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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 Used: £2.89
You Save: £16.10 (85%)
New (25) from £3.23
Avg. Customer Rating:  51 reviews
Sales Rank: 1921
Format: Dolby, Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Running Time: 110 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
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 1-2 business days
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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: Read 46 more reviews...
 A gorgeous and entertaining adaptation September 4, 2008
Loosely based on the ancient tale of the 6th century hero, Beowulf is a brilliantly made film that is beautifully animated using Motion Capture techniques and is a greatly entertaining film. The film follows the traditional story relatively closely for the first part of the film but it does veer off on its own path after the death of Grendel. Although the changes that have been made do make this film something of a different animal to the original story but it remains exciting and I also doubt that a more faithful adaptation would be as well appreciated by modern audiences.
The computer animation used to make the fill is also truly spectacular, easily outdoing the previous usages of the Motion Capture technique such as Polar Express. The cast all give very good performances even if Ray Winston goes a bit over-the-top with his portrait of Beowulf as this seems somewhat appropriate for this film. In the end this can also be said of the film as a whole, it is an over-the-top homage to one of histories greatest heroes but for some reason it all just works. Some purists may dislike the departure from the traditional story and other film fans may not like the style of animation but in the end I personally feel that this was a great film.
Imaginative and odd, but watchable August 28, 2008
I expected to hate this computer generated cross between "300" and "Lord of the Rings", but I actually enjoyed it - a lot. It is cleverly and imaginatively realised and very gripping in parts. There are problems with the film - the CGI nature of it means that you don't really get any emotion from the characters; the story is disjointed in the middle; and there are elements of storyline that are never followed through (for example we never know why Beowolf's relationship with the queen doesn't work out, and John Malkovitch's character has great potential but is not used). Nevertheless, it is better than the host of comic book films around at present. If you like adult fantasy, you should take a look at Beowolf.
Worth seeing July 22, 2008
I think everyone here is giving Beowulf a bad rep. I'm not an easy person to please when it comes to film, but I really liked this. The whole film is very atmospheric and well acted. I don't know what all the other reviewers expected from this film, but it was everything I hoped for. Decent action scenes, decent animation, decent actors. An atmospheric masterpiece as far as I'm concerned. Perhaps being sat by a log fire whilst drinking beer helped...
A Beowulf in sheeps clothing. June 19, 2008
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
Not that i,m an expert or anything like that but reading up on the subject of Beowulf it rapidly becomes clear that this film version has taken a few liberties with the source material. The screenplay by Roger Avary ("Pulp Fiction") and Neil Gaiman ( "Stardust") invests the epic 9th century poem with debatable contemporary affectations some of which had me snorting with laughter . It is also woefully miscast for the main role .Yet for all this i found Beowulf to be hugely entertaining .....daft beyond belief but entertaining.
Using the motion capture technology that director Robert Zemekis also utilised for "The Polar Express" Beowulf tells the tale of proud warrior leader Beowulf ( Ray Winstone) who answers a distress call from a settlement led my drunken oaf Hrothgar ( Anthony Hopkins) to rid them of a pustulant monster called Grendel (Crispin Glover spouting Anglo Saxon) who is driven mad by the sound of people making merry. This is a problem because that,s all the settlement seem to do. Grendel is a truly loathsome specimen who not only looks like Pete Doherty (minus silly hat) but more terrifyingly sounds like him as well.
Grendel,s mother is an aquatic water demon but that's fine because she looks like Angelina Jolie , though it,s the Angelina Jolie with the mangled accent she used in "Alexander". She,s very seductive is the demon/ Angelina hybrid with her pendulous copper toned breasts and six inch high heels!!! Beowulf certainly can,t resist her despite his glowing horn....or maybe because of it. There is a soap style shock concerning Grendels parentage-absents fathers ehhh? but the fertile Angelina/demon hybrid is not finished , giving birth to a truly enormous dragon ( i presume she gave birth and did,nt pick him up from some dragon orphanage) whose battle with Beowulf gives the film a thrilling climax.
There is an awful lot wrong with Beowulf . The motion capture technology , which for me gave "The Polar Express" a seasonal glow , lacks the nuances required for a true drama. Away from the action sequences the film does,nt work . The motion capture does,nt convey the emotions of the characters with any conviction , indeed the most convincing characters are Grendel and the dragon. Which of course means the actors vocal talents are even more important. Beowulf using the voice of Ray Winstone just does,nt work. In certain roles Winstone is peerless but he seems incapable of doing anything without his "Eastenders" accent which when he is portraying a middle age warrior is ridiculous. John Malkovich and Robin Wright Penn are lumbered with roles that really don,t go anywhere, only Brendan Gleeson as Beowulf's right hand man is given a decent fleshed ( literally) out role.
Beowulf is,nt especially likable either. He struts around , shouting a lot which to be fair is probably warrior like behaviour but he also perplexingly fights in the nude which means the director has to conjure up copious cinematic tricks to keep his motion capture genitalia hidden. All of which tumescent meandering leads me to cogitate that the 3D cinema version missed a trick.
Yet for all this Beowulf is tremendous fun for the most part. The scenes where Grendel attacks the village, a flashback scene involving sea serpents and when Beowulf battles the dragon are technically brilliant and hugely exciting. And am i alone in finding the motion capture Jolie more alluring than the real one? So while i would never acclaim this as a film with any longevity in cinematic terms i would recommend that you watch it at least once. And the bits with Angelina Jolie maybe more than once.
 Poor May 24, 2008
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
Do NOT buy this film before watching it.
They had the source material for a fantastic movie here, but what we got was a firework-show of special effects with no backbone whatsoever. There are some fun/interesting moments, but the script and plot are an embarrassment to the film industry.
'Mindless fun' is the best compliment I could give this film.
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