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Beowulf - Limited Edition 2 Disc Steelbook Director's Cut (Exclusive to Amazon.co.uk) | 
 enlarge | Director: Robert Zemeckis
Actors: Ray Winstone, Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins, Robin Wright Penn, John Malkovich
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: £23.99
Buy New: £9.98
You Save: £14.01 (58%)
Rating:  24 reviews
Format: Colour, Dolby, Dts Surround Sound, Pal, Subtitled
Languages: English (Original Language), Catalan (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region: 2
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Number Of Discs: 2
Running Time: 109 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 7321909214415
ASIN: B0013LI7V4
Release Date: March 17, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
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
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| Customer Reviews:
 Beowulf is fantastic March 17, 2008
Ryan West (england)
9 out of 17 found this review helpful
An exellent movie for anyone interested in old english/viking culture with lots of violence, blood and guts. This film is based on the oldest survivng text in English history (approx 8th century, to be seen in the british library written in old english). The story comes from Denmark and was brought to Britain by the anglo-saxons/english in the 5th century. This tells the story of a small Danish kingdom in the 5th century that is been terrorised by the monster Grendal and so the danes hire a mercinary from Sweden named Beowulf (and his horny, foulmouthed, burping mates) to save the day. But not only do they have to fight Grendal, but his mother Angelina Jolie is pretty mean too (Look out for her talking to her demented son in old english with a great german accent) Theres also a Dragon (but i dont want to ruin the story). The effects were amazing, the story was suprisingly exellent for what is a violent action story of ethics,warriors,honour and courage. In a world where the English are denied our heritage and identity this is a good reminder where we really came from (Denmark,Normway,Sweden and Germany) and deserves to be watched by all germanic anglo-saxons and anybody who wishes to see a great movie that is unlike anything you will have seen before, fantastic stuff.
 I rather enjoyed it - but I did think it was a bit gory for a 12 rating April 20, 2008
Keith Joseph (West Berkshire, England)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
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.
lost in translation March 20, 2008
B.
6 out of 12 found this review helpful
Beowulf is a testosterone-charged adaptation, no doubt. One with computer generated graphics to die for. The fight scenes (especially Grendel's first attack) are definitely cringe-worthy without being over the top or silly. And it goes without saying that Angelina Jolie makes one hell of a convincing succubus. Still, there was something missing.
To say the characters were stilted is an understatement. Whether this is a byproduct of the animation process, or simply a case of actors going through the motions, your guess is as good as mine. In either event, when we're left with a film whose most sympathetic and endearing character is the aforementioned monster, Grendel, something has gone terribly wrong.
Overall I felt the story was lost in translation...
 Mmmm - better work on the accents March 18, 2008
C. A. Davies (England)
5 out of 17 found this review helpful
In principle this is a good film (eg story line and animation) although it is not a true rendition of the fable - according to my Danish husband. However, my issue with it is that the accents of the characters are all over the place and it was hard not to laugh out loud in the cinema when Ray Winstone's Beowulf opened his mouth and a Sarf London accent came streaming out: there was a speech where he virtually said "come on if you think you're hard enough". Alot of the actors spoke in their 'home' accent which really distracted from the story, with the obvious exception of Angelina Jolie. Five stars for the animation but seriously let down by numerous and unrelated accents.
Beowulf destroyed April 2, 2008
P. M. Rees (Hampshire)
5 out of 9 found this review helpful
One of the greatest pieces of European Literature, and this was all they could make of it?! What utter rubbish. From the very opening it is obvious we are seeing CGI, the wooden tables in the Mead hall look as though they are made out of plastic, as do most of the sets. The costumes are nothing like what 6th century Danes would have worn and they all look totally clean as though just made yesterday. And everyone has an absolutely perfect hair style with not a hair out of place. The queen has a complexion that looks smothered with carefully crafted make-up. These were primitive 6th century people who bathed about once a month, dressed in what we would consider to be rags, drank like fishes, belched, and fell asleep. OK, so some of the reality needs covering up a bit, but what is portrayed here is a set of plastic dummies dressed up for a school play. In 1999 Seamus Heaney produced a magnificent new translation full of power and poetry. That this film is what the film industry serves up to us is an insult to us and a sad comment on the state of that industry.
One of the worst quality films I have seen. Thank god I only rented it.
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