The first movie ever to really celebrate 3D. WARNING: this rating only applies to the 3D version

Rating: 10/10 (24 December 2007)

My expectations for this one were very low. I expected a crap story, crap performances, crap CGI for the faces, crap action. To be short: I just expected crap. I went with my girlfriend and the only reason we went was because we, or rather I, had some faint hope some people would finally have realized the true potential of 3D cinema. We missed the last show in the only Imax theater in Holland and I thought I'd missed the opportunity to see Beowolf in 3D. Yesterday my girlfriend took me to the cinema as a surprise. When it turned out we were going to see Beowolf for a moment I was (quite) scared it would be 2D. I was much relieved to see the 3D 'diving goggles' at the entrance (and what a dive it would be!) It turned out that the 3D release not only applies for Imax, but also for digital projection systems. We were in the theater with only 5 people, the three others being youngsters that started having 'fun' making hand-shadow figures on the screen and talking about where those funny glasses were meant for. I was preparing for a worst case scenario. A few moments later everyone was captured in one of those rare enchanting cinematic experiences, that come only once a decade (I didn't ask the youngsters, but judging by the fact that there were no further attempts to make us aware of their presence, they must have found out what those funny glasses were for).
To be honest the 2D version probably wouldn't get me writing a review or giving a top rating. Alas there was not the same depth in the story and characters as in the picture. But the story and characters were involving enough to enjoy in their own right. And the 3D isn't just a gimmick added to upgrade a mediocre product. This movie is made to be 3D and the makers showed art and craft. Who cares if the excitement comes as much from the SFX as from the story. Beowolf 3D is an adventure with an extra dimension. Go see it, or rather experience it, if you have the opportunity (exept if your sensitive to violence).
Note: Some time earlier I saw the latest Harry Potter in Imax 3D and it's 3D experience wasn't nearly as stunning as this. Here the glasses and 3D image didn't diminish the picture quality in any way. I don't know where the difference comes from, but I guess it's a combination of qualities of the movie itself in the way it was made (motion capture digitized afterward), projection type (digital/celluloid) and of the used equipment of the theater (projector, screen, glasses) Hope you will be/were as lucky as we were.