In a newly released Dreamworks 3D cartoon
How to train your dragon Gerard Butler does the voice for the Viking chief Stoick. But another thing that is interesting about Mr. Butler is that he is fascinated by Iceland and one of his best friends is Icelandic. His first experience came with his participation in the film
Beowulf & Grendel - a film by an Icelandic director filmed in Iceland. Even though the film was not a great success Mr. Butlers' experience with Iceland was something to remember.
“I'm Celtic and I feel that my two favorite places on the planet are Scotland and Iceland. There's something about Iceland - a harshness. There is something very primal just in the geology and look of the place and something inexplicable that affects me when I stand there. You go over glaciers or you're on a black sandy beach. You're standing on top of a volcano and there is steam coming out of the ground around you. There are hot springs. There is stuff that you never see anywhere else. And they are very spiritual people. “ “I did a movie in 2005 called Beowulf & Grendel which meant I spent a year in Sweden and then went to Iceland. It was great - I really do have an incredible love for the country. Dean, who I mentioned earlier, also loves it - he made a brilliant film in 2007, Heima, about the Icelandic rock band Sigur Rós. “ (the reporter asked)
We hear that their music affected you in a big way too, didn't it?
“You understand everything about their music when you stand in that land. One of the most profound moments I ever had was when we stopped in the middle of nowhere. I had just been picked up at the airport, and was on my way to wherever we're filming, but it was the middle of the night and it was so dark and the Northern Lights came on and they were all over the sky. We stopped the cameras, stood outside and we were playing Sigur Rós. I'll never forget it. It was so deep and profound inside me - and a lot of those moments happened in Iceland. Then there's the great people. I've made some fantastic friends. I loved it there.” you can read the whole interview hereBelow is an example of the music from the Icelandic band Sigur Rós that Butler is talking about from the movie Heima:
Here is another article on how Butler thanks Icelandic adventure for saving his live