Iffy for 15+
Violent animated adventure is no kiddie movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that although this adventure is animated, it's not aimed at kids. Some people may misinterpret the fact that it was created by the same filmmakers responsible for The Polar Express as an automatic thumbs-up for kids. But the considerable violence and sexual innuendo are comparable to the content of popular live-action flick 300. As those familiar with the ancient epic poem the movie is based on know, Beowulf defeats the monstrous Grendel ... but not before Grendel kills a lot of innocent people in disgusting, harrowing ways. The violence includes dismemberment, impalement, bashed heads, people being eaten alive, and more. Animated or not, it can be hard to watch (even more so in 3D, an option that some theaters are offering).
- Families can talk about whether it's confusing for filmmakers to make and market an animated movie that's so violent and clearly not targeted to kids? Also, does the fact that the animation is so realistic make the violence more upsetting? Why or why not? Why do people tend to react differently to live-action mayhem than they do to similar content that's animated?
What to watch for
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Violence: Grendel -- a disturbing, oozing, pus-filled sight in and of himself -- kills mostly at random. He impales victims, snaps necks, rips off heads and eats them, tears people in two, throws men into fires, squishes heads, etc. Most of the violence is fast, but there's still a great deal of it. Beowulf dismembers Grendel's arm after a long hand-to-hand battle. Grendel's mother kills almost an entire group of warriors, who are shown as shadowy, bloody figures hanging from ceiling beams. Beowulf battles an angry, murderous dragon. Beowulf's army slaughters its enemies on the battlefield.
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Sex: Lots of sexual innuendo and partial nudity (it's animated, but the animation is very realistic). Beowulf strips completely naked in preparation to fight Grendel. Various people and items conveniently obscure his genitals, but his bare buttocks are shown several times during the fight. The drunk king wears a robe that half falls off; a buxom woman's cleavage is shown heaving and jiggling. Later she's propositioned by one of Beowulf's warriors, who says things like "my loins are burning" and that he won't be quiet when he comes. A bare-shouldered woman and soldier share a sleeping bag. The king demands his queen produce an heir; Beowulf has a younger mistress in addition to his wife. Grendel's mom can take the form of a gorgeous woman (Angelina Jolie) who emerges dripping wet and naked from the water.
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Language: Milder than the rest of the film: "damn," "hell," etc.
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Consumerism: Not an issue
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: The Danes and their visiting mercenaries drink a lot of mead in the mead hall. Some men are so drunk that they pass out on the table.
Fan Reviews provided by
5
Beowulf by poop23565486
I AM BEOWULF!! [SAID IN A LOUD, SISSY, CHOPPY, MOTIVATING,KIND OF A LITTLE BIT KOOKY, LITTLE BIT OF PAZZ, A HINT OF WISPERING, CONSTIPATIONLY & ITS ALL PUT TOGETHER IN ONE SHOUND.... ITS ABSOLUTLY AMAZINGLY COOL DAWG! PPPHAAA!]
THIS MOVIE IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WISH I COULD BE BEOWULF... HE IS LIKE MY TOTAL IDOIL!! HE IS SO MUSCULAR & LIKE REALLY REALLY HOTTT... I WAS LIKE SWEATING!!FFFFFFFFFFFBBBBBBBBBBBBLLLLLLLLLLLLLUUUUHHHHHAAAAA!!!!!!!!
PEACE OUT HOME DAWGS!! ALWAYS REMEMBER TO KEEP IT REAL & TO PARTY LIKE A ROCK STAR!! TTTTTTOTALLY DUDE!!
LOVE YOU ALL, DEREK JOHNSON IV
P.S. IM SECERETLY IN LOVE WITH TOBY KEITH! & I PLAY SOCCER & I PLAY THE VOLION AMAZINGLY WELL... NOT BUT ITHNK I DO! PPPHHAAA!
1
bad by sjophynnae
This is not even the real epic story of Beowulf, it was a twisted interpretation. Very disappointing.
5
Way to go Bob Z! by bigfilmfan
How could 'Beowulf' ever be brought to the screen? An all star cast of real actors is a help... a well conceived script with larger than life characters and a magnificent score. Great film that drew attention from the get go. Sex, violence and an epic story of truth and heros. That's what I'm talking about.Great job from Ray Winstone who was unknown to ne until earlier this year. What an actor.
4
If you're an idiot, stay home... by TPJR
In my opinion this is a Must Go! movie, but it's obviously not for morons, and as we all know, there are quite a few out there. Neighbors, friends, relatives... hence the Go instead of Must Go! Overall, they changed some story points from the poem (that's poem people, not book, just because you read it out of one in high school doesn't make it one) but this was the most literal and bad*** translation of the famed original that has or will ever be produced. Action...amazing, Macho...through the roof, Great FX...were you even watching? People keep complaining that they didn't know it was animated, how stupid can you be, pay attention to trailers and TV spots! And they keep complaining there was no story, hello, have you ever read the poem? There's a monster, we need somone to kill it, that's the story. Beowulf is an action filled Man's type of movie, same as the Epic was so long ago... See it. But not if you're an idiot.
2
Beowulf is underrated by pamelalovesjoe
This movie is rated pg13, but with its scantily clad characters, and horrific monster/death scenes, it sould be rated for a much older audience. My husbad and I took our 8 year old to see it, and I had to take my son out of the theater. My husband said that the plot was okay, but the near-naked women and graphic violence would not make this a family movie.
5
The future of film making by Gate Fan
When King Hrothgar (Hopkins) is plagued by the murderous Grendel, he sends out notice for hero to rid his kingdom of the monster. The Viking hero Beowulf comes to see Hrothgar, and tells him that he has ?come to kill your monster.?
Beowulf (Winstone) arranges to taunt Grendel, forcing him to attack. Solidifying his status as hero, Beowulf manages to slay Grendel, only to incur the wrath of the creature?s demon mother (Jolie). Hrothgar sends him on one more mission in order to truly rid his kingdom of the creature?s attacks and promises him a beautiful golden horn as a payment in return for killing Grendel?s mother.
Remarkably, this film is rated PG-13. Filled with tons of animated blood and gore, and several scenes of rear nudity, namely from Beowulf himself. Beowulf?s fight with Grendel takes place entirely in the buff. Just when he turns around and is exposed to the camera, there is a carefully placed piece of furniture, or something else blocking the view of the hero's manhood
1
OH MY! by socal350
THE BEST PART OF THE MOVIE WAS WHEN I GOT TO LEAVE.
5
AWESOME by elvisbuffy68
GO SEE IT BITCHES!
1
Expected VERY little, was still VERY disappointed by mem0ri
I had spoken with friends who had seen the movie before I went, and they told me to not expect much more than a "blood and boobies" action movie that is done almost entirely in CG. With those tempered expectations, I went and watched. I was absolutely appalled at the result. The script-read / voice-inflection was akin to a couple of high school kids sitting around a table playing D&D (in fact, I'd say the whole movie was akin to a couple of high school kids sitting around a table laying D&D). If you're interested in actually seeing a good rendition of the Beowulf story, I'd rent The 13th Warrior (which remains, to this day, one of my favorite movies of all time).