Beowulf & Grendel

Average customer rating:

Not enough action and too much bad dialog

awsome movie

Beowulf and Grendel

Bold and challenging to moviegoers!

TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beowulf & Grendel
Starring: Hringur Ingvarsson , Spencer Wilding , Stellan Skarsgård , Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson , and Gunnar Eyjólfsson
Director: Sturla Gunnarsson
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000GIXEIG
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Amazon.com

The otherworldly landscape of Iceland lends an appropriate touch of dark fantasy to this modern retelling of Beowulf, the oldest epic poem in the English language. Gerard Butler (The Phantom of the Opera) brings the right balance of physicality and world-weariness as the Swedish hero Beowulf, who travels to Denmark to fight the monstrous troll Grendel (Icelandic superstar Ignvar Sigurdsson), which has been plaguing the house of King Hrothgar (Stellan Skarsgård, buried under a mound of prosthetic hair). However, what transpires is not a battle between good and evil, but a convoluted mystery of sorts, with Beowulf playing the detective who discovers that his foe is more human than monster, and Hrothgar less wronged innocent than catalyst for his own downfall. Director Sturla Gunnarsson succeeds in pulling this legendary story from the dust of academics by contemporizing the dialogue (Andrew Rai Berzins has an excellent ear for hard-bitten palaver), and his visuals are nothing less than striking, but the film attempts to be both monster movie and melancholy drama, while never quite satisfying the requirements of either genre. Regardless, the quality cast (which includes Sarah Polley from Dawn of the Dead as a sharp-tongued witch with a connection to Grendel) and some well-handled action sequences should hold viewers' attention even when the unnecessarily complex plot does not. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews:

Not enough action and too much bad dialog.......2007-09-06

Grendel and Beowulf is yet another retelling of the epic 6th century poem Beowulf, but is not a good one. The film looks great, filmed in Iceland you can really believe you're in Denmark or Sweden fifteen centuries ago. The clothing, armor and swords are well done as well. But for telling an exciting story, this movie is pretty dull. There's a lot of talking and standing around, but not much action. Other problems include sporadic dialog that is too modern and out of place, and the actors accents. The hero, Beowulf, who is from Sweden, is played nicely by Gerard Butler but he makes no attempt to hide his Scottish accent. Sarah Polley plays a Danish witch with a flat American accent. Everytime they spoke I found it jarring as it just didn't fit. The character of the witch and a few other elements are add-ons to the original material and aren't needed and don't really work. This is a nice looking film, but not a good one.

awsome movie.......2007-08-29

This blew up 300 by a long shot. I didnt like all the slow motion in 300, it made it corny.

Beowulf and Grendel.......2007-08-26

The cinematography of this movie, shot in Iceland, is breathtaking. The movie seems to capture the dreariness of the "indoor life" as I imagine it was while carrying us along an amazing viking adventure at the same time. This is a movie I have watched several times, purchased for my library and endlessly recommend to friends.

Bold and challenging to moviegoers!.......2007-08-24

This movie will not leave you comfortably in your seat; we watched this as a large group, and had varied reactions. Some hated the movie because it lacked the finesse of major Hollywood blockbusters, while others cried foul! that such a job would have ruined the telling of this tale.

The scenery is simply stunning and deserves five stars for itself. Hats off to whomever picked Iceland, it gave the movie an entire other-worldly feel from the first frame.

If you are looking for quick and slick brainless and mindless drivel, don't bother to watch. However, if you want to watch Beowulf come to life in a modern, stark telling that will be bold and challenging to moviegoers, then take a good look at this movie.

Best parts: the scenery, the casting.
Worst parts: some language seemed too contrived (very little).

And there was a good surprise at the end, if you're not familiar with the various Beowulf legends.

TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-08-23

I have seen some bad movies in my life, but I can honestly say THIS IS THE WORST ONE I HAVE EVER SEEN! The movie was so bad; I'm not even going to go into detail about what was so bad about it. It boggles my mind about how people gave this a great review. If you don't believe me, go ahead and rent it...I dare you! I had to give it one star because Amazon rating doesn't go into negative numbers.

Average customer rating:

Good background on Beowulf
Interesting/worthwhile

Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxons
Starring: Beowulf & the Anglo-Saxons
Manufacturer: Arts Magic
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000LC3IWE
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Description

Miraculously preserved over the centuries, its artistic importance was unrecognized until an essay by J. R. R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings) revealed its unity and multi-dimensional structure. Beowulf is now regarded as the most important manuscript the Anglo-Saxons have handed down to us, of immense linguistic as well as poetic value.

