wayward_sage

I just got it in the mail and popped it into my DVD player. I was surprised at how good it was. The filmmakers did a great job translating Lovecrafts work to the screen. I was surprised at how well they created the sets out of virtually nothing. Yes it's cheesy at times, but so would a film that was made in 1925 have been. They were true to the story and true to the concept they laid out. The music was outstanding as well. It really helped set the mood for the entire film. I was expecting it to sound artificial, but the composer pulled out a orchestral score with sound from a synthesizer. Which strangely works with the film considering that the soundtrack would have been probably with an organ if it was made in 1925.

I found it to be a true inspiration to an aspiring filmmaker such as myself.

I just got back from a viewing of B&G at the Palm Springs international film festival. I've been following it on the net for a few years now and finally got the pleasure of viewing it.

While many people may bash this film for not following the original, I would say thats a plus. While i'm a fan of the epic poem. It does lack detail and character motivations in key scenes. B&G is an interpretation of the epic poem that tries to explain the motivation behind Grendel.

*****possible spoilers**** Grendel is a human-like creature who is not that much different from any human who enters a blood feud with the king of the danes. I found this interpretation of Grendel to be fascinating. The director and actor are able to inject some sympathy into the characters plight and not fall victim to making him a meer monster. In fact as you watch the film you feel more pity for him than the warriors he kills.

I enjoyed the fact that the films fight scenes weren't just 20 1/2 second clips slapped together. You were actually able to see what was going on.

The visceral nature of Iceland lends a reality to the film that makes it all the more believable. The characters are standing in freezing muck and climbing cold, wet shale rock. I felt that background led a believability to the film that others with 3 times the budget don't achieve.

Lastly, during the Q&A session with Sturla (the director) 1 Beowulf expert, (I say that because he said he'd been teaching the poem in his classes for over 25 years) stood up and told the director that B&G was the truest representation of the poem on film to date. Another English teacher said that she felt film was amazingly accurate to the poem and well made.

I have to agree. If you get the chance go see it.