A film that smashes elitist pessimism to a pulp!

Rating: 8/10 (16 February 2008)

Wow. I am in complete awe over this film. What's even more awe-inspiring is the level of nay-saying towards it by a select number of elitist morons. Let's start from the beginning.
"Beowulf" follows the story of a hero - whose name escapes me - and his fight against a monster or two that threaten his would-be kingdom. That's about as accurate the film is to the actual work of literature it's based upon. The sexual innuendo is heavy. The action is over-the-top and fantastic. The characters aren't as rich as they could be, but there are plenty of successful exchanges between them to prove effective.
Instead of a tale preaching blind, gallant, honorable heroism, the film touches on some serious critiques over the danger of such ideas. Man is flawed and imperfect. Even great men - men of legend - have elements attributed to them that are appalling. This isn't an original theme by any means, but it rings out hard and true in the film. It rings out so true, in fact, that it seems to have shot over the heads of the demographic of "high-end" individuals, their ego-driven pessimism focusing on all of the "trendy" elements that were added to the film, giving it some spice and flare.
Much like the Lord of the Rings films, "Beowulf" dances gracefully between pseudo-realism and outright fantasy. One second, our hero is . . . stressed . . . being grazed against a cliff-side on the back of a dragon - a second later, he is pummeled so deep into the ocean that any real human being's vitals would burst under pressure. Such a deep-sea venture does little more than "stress" our hero once again. I found it wildly entertaining. Questionably subjective viewers did not.
Take my advice. Don't go into this film expecting a loyal adaptation of the original. Don't go into this film expecting something as mindless as "300", nor as carefully-woven as "The Lord of the Rings". Go into this film expecting something lavishly cliché, yet unique and compelling (with a LOT of social undertones that many people don't seem to get), and that's exactly what you'll get.
It's heavy. It's over-the-top. It's very well-done, and brings to light some ideas that not enough 'mainstream' films dare to approach. I enjoyed it very much.
8/10