This program sets out to trace the origins of the tribes that brought this epic into being, the war-like Norsemen from Sweden, Denmark and Germany who were to conquer and settle regions of a more clement and fertile island that would become known as England, named after the tribe of the Angles. Using 3-D animation, location footage, archive materials and interviews, the Beowulf epic is examined in the light of the civilization that created it. It investigates their religious beliefs as well as their everyday life, and suggests that, old as the poem is, it may have roots in an even more ancient fertility cult.

Customer Reviews:

Good background on Beowulf.......2007-09-14

This is a better than average educational video. It provides good background information on the culture of the Anglo- Saxons and the context of the Beowulf epic. Its best features are the recreations, the footage of the Sutton Hoo site and some of its treasures, and the actual recitation of some of the poem in the Old English ( very interesting to hear). The lecture that makes up the bulk of the narrative is of the type you might expect were you to attend a seminar at the Sutton Hoo site or some similar History for amateur enthusiast's event, but it is just enough material for a student starting to study this period or the poem. The only drawback is that the production company was obviously short on funds and towards the final third of the hour+ production, the visuals start to repeat- we see the same spinning helmet, the same burning lake, the same warriors tipping back the drinking horn once again-this is where my kids start laughing and go back to reading another book while I tell them to hang in there the material is worth it. But then, this isn't New Line Cinema, so you have to adjust your expectations. One especially good extra is the re-enactment segment. A representative of the society describes their efforts to rebuild a 10th C. Saxon Hall and this is very interesting and enough to tempt you to consider a trip across the pond to see it! All in all I would say this is worth your time- there isn't much out there on the subject and if nothing else will inspire the history/literature minded student to dig deeper!

Interesting/worthwhile.......2007-08-09

DVD has some interesting information. It could serve as an introduction into the poem. It's not going to offer much new to anyone who's studied the poem or the history in much detail. I enjoyed watching it.

Average customer rating:

You will love it or throw it away.
unboxed version doesn't have subtitles
Undeniably Powerful
Authentic
Reincarnated art!!!

Benjamin Bagby: Beowulf
Starring: Benjamin Bagby
Director: Stellan Olsson
Manufacturer: Koch Vision
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000KJTG10
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Description

Finally, the long awaited recording is made! Since 1990, Benjamin Bagby has been performing the great epic Beowulf at major festivals and venues around the world. Now we have his remarkable performance on DVD, beautifully filmed by the award-winning Swedish director Stellan Olsson.

While Beowulf has come down to us as literature, as a written poem, the epic's pre-literate medieval audience would have known it through the performance of a scop, a bardic storyteller, as Bagby presents himself here. In this one-man tour de force Bagby accompanies himself on an Anglo-Saxon harp. Using the entire range of his voice, he delivers this gripping tale in Old English, as it could have been experienced more than one thousand years ago.

This is a performance which speaks to the lovers of Beowulf and oral epic, early music enthusiasts, Tolkien fans, medievalists, and anyone searching for virtuoso storytelling or a glimpse into the fascinating beginnings of the English language.

Customer Reviews:

You will love it or throw it away........2007-09-02

This is a wonderful performance of Beowulf in Anglo Saxon. If you haven't read Beowulf and something about the period, I wouldn't suggest this. If you read it and like it, then you will find this fascinating.

My only complaint is the the only subtitles are in English. I wish that they had included subtitles in Anglo Saxon as well. I saw Mr. Bagby do part of this in person, and they had 2 TV screens, one in English and one in Anglo Saxon.

unboxed version doesn't have subtitles.......2007-08-29

be aware that the unbox'd version (digital download) of this doesn't have subtitles or closed captions of any kind. So unless you're well versed in old english it's pretty much worthless. I gave it 2 stars because it does have a kind of musical rhythm to it that makes it pretty decent background for a day's coding.

Undeniably Powerful.......2007-08-17

You'd think that watching 98 minutes worth of a guy sitting in a chair and speaking a language that you can't understand would lose the viewer's interest in about 5 minutes...with this movie, it's just not happening.

Bagby's voice is powerful, emotive, and varied. His facial expressions tell the story just as well as the subtitles, if not better, and his harp melodies are gorgeous. The bonus interviews give good insight into the origins of this performance and the incredible amount of work that must have gone into creating such a deceptively simple show.

I've watched this movie three times in the week since I've had it, and it still has my attention. This is an undeniably powerful performance, and one that no theater fan should be without.

