| | |  | ICELAND | Home » » Wrath of Gods | | | | | | | Description: | | Winner of 6 international film festival 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 Beowulf's warriors, he's one set with his camera as the crew battles hurricane force winds and he's 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.
If you liked "Lost in la Mancha" or "Burden of Dreams" you will probably like this one.
DVD Special Features: 2 hours of bonus features, 1 hour exclusive interview with Gerard Butler, exclusive interviews with producers of Beowulf & Grendel, additional & extended scenes, chapter selection, Subtitles: Spanish, German, French, Icelandic, Polish, English, version for the hearing impaired. | | | 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
• Subtitles: Spanish, German, French, Icelandic, Polish + Version for the hearing impaired
| | | Product Details: | | | Director:
| Jon Gustafsson | | Format:
| Director's Cut, Letterboxed | | Run Time:
| 72 minutes | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 46 reviews |
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| $18.43+ $2.98 *Shipping This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $18.43+ $2.98 *Shipping This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $18.95+ $2.98 *Shipping This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $25.00+ $4.99 *Shipping | New | |
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| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 46 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 39 found the following review helpful:
The Burden of Sturla's Dream!Aug 24, 2007
By J. Cross
"TheMermaidWhoWrites"
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.
32 of 35 found the following review helpful:
Outstanding interview with Gerry!Oct 19, 2007
By Betty J. Kilgore
I can't believe what I'm seeing...a solid hour interview with Gerry Butler AFTER a grueling workday on the set. I'm amazed at his patience under the visible stress of an aching head and body after braving the Icelandic weather to shoot this revealing documentation. How much more can he do to show his appreciation for the support of his fans worldwide? His behavior speaks volumes about the depth of his character and his commitment to excellence and dedication as an actor. His star is definitely rising and he is indeed 'paying his dues'...he is not afraid to shoulder the tough roles, transforming himself into a character in ways that startle directors and producers alike. When he signs on to play a role they can be assured of this: they will get much, much more than their money's worth from the likes of this humble, towering Scotsman who has his feet planted solidly on the ground and who has restored the grandeur of moviemaking. Don't look for his handsome face in the gossip rags as he's rarely caught up in their sordid stories...he's too mature to get swept up in their tasteless diatribes...he's too busy concentrating on his career to cater to the crowded flashbulbs. The law profession lost an excellent attorney when he set his sights on becoming an actor; can't you just see him in the courtroom making his case summarization! He's stunning in a suit and tie but even better in his preferred 'dressed-down' look of an old tee shirt, old jeans and an old leather jacket - like in THE JURY film...go getum, Gerry. I may be old enough to be his mother, but I can hardly breathe when he's on camera...go figure.
13 of 13 found the following review helpful:
Better than Beowulf! Mother Nature at Her Wildest!Aug 20, 2007
By Wzlwmn
I liked Beowulf the film in spite of the unpolished, anachronistic script, because of the gorgeous scenery, excellent costume and set work, and good performances by the title characters. For me the best part was Iceland itself; its vistas and its unbelievable weather, and this is where Wrath of the Gods surpasses the film by far. I think it gives insight into formation of the culture when people struggle to survive in such a place. Highly recommended for anyone interested in filmmaking.
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
Nothing Like You've Ever SeenAug 22, 2007
By Jean P. Ostholm
"jeano"
Wrath of Gods is the dramatic documentary of the making of the film Beowulf and Grendel. Being a huge Gerry Butler fan, I had seen Beowulf and Grendel and also watched the extras, but, none of that prepared me for what was to come in Wrath of Gods, written, directed and filmed by Jon Gustafsson.Jon followed director Sturla Gunnarsson and his crew on one of the most harrowing experiences I have ever seen. In the cold, snow, and hurricane force winds of the tundra and mountains of beautiful Iceland, the gods seemed to thwart their every move, but Sturla wanted to make an authentic movie in a place where the legend could have taken place.
Against all odds, and it seems, all gods, they managed to make a beautiful film that is so real because it was not made on some Hollywood backlot. Kudos go to all cast and crew for enduring all the problems and plugging along to make this wonderful film.
This documentary won "Best Feature Documentry - Audience Award" at the Outland International Fillm Festival. Since then it has won 4 awards out of 8 festival entries, the latest awards being "Jury Award - Achievement in Filmaking" at Stony Brook Film Festival in New York, and "Jury Award - Best Documentary Feature" at Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival in California.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
One Of My Favorites!Aug 19, 2007
By Patricia H. Marcum
I was one of the privileged people to attend the Oxford Film Festival in Ohio in April 2007 and to meet Jon Gustafsson! I was not disappointed! I had already preordered the Wrath of Gods DVD and so I was very excited to see some of the clips from the DVD. I couldn't believe what the cast and crew had to endure to make Beowulf & Grendel and it's all on the DVD. I particularly enjoyed all the behind the scene features and all the interviews. I am an avid fan of Gerry Butler's and I especially enjoyed the hour-long enterview with Gerry and Jon! I'm afraid, with Gerry's new found star status, we will never see another hour long interview with him....ever again! So with this DVD, we have something really special! What a labor of love this was for Jon! I never tire of watching this!
Thank you Gerry and Jon for this marvelous piece of work!!
Pat Marcum
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