Beowulf & Grendel

A great, albeit extremely low-key version of the Beowulf saga. Unfortunately it is spoiled a little at the beginning by the storylines being rather inconsistent and somehow confused - and it isn’t helped by the rather slow pace. But if you can get used to these strange aspects (it helps being familiar with the original), there is nothing to reproach. The actors a well-suited to their roles, the production design is more than decent, the music isn’t the worst I have ever heard and the rugged Scandinavian landscape makes wonderful locations. Primarily it maintains the “European" poetry of the original saga in a way that Hollywood might well not be capable of. (13.08.2006)

I acknowledge that this somewhat philosophical and moralizing approach is interesting; on the other hand, it could be approached in a more interesting way, revitalizing it. There are occasional scenes that are good and interesting, but they are scattered throughout the entire film, which does not have a particularly strong impact as a whole. However, the story itself is powerful. It is about defeating a monster, which is a reflection of the times and was created because the king did not care much about his rule, how he would ascend to the throne, or what actions he would take. This aspect is strong, but it is embedded in a story that, surprisingly, does not captivate at all. Some work on the script, reducing empty scenes and speeding up the plot, would make the film deserving of an above-average rating. As it is, it is rather disappointing. (19.11.2013)