Authentic.......2007-06-02

A compelling performance. After you've enjoyed it turn the subtitles off and follow along with an Old English print edition.

Reincarnated art!!!.......2007-05-13

This degree is written by someone who studies English literature and whose favorite work was Beowulf.

This project is awesome! Benjamin Bagby, a master of ancient music, recreates a medieval performance, in Old English and with a musical instrument recreated by using the remnants found in a viking funeral boat! The wood is the same, and the strings are made of REAL gut, nothing sinthetic.

With no records about performances older than a millenia, this is trully reincarnated art.

If you like ancient music, literature, and/or poetry, you can't miss this one!

Average customer rating:

Reveling Production
The Burden of Sturla's Dream!
A Feast For your senses - A Must have - Must See
Exciting and helpful to understanding film.
Fabulous Documentary

Wrath of Gods
Director: Jon Gustafsson
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Features:

Director's Cut, 72 minutes
2 hours of bonus material
1 hour exclusive interview with Gerard Butler
Additional and extended scenes
Exclusive interviews with the people behind Beowulf & Grendel

ASIN: B000V8VNUM

Product Description

Winner of 4 awards, this entertaining documentary tells the dramatic story behind the making of the epic movie Beowulf & Grendel, starring Gerard Butler, Stellan Skarsgard, Sarah Polley and Ingvar Sigurdsson. When Canadian director Sturla Gunnarsson and his cast and crew, including Gerard Butler and Stellan Skarsgård, set upon Iceland to film Beowulf & Grendel in 2004, they expected the usual complications involved in making a major motion picture. What they encountered was a ruthless Icelandic winter on a foreboding landscape, financing complications and a bizarre run of bad luck that led some of them to believe they were in an epic battle with the Norse gods themselves. Filmmaker Jon Gustafsson was along for the ride. Hired to play one of Beowulfs warriors, hes one set with his camera as the crew battles hurricane force winds and hes in the backroom as the producers scramble to shore up a collapsing deal, creating an intimate portrait of filmmakers fighting the odds in pursuit of a vision. For more information visit: www.WrathOfGods.com

Customer Reviews:

Reveling Production.......2007-08-27

high lelel of superiority and surprise. background enhancing events of beowulf + grendel. watching the human side of experiencs leads to heightened enjoyment

The Burden of Sturla's Dream!.......2007-08-24

Many MANY years ago, being a dedicated Werner Herzog fan, I went to see the documentary, "Burden of Dreams" which was based on the many trials and tribulations of filming his incredible movie, "Fitzcarraldo" in the jungles of Peru. "Wrath of Gods" could be its Icelandic cousin. There seem to be certain films that fight against their creators. Their directors, crew, and cast must give all they have, and sometimes even a bit more, in order to see their dream realized. Indeed, there are moments during WOGs when the forced smile on director Sturla Gunnarsson's face melts into something sad and desperate; those are among the most beautiful moments in this film, because that sadness and desperation added to the haunting (and I mean that in the most lovely and primal way) beauty of what became "Beowulf & Grendel". There is no happy, storybook ending here; the film did poorly by Hollywood standards, but so what?! The film is ultimately true to the prose, true to the raging, frozen, breathtaking Icelandic landscape where it was filmed, and true to the tale of its anti-hero, Beowulf. It is almost an anti-Hollywood movie, and sometimes, who could ask for more than that? Thank you to the director of "Beowulf & Grendel", Sturla Gunnarsson, to Jon Gustafsson, who filmed its filming, and to the extraordinary cast. Absolutely loved this movie. It has SOUL.

A Feast For your senses - A Must have - Must See.......2007-08-23

Finally the world has the light switch turned on and Wrath is lighting the world on fire.

Got My Wrath DVD ---WOW just does not cover it

I came home to Wrath in my mailbox and I just finished watching it ----WOW!!! Awesome just does not begin to be the tip of the iceberg. Simply a masterpiece. Bravo Jon.

I loved the interview with Gerard, it is so raw and candid and shows alot of soul and gives us an inner glimpse of the many sides of Gerry. I like the part when he mentions how much Iceland means to him and how it has left such an impression on him, just like his homeland Scotland. For Gerry to make the interview while he had a raging headache says lot about him and his passion for Beowulf and Wrath.

Wrath is a must for everyone and you (Jon) must be so proud of your film because it is truly a work of art. It brought it all back for me when I was in Toronto for the World Premiere Of Beowulf and on the Red Carpet.

