Trying to give us the true story behind the epic, the movie only reminds us of why humans write epics in the first place.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Aug 12, 2006

A semi-mythic period piece, Beowulf & Grendel offers sublime scenery that's breathtaking and bone-chilling.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 14, 2006

This gristle-intensive R-rated version of Beowulf travels a predictable revisionist route.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jul 13, 2006

A muscular, ardently naturalistic retelling of the ninth-century Anglo-Saxon saga.

| Original Score: B | Jul 12, 2006

Andrew Rai Berzins' script spruces up long stretches of Old English with unexpected bursts of cussing and gleeful vulgarity that feel as misguided as everything else in the film.

| Original Score: C+ | Jul 12, 2006

Sturla Gunnarsson's film ultimately lacks the grandeur and wit necessary to make the legend fully come alive.

Full Review | Jul 11, 2006

Unfortunately, there is... jarringly contemporary English dialogue... laced with F-bombs and humor straight out of a Monty Python movie.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jul 7, 2006

Sturla Gunnarsson... took a look at the eighth-century epic poem Beowulf and decided he could cut it down to size. And he has, for better and worse.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 7, 2006

A more accurate title of this conceptually anemic if prettily mounted take on the Scandinavian epic might be Beowulf and the Vixen.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 6, 2006

Thus does Beowulf collide with postmodern punk sensibility.

Full Review | Jul 5, 2006

Gunnarsson is only partially up to the challenge posed by his illustrious source material.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jul 5, 2006

Imagine the worst Deadwood episode ever, and you'll get an idea of the general tone of Beowulf & Grendel.

| Original Score: 1/4 | Jun 30, 2006

This movie won't be to everyone's taste, but it will certainly bedevil some dreams.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 16, 2006

I'm left a little bewildered as to how this has developed such a devoted following in Canada and at every film festival it has played (including two sold out showing at this year's Seattle International Film Festival).

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jun 16, 2006

For the most part a successfully strange and strangely moving adventure.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Mar 10, 2006

A lumbering and ludicrous mess.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 10, 2006

Icelandic-shot version of the legendary revenge saga is visually arresting and plausibly retrofitted for modern consumption, but lacks the savage bite that might have given the sixth century-set tale real impact.

Full Review | Oct 13, 2005