrified. Not just at the action scenes (which are never very far away) but even more so at the psyche of the key charectors.
I was expecting a lightweight, 'Lord of the Rings' type fantasy, intended to capitalise on that type of market. How wrong I was. No throwaway humour (there is humour but it works within the context of the overall film). I enjoyed Beowulf much more than any, or all of Jacksons epic trilogy. Its much more powerfull, faster, more brutal in absolutely every sense than L.O.T.R. I lost two hours and was totally taken in. That was over a week ago and there are still scenes, images and thoughts that I cannot eradicate from that powerfull journey into another world.
 CGI fails to create any magic January 3, 2008
Mr. D. A. Jeffreys
12 out of 26 found this review helpful
A Poor viewing experience. What is the point of digitizing actors, I guess it's cheaper to do special effects. So you end up with what looks like a video games. Lifeless charaters with no expression. Even the CGI with Angelina Joli nudity was not worth the effort (I believe she was pregnant when she posed for the digital body mapping, so that was a complete fake anyway). Who wants to see a guy fighting a huge monster in the nude?. Not me for sure. !! Lots of homosexual overtones in this rather gay film, probably not good for children.
The choice of Ray Winstone as the hero with his "DWEDFUL" ENGLISH LONDON COCKNEY ACCENT eg: "EYE will KEEIL YORE MooNSTER", is just a big joke. Just what the hell was the Director thinking about!! He comes across to anybody speaking English correctly as a complete moron. (I never liked his acting in anything he has done and his voice is just dreadful, and lacks taste.)
The dialogue is just like a big boastful kid showing off in the play ground at school. I am so strong so tough I can beat up anybody and similar themes.
Back to the Future Trilogy was so good this is just an example of how a Director can loose his way. There is no plot no story and no reason for making this movie !!
The CGI may be clever but what is the point, at this rate they will be able to replace expensive actors with virtual actors in just a few years time. So can we look forward to digital stars who will misbehave themselves and appear on virtual news channels then?
What will be next .. virtual big brother celebrity TV !!
The world has gone mad. And movies are the window on the madness.
If movies are going down the toilet, I wish this one was flushed before I wasted time watching it. In the words of Jon Malkovitch "BOLLOCKS!".
I bet it will help sell a lot of crappy video games, so the huge money wasted will be clawed back by the studios.
AVOID LIKE MALARIA !
 Spectacular and entertaining film November 20, 2007
O. Parker (Bristol, UK)
11 out of 15 found this review helpful
First of all I have to admit not having read the epic poem that the film is based upon. Apparently the writers (the unlikely pairing of Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary) have departed a bit from the original story - I read an interview where they explain the basis for their changes. They based their changes on the idea that when characters within the poem relate their own actions they could be acting as unreliable narrators. Thus Wrothgar and Beowulf's encounters with Grendel's mother are portrayed quite differently from the way I'm told they were in the book. However, I had none of this weighing on me when I first saw the film - just found it interesting afterwards!
I found the motion capture / digital enhancement effects quite captivating. I just wish I'd found a 3D showing as the visuals probably would have been even more spectacular. Zemeckis is bravely forging ahead with this new technology and it has come on leaps and bounds from the Polar Express. That said there are flaws - facial expressions sometimes appear blank and my companions viewing the film noticed this more often than I did. I think the photo-realistic re-creation of the actors faces is off-putting for many people because of the closeness of the resemblance but the nagging insistence in your mind that its not quite the same person - this could be solved by using unknowns for the faces but this would probably sacrifice some of the strength of the performances. I can't really fault the film for getting the likenesses as close as it does.
The upside of re-imaging the cast in the same style as everything else means that the spectacular effects seamlessly integrate into the film. The effects hold up well upon comparison to the green screen filming of real actors for 300, another recent fantastical historical epic. I can't choose which technique I preferred but I still think limiting CGI to the most necessary instances like The Lord of the Rings films is the best option.
The action sequences are brilliantly done and the key scenes of the fight with Grendel and the Dragon are both adrenaline pumping, engrossing, jaw-dropping sequences. I think the value of really good effects has diminished in the last few years and audiences tend to pick holes in CGI even when its done well.
Of course effects alone can't sustain a film. There are some good performances here but not everyone is on top form. Winstone's accent is out of place at times; that said the accents of the cast vary wildly. Hopkins is Welsh, Wright-Penn is occasionally Scottish etc. Apart from her accent Wright-Penn is excellent, particularly in the second half of the film. Brendan Gleason is as reliable as ever as Beowulf's trusted friend Wigluf. Angelina Jolie does brilliantly with the voice acting. Malkovich is a little over the top as the slimy advisor. Overall an enjoyable film with groundbreaking technology.
Monster Movie! December 11, 2007
Jonny Tapia (England)
11 out of 15 found this review helpful
Great movie! Didn't know what to expect after the recent surge of fantasy films after Lord of the Rings, but was hugely impressed with Beowulf.
The story is pretty dark and isn't really for children as there's some pretty intense moments. The action is top notch (watch out for the Dragon!) and the whole look and feel of the film is beautiful. I for one will be purchasing the DVD!
Beowulf Did Not Live to See It. Lucky Him. January 22, 2008
Ford Ka (Planet Earth)
11 out of 19 found this review helpful
Rather distant from the original (if you don't have the time to browse in the three thousand lines of the epic I will just say that there is no sex there - natural or unnatural alike - and most characters are not related including the fantastic ones) and offering sadly little in exchange, this film is a complete waste of time of everybody involved and prospective audience.
The first impression is that you are watching an early attempt at Shrek (just take a closer look at secondary characters!) which went completely wrong and was shelved for some years. The second impression is that with so many good and some acceptable actors you don't have to photo-shop them into caricatures. The third impression is that scenes of fight during which the cameraman concentrates quite exclusively on not showing the main hero's private parts can't be any good. The forth impression is that you shouldn't make movies of books you have never read and about countries you have not visited. The fifth impression is that the movie was actually made for 3D cinemas so watching it at home doesn't make much sense (the blurred faces are ridiculous) and you have just wasted good money. That is if you managed to keep on watching it long enough to have any fifth impressions.
Don't. Don't waste your money and don't buy it.
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