You go through so many different emotions in this film it is really a roller coaster ride that you hope will never end. It really gives the art of making movies a human touch and gives us all a bird's eye view of what can happen and what can go wrong. it is truly refreshing to get out of the "Hollywood" Mold and step into the real world. Just when you thought things could not get worse, they do and you wonder how everyone made it through filming alive.

So many extras that will leave you breathless and leave you in awe. I cannot believe the amount of extras included, it is amazing!!!

I am so happy Wrath is available in ALL REGIONS. It will become an instant treasure for you to watch again and again, except this treasure is not buried.

Bravo Jon!!!!

I know many more awards are ahead for you and Wrath, you so deserve it.

Alexandria

Exciting and helpful to understanding film........2007-08-22

Ihave always loved the story of beowulf. I was excited to see the movie when it came out, but by the end I was more interested in finding how they ever made the film. The documentary is wonderful. It lays out the reality of making movies and also about following your vision against great odds. The landscape, business, and unexpected pitfalls do not seem to sway people who are passionate about their art. I am so happy this film was made.

Fabulous Documentary.......2007-08-22

I was interested in BEOWULF AND GRENDEL for several reasons, first I'm a big Gerard Butler fan, second, I wanted to see how an updated film of the ancient epic poem would turn out and finally, I had been to Iceland and I wanted to see how it looked on film. Naturally, this documentary caught my eye and it did not disappoint. It was very interesting in just following the basic film making process. As a viewer, you are up close and personal with all the people working on the film, not just the cast and director. There was, of course, nothing basic in the making of this film. The weather was incredible, the backdrop of the Icelandic wilderness was breathtaking and the monumental difficulties that the filmmakers had to overcome was awesome. Though the weather and Mother Nature were by far the most dramatic problems, there were financial and business snafus to deal with as well. This documentary had a dramatic intensity of its own quite apart from the drama portrayed in the film. I unhesitatingly recommend this DVD to anyone who is interested in the process of filmmaking, as well as the beautiful landscape of the Icelandic coast and mountains.

Average customer rating:

Bad movie, bad writing, bad everything
your joking right
BeoCRAP!
Poem to Screen.
It is a Lambert movie

Beowulf
Starring: Christopher Lambert , Rhona Mitra , Oliver Cotton , Götz Otto , and Charles Robinson
Director: Graham Baker
Manufacturer: Dimension
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004Y631
Release Date: 2000-10-17

Amazon.com

Beowulf translates the ancient epic poem of the same name into a postapocalyptic Road Warrior-style future, in which a military outpost is being invaded by a monstrous, blood-thirsty creature. Drawn hither by the evil emanations comes Beowulf (Christopher Lambert from Subway and the Highlander series), a powerful warrior with dark secrets of his own. There he meets the beautiful Kyra (Rhona Mitra), a woman warrior with a couple of cleavage-revealing outfits. Her father Hrothgar, meanwhile, is haunted by dreams of a blond, seminaked succubus with crimped hair, who has some mysterious connection to the murdering monster. Everyone, even father and daughter, has a different accent. It's all pretty trashy--the script is full of bravura lines like, "The only thing that keeps me from becoming evil is fighting evil"--but the cinematography and special effects are capable, there are lots of cool-looking swords and weaponry, and there's some pleasantly cheesy techno-metal music that plays intermittently for no good reason. Christopher Lambert, with white hair and a full-length leather duster, looks a little bored, but he's still his competent brooding action-hero self. If you enjoyed Mortal Kombat, this is right up your alley. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Christopher Lambert (MORTAL KOMBAT, HIGHLANDER) stars in this futuristic update of the classic poem written in 900 AD and set in a world of supernatural evil and inexplicable danger! Torn from a legend whose roots are buried in the mists of time, Beowulf is half man -- half god. Living in a techno-futile world of the future, a medieval land where technology's secrets are locked away in a mute past, Beowulf fights his way through a besieging army and into a mysterious, ominous castle on the edge of nowhere to face an evil within ... a beastly spawn of man and demon named Grendel. Now he must fight to the death in order to quell the raging violence hidden deep in his own bedeviled soul!

Customer Reviews:

Bad movie, bad writing, bad everything.......2007-08-27

Ok, where to start with this piece of junk. Christopher Lambert sleep-walks through his scenes and the other actors take their queue from him. The soundtrack his pure heavy metal with no real link to the scenes. The set is minimalist to say the least - pipes and natural gas flames do not make a set. Writing was atrocious, directing was even worse if that is possible.

