Amazon.com Spectacular animated action scenes turn the ancient epic poem Beowulf into a modern fantasy movie, while motion-capture technology transforms plump actor Ray Winstone (Sexy Beast) into a burly Nordic warrior. When a Danish kingdom is threatened by the monster Grendel (voiced and physicalized by Crispin Glover, River's Edge), Beowulf--lured by the promise of heroic glory--comes to rescue them. He succeeds, but falls prey to the seductive power of Grendel's mother, played by Angelina Jolie... and as Jolie's pneumatically animated form rises from an underground lagoon with demon-claw high heels, it becomes clear that we're leaving the original epic far, far behind. Regrettably, the motion-capture process has made only modest improvements since The Polar Express; while the characters' eyes no longer look so flat and zombie-like, their faces remain inexpressive and movements are still wooden. As a result, the most effective sequences feature wildly animated battles and the most vivid character is Grendel, whose grotesqueness ends up making him far more sympathetic than any of the mannequin-like human beings. The meant-to-be-titillating images of a naked Jolie resemble an inflatable doll more than a living, breathing woman (or succubus, as the case may be). But the fights--particularly Grendel's initial assault on the celebration hut--pop with lushly animated gore and violence. Also featuring the CGI-muffled talents of Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs), Robin Wright Penn (The Princess Bride), and John Malkovich (Dangerous Liaisons). --Bret Fetzer
Great CG movie
I first saw this movie in an IMAX theatre presented in digital and 3D. I was amazed of the quality of CG work. Angelina Jolie's CG is one of the spectacular I've ever seen. If you like Final Fantasy The Spirits Within and The Polar Express, this will blow you away. The reason why I didn't gave this a full five star is that I wish that they put out an alternate 3D version on the same disc.
If you liked this telling...
This seems to be a pretty polarizing flick; most people either loving it or hating it. Makes me a bit unusual in putting it in the middle. Since this version of the story clearly couldn't have been done live-action without LOTR-level budgets -- and since the writers include one of the very best of today's graphic novelists -- it seems that the choice to do it all in aniimation was making a virtue of necessity. Like some other reviewers, I had a hard time getting past the artificiality of the people. All in all, though, for this viewer it was a worthwhile tradeoff to get all the monster effects that wouldn't -- probably couldn't at this point in the technology -- have blended seamlessly with live-action humans (a la "300" or "Sin City").
However, I also had a hard time getting past the comparisons I was making with what stands, for me, as the best Beowulf variant yet: "The 13th Warrior," the great John McTiernan's 1999 film version of Michael Crichton's 1976 book "Eaters of the Dead."
It's a complete mystery to me why that movie was (and remains, judging by what used copies go for here at Amazon's Marketplace) such a commercial flop. But if you enjoyed this telling, you might also enjoy the McTiernan movie. You should be warned that it's a VERY different take on the story. The central conceit is that there was a highly civilized (ie, literate) expat from one of the two most advanced societies of the day (an Arab of noble birth, exiled from the caliphate) along for the ride, one of the Beowulf-character's 12 other warriors (hence the title), and Grendel and Gendel's "mother" turned out to be...
Well, see for yourself, if you care to. No more spoilers here...
I Am Beowulf! Not!
If you watch the various extras included on this DVD you will hear the writers and others responsible for the movie, say that they never got the original story. They did not understand it. They also seemed to have missed a lot of it's detail. It would appear that all they really got of the original story is that Beowulf kills a bunch of monsters. The result is a movie that is not really based on the book outside of some names and dead monsters.
Hrothgar is menaced by a monster named Grendel. Beowulf shows up to kill it. He then confronts Grendel's mother (nameless in this version) and finally a dragon. This all accomplished through a cgi-enhanced cast of very talented actors. That is the film's best selling point. There is excellent acting in this film even if the story is pretty thin. The extras provide a very good look into the thoughts and ideas that made this movie.
Many people have know this story to some degree thanks to the school systems. The main thing people remember is that Beowulf holds onto Grendel's arm until the arm is torn off. This is not in this movie. Yes, Grendel loses an arm but not in the classic heroic manner, it is much more common and mundane. But when it is all said and done this is a visually beautiful film powered by superior acting skills, I only wish the writing was on the same level. Check it out.
Beowulf
This dvd was not what I expected. It was true to the story, but I didn't like the animated look to everything.
LOOKS GREAT!
Loved it.... the picture and the xtras are worth it! Damn shame no more HD DVDs :(