Director Robert Zemeckis mines the epic Old English poem for his latest action adventure to feature performance capture animation. The medieval tale was adapted for the screen by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avery, and no doubt it bears little resemblance to the text you studied in high school. So the story goes, King Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins) and his people are being terrorized by the horrific monster Grendel (Crispin Glover). Hrothgar puts out a call to any brave man who can come and slay the monster. Enter Beowulf (Ray Winstone) and his brave band of soldiers. Beowulf is a mighty warrior, and he quickly dispatches Grendel, but in doing so he enrages Grendel's mother-played here by an extremely sexy and serpentine Angelina Jolie. Beowulf journeys out to lay waste to Grendel's mother as well, but soon finds his resolve tested by great temptation. Director Robert Zemeckis Star Ray Winstone, John Malkovich, Crispin Glover, Robin Wright, Special Features Anamorphic Widescreen Audio 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital - English, French, Spanish Subtitles - English, French, Spanish Additional Material Additional Scenes - 1. Wealthow Shows Beowulf the Sundial 2. Beowulf Boasts to the People of Herot 3. Celebration and Seduction 4. Wulfgar Greets Beowulf at the Stockade 5. Beowulf's Day Unferth Finds the Horn 6. Cain on the Barrows Featurettes - 1. a HERO'S JOURNEY THE MAKING OF BEOWULF 2. BEASTS OF BURDEN 3. THE ORIGINS OF BEOWULF 4. CREATING THE ULTIMATE BEOWULF 5. THE ART OF BEOWULF Easter Eggs - 1. Coffee Break with John Malkovich Trailers - 1. Theatrical Trailer Runtime 114 minutes Year of 2007.
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Being of Norwegian blood, I was very excited about the story when the movie started. I didn't have any real issues until Beowulf faced Gredel's mother and she seduced him and made him into a liar and deceiver of his people. Beowulf slays Gredel's mother and later returns to rule his own people. In this movie he rules the Danes and the Dragon is really his own son from his union with Gredels mother. Beowulf is a man of character and a hero. Not a liar and a cheat as depicted in this movie.
What's great about it: Very Good special effects
What's not so great: Terrible deviation from the Epic Poem's story