This movie is just one more reason that Hollywood should not be allowed to touch a classic written story. Read the classic Anglo-Saxon story, but don't get this movie. Avoid at all cost.

your joking right.......2007-08-22

Highlander a 4 star5 star movie was great, sean connery. was great. you must be joking right? well if your not you must be an IDIOT hmmmm. probly you like the transporter, i hated it, he sucks badly. i think his name is jason something or rather i dont know the nimrods name

BeoCRAP!.......2007-04-14

Christopher Lambert hasn't done a good movie since the original Highlander movie. This movie is lame. Bad acting, bad special effect, bad diologue. Yep, must be a Christopher Lambert film. If you want to see a good movie based off the Beowulf legend, watch "THE 13th WARRIOR."

Poem to Screen........2006-09-19

a motion picture based on the classic saxon poem. christofer labert is beowulf, a lone warrior contracted to kill a demon feeding on lone outpost under siege. i was realy suprised to see how well this independant film did, its one of my favorites. spending most of its money on casting Lambert. this films special effects are mostly makeup with a small FX scene. it was very good on keeping the story and also remaking it into a film. i was very happy when it was released in the US on dvd. i first saw it at a rental store in england. its fun film, so go check it out.

It is a Lambert movie.......2006-07-30

Bad special effects. Lambert looked bored at times. The plot has a few holes. Too much cleavage. Bad fight scenes. Beowulf can do multiple black flips and spin in the air and yet the monsters can still hit him! The fact that Grendel's mother is pregnant doesn't really play into the movie, but they keep bringing it up. It is not the worst movie I have ever seen and I pretty much got what I expected so I'm not completely trashing it. The weapons were cool.

Average customer rating:

Beowulf & Grendel [Blu-ray]
Starring: Bryjar Agustsson , Steindor Andersen , Helgi Bjornsson , Gerard Butler , and Tony Curran
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000UYX4OK
Release Date: 2007-11-06

Average customer rating:

Not enough action and too much bad dialog
awsome movie
Beowulf and Grendel
Bold and challenging to moviegoers!
TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beowulf & Grendel
Starring: Hringur Ingvarsson , Spencer Wilding , Stellan Skarsgård , Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson , and Gunnar Eyjólfsson
Director: Sturla Gunnarsson
Manufacturer: WEA/Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000F4PD7G
Release Date: 2006-08-07

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Not enough action and too much bad dialog.......2007-09-06

awsome movie.......2007-08-29

This blew up 300 by a long shot. I didnt like all the slow motion in 300, it made it corny.

Beowulf and Grendel.......2007-08-26

Bold and challenging to moviegoers!.......2007-08-24

TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-08-23

Average customer rating:

Review for Literary Classics - Beowulf

Literary Classics-Beowulf

Manufacturer: Eagle Rock Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000M5ALEI
Release Date: 2006-12-22

Description

An entertaining look at some of the world's great books

Customer Reviews:

Review for Literary Classics - Beowulf.......2007-02-20

This book is excellent for Honors or AP English classes. The commentaries are very informative. I was actually looking for a DVD that simply told the story so that average students would clearly understand the story. I provided literary comments like theme for my students so they really did not need the othere commentaries. They did not have the patients to listen to the comments; however, I found them very helpful.

The Standard Deviants - Rings, Kings & Things (Monsters & Mayhem / Swords & Sorcery)

Average customer rating:

almost as good as a literature class
Skip It in high school!
The Elements of Fantasy and Fiction
Reasonably Well Done
An Introduction To Fantasy.

The Standard Deviants - Rings, Kings & Things (Monsters & Mayhem / Swords & Sorcery)
Starring: Standard Deviants
Manufacturer: Cerebellum Corp
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Features:

Learn about medieval notions and history -- dragons, knights and quests
Read stories and see pictures of monsters, heroes and villains
Learn about mythology and storytelling in the sci-fi and fantasy genres
Watch magic come to life with the Standard Deviants!

ASIN: B0000694W3
Release Date: 2002-06-18

Product Description

With Rings, King, and Things you'll take a tour of the imaginative world of swords & sorcery!

Customer Reviews:

almost as good as a literature class.......2007-03-29

A good overview of the basics of classic fantasy stories like Beowulf. Covers some of the same things as a college class - I had a course in Beowulf - but in a simpler way. fun animation and zany hosts. Good if you know zilch about sword and sorcery story elements.

