Could have been great...

Rating: 7/10 (14 June 2010)

The animation is interesting, much like A Scanner Darkly. Beowulf is a character cursed by pride, vanity, and lust, among other things. While you may find yourself cheering for him in battle, it is difficult to sympathize with him. And, while it may be a moot point when it comes to the conflict, one wonders where these beasts come from (especially Grendel's mother) and what drives them. In sum, the forces of good are not that good and the forces of evil largely remain unknown. What reaction does this produce for the viewer? Mostly, boredom. The action scenes that are supposed to be intense lose intensity in the midst of so much silliness. When Beowulf fights Grendel, all you will be able to think is, "Why does he have to fight naked?" and, "Is he really letting his naked body rub up against that disgusting thing?" I could go on...
Still, it's much better than the horrible films "Beowulf" with Christopher Lambert and "Beowulf & Grendel".