Beowulf & Grendel is, as Sturla Gunnarsson says, "a CG-free zone." I saw this Viking epic at the 2005-2006 Sarasota Film Festival in Sarasota, FL with Gunnarsson in attendance to answer questions. This was my first screening experience with the filmmakers actually there so it was exciting for me.. and I'm glad Beowulf & Grendel was the one I saw. This movie is truly a wake-up call to all those old directors who have been coming out with mediocre and generally uninspiring hero epics. King Arthur's script was bad, although the battle scenes were very unique and gave you the chills; Alexander didn't know what to do with itself. Troy just didn't live up to our expectations, but it has one thing in common with this version of Beowulf. Brad Pitt brings Achilles a new persona, new motivation, and pretty much a new attitude. Whether you like this or not is up for debate, but Gerard Butler no doubt did the same with Beowulf. I support these decisions because it gives the actors more to go by, it gives them a challenge by playing deep characters, and they do a heck of a job. Also, I think it's common sense to assume that these stories came from either the imagination of a brilliantly nutty person (probably an ancestor of J.R.R. Tolkien) or things ordinary men did and was desperately changed for the dramatic and entertaining aspect of their storytelling through the years. Why stay true to the book when nobody else does? Anyway, I recommend this film to you people. It's a great adaption and makes me want to know what Sturla Gunnarsson has planned next.
Review of Beowulf & Grendel
