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Beowulf,
2007, 114 minutes, Rated PG-13
By Ramona Prioleau
Fearless and boastful, Norse warrior
Beowulf (Ray Winstone) travels to Denmark and slays King Hrothgar’s
(Anthony Hopkins) mead hall monster, Grendel (Crispin Glover). A
deformed gargantuan beast, Grendel is the bastard son of a
cave-dwelling seductress and is pained and enraged by the late night
merrymaking of his noisy neighbors. Not one to merely bang on his
neighbor’s door pleading for silence, Grendel bursts through the
door and pummels his tormentors. MORE >>> |
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The film is based on the Old English epic poem
set in the 6th century – a time when superheroes leaped through the
air cape-less and slew dragons with low-tech bravado. To this
centuries old larger-than-life warrior saga, screenwriters Roger
Avary and Neil Gaiman add subplots of dangerous liaisons and
indecent proposals. From their imaginative script, director Robert
Zemeckis (Forrest Gump) creates a darkly sensual, witty and
action-packed visual treat.
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To bring Beowulf to the screen, Zemeckis directs an
outstanding cast employing the revolutionary performance capture
techniques that the filmmaker originated with The Polar Express.
Although an animated feature, Beowulf is not elementary cartoon
fare. Instead, the film is a robust presentation crafted for those
that can appreciate its themes of avarice, adultery, conquest and vainglory.
Zemeckis’ cinematic interpretation of the saga,
which has been the bane of students challenged to appreciate the
distinctions between modern and Old English, features a stellar cast
with Winstone the most delightful of all.
In Zemeckis-anime, the stocky Winstone is retooled
as a buff, golden-haired, towering, pretty boy with a barebacking,
mano-a-mano approach to battle. Despite the computer-generated,
Adonis-like appearance of his character, Winstone’s stamp on Beowulf
is unmistakable as his distinctive lilt, gaze and gait are apparent.
While the performances of the other featured characters are equally
attributable to the respective actors embodying them, Glover’s
portrayal of Grendel and Angelina Jolie’s rendering of the beast’s
vengeful mom are particularly enthralling.
M
November 2007
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MoQuotable(s) |
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To listen, you will need the Windows Media Player which can
be downloaded for free from
Windows
Media.
Exciting Viking Fantasy?
- Windows Media File
Ray Winstone (November
14,
2007)
Beowulf Appeal?
- Windows Media File
Crispin Glover (November
14,
2007)
Visualizing Beowulf?
- Windows Media File
Ray Winstone (November
14,
2007)
Portraying Deformed
Gargantuan Beast?
- Windows Media File
Crispin Glover (November
14,
2007)
Shooting Performance
Capture?
- Windows Media File
Ray Winstone (November
14,
2007)
- Windows Media File
Crispin Glover (November
14,
2007)
Hardwork and Pure Joy?
- Windows Media File
Ray Winstone (November
14, 2007)
Beowulf Battle Wounds?
- Windows Media File
Ray Winstone (November
14,
2007)
Beowulf Surprise?
- Windows Media File
Ray Winstone (November
14,
2007)
Complex Pop Culture Flick?
- Windows Media File
Crispin Glover (November
14,
2007)
Performance Capture Oscar
Dis?
- Windows Media File
Ray Winstone (November
14,
2007)
- Windows Media File
Crispin Glover (November
14,
2007)
Lessons Learned?
- Windows Media File
Ray Winstone (November
14,
2007)
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Genre(s) |
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Action,
Adventure, Science Fiction, Fantasy and Animation
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Writer(s) |
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Roger Avary and Neil
Gaiman (screenplay); Anonymous (epic poem "Beowulf")
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Roger Avary |
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Executive Producer |
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Steve Bing |
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Producer |
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Neil Gaiman |
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Executive Producer |
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Jack Rapke |
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Producer |
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Roger Roberts |
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Executive Producer |
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Martin Shafer |
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Executive Producer |
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Steve
Starkey |
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Producer |
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Robert
Zemeckis |
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Producer |
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Ray Winstone |
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Beowulf (voice) |
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Anthony Hopkins |
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Hrothgar (voice) |
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John Malkovich |
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Unferth (voice) |
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Robin Wright Penn |
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Wealthow (voice) |
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Brendan Gleeson |
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Wiglaf (voice) |
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Crispin Glover |
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Grendel (voice) |
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Angelina Jolie |
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Grendel's Mother (voice) |
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Robert Presley |
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Cinematographer |
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Jeremiah O'Driscoll |
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Editor(s) |
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Alan Silvestri |
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Music |
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Ronna Kress |
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Casting |
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Gabriella Pescucci |
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Costume
Design |
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Distributor |
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Paramount Pictures (USA)
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Filming
Location(s) |
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- Los Angeles,
California, USA
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