Movies

Beowulf Review

Based on the epic poem written over a 1000 years ago, Beowulf is a story about a great warrior who defeats a near invincible troll, Grendel. Afterwards, Beowulf is greeted by awe and becomes the legend we know so well. Killing Grendel incurs the wrath of Grendel’s mother, whom Beowulf meets in a cave in the mountains above the town. Here, the film version differs from the epic poem.

 

Robert Zemeckis uses the same motion capture technique he did in Polar Express a couple of years ago. He also uses an amazing cast including Anthony Hopkins as Hrothgar, the king who is bedeviled by Grendel, John Malkovich as Unvir, (King Hrothgar’s advisor), and Robin Wright-Penn as the Queen. Angelina Jolie stars as the seductive, demon mother of Grendel.

 

The version I saw was in IMAX 3-D, and I would recommend everyone see it in that format. The 3-D is breathtaking and worth the extra few bucks. Spears, bodies and monsters fly through the air right at you, and blood drips from the ceiling onto as you watch amazed. 3-D technology has apparently come a long way from the old green/red glasses I remember as a child. While it is rated 14A, it is not for the faint of heart as bodies, limbs, blood and all manner of gore fly during the battle scenes.

 

I will admit I was highly skeptical of this movie (the motion capture idea is silly IMHO) but was more than pleasantly surprised by it.