Skip It in high school!.......2006-09-16

For high school students, this was cheesy and b-o-r-i-n-g. I will never use it again. The information is correct, but the presentation is way off-beat and did not catch student interest. In fact, over 90% tuned out before we were even into it.

The Elements of Fantasy and Fiction.......2004-10-22

The DVD describes the most-common elements of fantasy writing, and then lists several types of heroes and monsters. The focus is on the Lord of the Rings, Beowulf and Arthurian legends.

I am glad that while mentioning "dragons", they did mention the different symbolism dragons play in western and eastern mythology.

More than just an entertainment, the symbolism works upon one's unconscious (subconscious mind) and the heroic quest and conquering of an assortment of monsters can be viewed as a symbolic representation of inner growth and realization of one's potential which can only be known by facing and overcoming apparent obstacles on one's path.

Reasonably Well Done.......2003-07-13

A little too heavily focused on Tolkein's works in particular, this DVD is obviously trying to capitalize on a rise in interest in the fantasy genre due to the release of the "Lord of the Rings" films. Nevertheless, this DVD does an above-average job of helping the typical rube get oriented with the various subtleties of the genre.

A bit narrow in its attempt to set down the major archetypes (backbone characters/plots/settings/morals) of fantasy, I still managed to enjoy their attempt. I would question a few of their choices for what definitely "is" a part of fantasy storytelling (as well as some nuggets they left out), but that can be expected of any group's attempt to definitively describe the characteristics of a genre. Someone will always complain.

For newbies to fantasy literature, though, it will suffice to get them interested enough to explore some on their own. (However, if they don't like to read, don't expect any kind of DVD to help motivate them, of course.) For students--whom this Standard Deviants group targets--this DVD will make an approaching (or encroaching) reading assignment that involves fantasy literature significantly less intimidating or boring. It will give a kid an "I know why s/he's writing it like that" kind of superior feeling, and perhaps that will in turn help a student learn better.

The fact that there is so much more great fantasy literature to mention besides Tolkein or Beowolf (or Arthurian legend, which is sadly just glossed) is the major flaw of this production. It is truly annoying that very little else is mentioned, in terms of other works. But, of course, time, production costs, and viewer patience are limited quantities. And, sadly, so much of the stories in fantasy written since Tolkein are merely derivative (which, ironically, was in its own turn intentionally derivative or Beowolf, et al). For the newbie viewer, though, they will naturally have not read much in the genre, so they won't miss the ommission of so many other great works that could've been included.

Production values are excellent. There is a lot of changing scenery/locales, as well as an effective use of green screens that does not become annoying. Cute animations that provide illustration. Bullet points are well-timed, lending to good chances for note-taking amongst the class. A few recurring goofball moments seem to be a stock-in-trade for the Standar Deviants, and this production has them, as well. They are cute and serve to continue the education, not provide a break from it, so that's a plus. Last, the people presenting the material are all young (20's) and attractive, and they can read cue cards better than most (perhaps they memorize???), so that's a definite OK, too.

All-in-all, if you are looking to teach Tolkein or Beowolf as your first foray into fantasy literature, then definitely show kids this DVD. If you are using Phillip Pullman or J.K. Rowling in your classroom, then this DVD will serve as a good counterpoint to show *after* the class has read their assignment.

(Suggestion: spend three or four days presenting this in class, only ten-twenty minutes or so at a time. Read excerpts from assigned reading materials, then discuss or write about the DVD's teachings versus the experience of reading in the genre first-hand.)

An Introduction To Fantasy........2002-04-13

This highly informative and entertaining DVD was created by that wacky crew known as the Standard Deviants. The Standard Deviants have made educational videos on everything from Spanish to calculus to learning HTML. The videos are aimed at high school and college audiences. In this DVD, the group tackles fantasy literature. Tolkien's THE LORD OF THE RINGS is used as the centerpiece backdrop. However, the legends of King Arthur, Beowulf, and tales from Norse mythology are also discussed and examined. Using a variety of techinques from cheesy Monty Python animation to corny sketches, the Stanard Deviants explain what fantasy literature is, it's origins, and why it's worth reading and studying. The DVD includes a selection of outtakes and some notes on famous classic fantasy characters. Not too shabby.

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Background to Beowulf DVD

Manufacturer: Educational Video Network, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Kids & Family | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Special Interests | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0001Q47KM
Release Date: 2004-01-05

Description

The high point of Old English literature is the epic poem, "Beowulf." The historical and literary traditions of the era in which it was written are explained in detail.

DVD:

DVD

DVD