FAQ for
Beowulf (2007)

Computer-generated images allowed the director, Robert Zemeckis, far more freedom than live-action filming would permit. Zemeckis has already made an all-CG movie, The Polar Express (2004), and knows its benefits. For this film, they include:

- camera moves that would not otherwise be possible;

- greater control over the art direction;

- greater ability to convincingly age the main character, who must grow fifty years over the course of the story;

- keeping costs down; and

- images that look especially good in 3-D processes, such as IMAX or Real D.

He is speaking in Olde English (sometimes called the Anglo-Saxon language), from which modern English is derived. It is closer to its German roots. Here are his lines, translated (some of Grendel's mother's words are in Olde English as well):

(In Grendel's Lair, after his first attack)

GRENDEL'S MOTHER: Grendel, what have you done? What have you done, Grendel?

GRENDEL: Mother?

GRENDEL'S MOTHER: Fish and wolf and bear, and sheep or two, but not men.

GRENDEL: Men? They are small.

GRENDEL'S MOTHER: Men, Grendel. They have slain so many of our kind.

GRENDEL: The men screamed! The men bellowed and screamed! The men hurt me, hurt my ear.

GRENDEL'S MOTHER: Was Hrothgar there?

GRENDEL: I did not hurt him, I did not hurt him, no.

GRENDEL'S MOTHER: Good. Good boy, and tender.

GRENDEL: Mother....

_____________

(Beowulf and Grendel battle in the mead hall)

BEOWULF: Your bloodletting days are finished, demon.

GRENDEL: I am not a demon.

BEOWULF: It speaks. It speaks!

GRENDEL: What are you?

BEOWULF: I am ripper, tearer, slasher, gouger....

______________

(Grendel returns to his lair)

GRENDEL'S MOTHER: Grendel. My son. My poor son.

GRENDEL: Mother. They hurt me, Mother.

GRENDEL'S MOTHER: Sleep now, my son.

GRENDEL: He murdered me, Mother.

GRENDEL'S MOTHER. Who murdered you, my son?

GRENDEL: He ripped off my arm.

GRENDEL'S MOTHER: He will pay, my darling. Who was the man?

GRENDEL: He was so strong. So strong.

GRENDEL'S MOTHER: Who was the man?

GRENDEL: His name was Beowulf.

GRENDEL'S MOTHER: Beowulf.

John Murphy's In the House - In a Heartbeat from the soundtrack for 28 Days Later... (2002).

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_The_House_-_In_A_Heartbeat

The song during the end credits is ''A Hero Comes Home,'' sung by Idina Menzel, a Broadway actress who has starred in such shows as Rent and Wicked. She has also appeared in the movie adaptation of Rent (2005).

The movie was shown in IMAX, IMAX 3D, Dolby Digital 3D, and in the conventional "flat" format.