"Are you not entertained?!"... whoops, wrong movie... "THIS IS SPARTA!"... okay, one more go... "I AM BEOWULF!"

Rating: 8/10 (19 November 2007)

(Note: If the film is in IMAX 3-D (as I saw it), then this film gets a 9).
I AM BEOWULF! Man, I couldn't even count how many times he shouted that in this movie. Anyway, for my latest review, I'll take a look at the new film from Robert Zemeckis, "Beowulf", which is based on an old folk tale that I've never read. Fortunately, you won't have to have read that story to enjoy "Beowulf".
The Positives: -Visually and aurally, this film is phenomenal. It's unlike just about anything you've ever seen before, and it's a masterful showcase of motion capture technology. Plus, you know that problem with "The Polar Express" where the characters occasionally looked creepy? Well, they pretty much fixed that here. -The performers all do a very good job of playing their characters. I especially liked Crispen Glover's portrayal of the monster Grendel, and I actually felt pity for him when he was put to rest. -The action scenes are great, and are by far the best aspect of "Beowulf". The climactic battle between the aged Beowulf and the dragon is absolutely breathtaking (and yes, I do realize that I sound as if I'm begging to be quoted).
The Negatives: -The story itself is good but not great, and for a fantasy or epic battle film, I often expect the story to be great. This isn't a huge problem, mind you, but I simply felt that the story was missing something (which, yes, I can't put my finger on). -The movie doesn't start all too strongly, and the earlier half of the film has occasional jokes that come close to being groan-inducing. The acting also seems a bit weaker at the start. Fortunately, the film's quality improves as it goes along, and it reaches true greatness once Beowulf prepares to encounter Grendel's mother (played by Angelina Jolie... but you already knew that, didn't you?) -This is a small quibble, but when Beowulf decides to fight Grendel... er... naked, other guys in the audience (myself included) may feel uncomfortable.
My 3 choice words: Revolutionary, Exhilarating, Gorgeous.