Dull and soulless

Rating: 3/10 (12 November 2007)

I can't believe that Robert Zemeckis did actually direct "Beowulf". Of course Zemeckis has never been a cinematic genius like Spielberg or Cameron or Lucas, but he was always reliable and imaginative. If anybody during claimed that Zemecki had been asleep during the making of this movie I'd believe it immediately.
Because "Beowulf" is a prime example of a dull movie. It's incredibly kitschy and presents a cruelly simplified rendering of an old myth. The so-called characters are as lively and appealing as wax figures. Others seem to made of plastic. Thus they they completely fail to evoke any emotions - or at least not the emotions desired by the filmmakers. Watching those unbearable digital equivalents of Anthony Hopkins, Crispin Glover, John Malkovich, or Angelina Jolie with their soulless eyes is painful. I would have preferred to see the Simpsons in this movie rather than those digitally generated caricatures.
Yes, there is some interesting camera work, some nice scenery, some clever idea. Which doesn't save this movie for me at all. Not to mention Alan Silvestri's score that I found quite tough to endure.