Beowulf & Grendel

Rating: ****/*****, or 8/10

Fairly low budget old-school movie based on the ancient English poem proves that you don't need an abundance of digital effects, or even a lot of cash, to make a compelling epic period film. The hero Beowulf (Gerard Butler) travels north to aid king Hrothgar (Stellan Skarsgård) in his fight against the giant troll Grendel who continues to plunder his village and slaughter his men. Beowulf fights the monster, but things are not as simple as they appear as he soon finds himself ensnared in a personal vendetta between the king and the beast that goes back many years, in danger of being trapped in an endless cycle of bloodshed without end, as he also has to confront Grendel's mother, lover and son. This version values the psychology of the protagonist, questioning the validity of his reasons to fight, over displaying epic battles with cool monsters. It also utilizes the superb natural vistas Iceland offers to great effect, thus adding to the film's overall grandeur without having to spend millions of dollars over it. Though often hugely underrated, it's undoubtedly the most thought provoking film version of the Beowulf legend around so far.

Starring: Gerard Butler, Stellan Skarsgård, Sarah Polley

Directed by Sturla Gunnarsson

UK/Iceland: Movision, 2005