I thoroughly enjoyed Beowulf & Grendel.

Having somehow avoided reading the original Olde English epic poem in my education, I went into it spoiler free and found the story to be continuously surprising and spine-tinglingly archetypical (if you haven't read it, I suggest trying not to read plot summaries!). This was one of the works that J.R.R. Tolkien studied at Oxford that inspired the Lord of the Rings, and it shows. (I only wish Peter Jackson could have taken this approach to Tolkien's tale...) The themes of loyalty, revenge, and religion are only too relevant to today's global conflicts.

The intensity and authenticity (not to mention the raunchy humor) of this production exposes movies like Gladiator and Troy for the Hollywood fluff that they are. As an Icelandic-Canadian-UK coproduction, it is mercifully filmed in (modern) English for accessibility, and features three recognizable actors in key roles. Gerard Butler, who was so good in last year's Dear Frankie, is also very good here in the title role. Sarah Polley, who doesn't get the accent quite right (though I can forgive it, since she plays an outsider role), but she's certainly got the look and the acting chops. And of course the great Stellan Skarsgård as the king.

Robert Zemeckis has a Hollywoodized version coming out in 2007, so go see this one now if you can, to experience this epic tale in it's full glory before the water is inevitably muddied.

5 out of 5.

To me it looks to have a decidedly low-budget feel but it could be interesting. I found the story fascinating when I read excerpts of it years ago, so I definately will check this out at some point.

How did you get to see it, Bradley?

I want to see it actually, but is it out anywhere?

Where's Grendel's mother?