Advantages: Brilliant CGI effects
Disadvantages: Just very flat, and not enthralling at all

...This film was directed by Robert Zemeckis and was released last November. It is a based upon the Old English folk tale with the same name. Situated in Denmark, King Hrothgar, voiced by Anthony Hopkins, has a new celebration hall built for his people. This is when we first meet Grendel, a deformed screaming monster, who attacks the hall and its civilians. Full of anger, the King puts out a reward for the man who can defeat the monster. Along comes Beowulf, a sailor, who arrives with his men in the village. He offers to slay Grendel, but his credibility is questioned by the King's advisor. However, Grendel arrives at the village again to re-attack it, and is confronted by Beowulf. They each fight unarmoured and Beowulf is proved victorious as Grendel flees and dies in his mother's arms back at their lair whilst revealing the name... Read review

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Advantages: Brings an ancient masterpiece alive
Disadvantages: Can be hard going

...Beowulf was one of the first poems ever to be written down in a language that was recognisably English. In the original it is virtually incomprehensible to all but scholars and although translations have been available for many years it is this version by the award winning poet Seamus Heaney that has catapulted it back into the mainstream. Beowulf is a classic Nordic Saga, which tells the tale of the heroic Beowulf who tackles three great monsters. He secures an alliance with a neighbouring tribe and eventually becomes ruler of his own people. This poem has neither the depth, nor the sophistication of the Greek epics of Homer or Hesiod. It is beautifully simple, making full use of the so called, “Anglo-Saxon laconic”, short pithy sentences that say a lot but leave much unsaid. Heaney manages to pull off the considerable... Read review

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Advantages: Authentic scenery and costumes - entertaining
Disadvantages: None

...Directed by: Sturla Gunnarsson Written by: Andrew Rai Berzins (based on the epic poem Beowulf - anonymous) Genre: Action - Drama - Adventure - Fantasy Country: Canada/Uk/Iceland Certification: 15+ Language: English/Latin/Icelandic Released: 8th October, 2007 (DVD) MAIN CAST: Gerard Butler (Beowulf) Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson (Grendel) Stellan Skarsgård (Hrothgar) Sarah Polley (Selma) Gunnar Eyjólfsson (Aeschere) Elva Ósk Ólafsdóttir (Sea Hag) Based on the epic Norse poem 'Beowulf', the story begins with King Hrothgar and his warriors hunting down a troll (Grendel's father) and its offspring (Grendel) for no apparent reason other than they are trolls. Grendel's father is murdered, and Grendel, who is hiding on the ledge of a cliff, is spotted by the king but spared. Waiting until the warriors have left, Grendel, who is just... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic graphics, story and casting!
Disadvantages: Want to watch it again and again!

...I do have to confess that originally I was taken to see this film under duress! My fiance is a sci-fi and animation fan -so after a tolerable amount of begging I was pesuaded to join him to watch Beowulf at the cinema. I was expecting craptacular, not spectacular. Beowulf The film was released in 2007 and is directed by Robert Zemeckis, who also directed the Polar Express. It is a time of legends, heroes and monsters - a conquering succession of valiant, brave men with a sword in their hand and a beer in their guts! Set in the 8th Century, Beowulf tells the story of the mightiest of all warriors, Beowulf! he is the hero of the Geats and he arrives at a village besieged by the terrifying Grendel. the monster Grendel keeps attacking the danish mead hall. The village has resorted to locking it up and forbidding any celebrations which... Read review

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Advantages: Great adaptation of the ancient anglo poem that it is based upon
Disadvantages: A little slow in places and could have been shorter

...Beowulf 2007 Directed by Robert Zemeckis Animation by Stephen Enticott Running Time: 1 hr. 53 min Distributor: Warner Bros Distributors Ltd Certificate: 12A Release date: 16/11/2007 Cast: Brendan Gleeson - Wiglaf Anthony Hopkins - King Hrothgar Ray Winstone - Beowulf Robin Wright Penn - Queen Wealthow John Malkovich - Unferth Crispin Glover - Grendel Angelina Jolie - Grendel's Mother Alison Lohman - Ursula Charlotte Salt - Estrith Rik Young - Eofor Dominic Keating - Old Cain Chris Coppola - Olaf Greg Ellis - Garmund Leslie Zemeckis - Yrsa Story: The Film Starts in a medieval danish castle where the focus is on a huge celebration in the newly constructed mead hall being hosted by king Hrothgar but as the festivites go on Grendel is awakened and attacks all in the hall. This forces the king to close... Read review

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Advantages: Easy access to Britain's earliest 'Classic'
Disadvantages: Encouraging people to read it in the first place!

...The Seamus Heaney translation has been a God-send to me.I study Anglo-Saxon and as a result have a very limited selection of people that i can usually study my texts with.Which was a pain!...Until i persuaded my Dad, boyfriend and various random members of my family to read this Beowu