Unwatchable CG dreck

Rating: 2/10 (5 July 2009)

I found this film to be virtually unwatchable. It is nothing more than a sequence of "gee! see what I can do in CG" scenes. There is nothing here that enables the viewer to identify with nor care about the characters, and that is a fatal flaw in an epic adventure if not in most movies/stories in general.
CG and visual effects can be useful to enhance the movie experience and/or to help tell a story that might otherwise be impractical to film as real action or settings. However, CG or animated characters are very difficult to identify with unless the actors, writers, and director focus extensively on creating an emotional tapestry that pulls in the viewer. Without the latter, a film devolves into a mere series of images and scenes that will have little if any impact.
Beowulf makes the mistake described above, and it is clearly reflected in the flat performances of the voice actors. Despite having a cast with several A-list and award-winning thespians, all of them sounded like they were reading from scripts. I don't doubt that they found it difficult to bring the "story" to life in their own minds given the complete-animation format, and the director clearly did nothing to address this fundamental problem.
As computer game, Beowulf might have had a chance, but as a film it is a complete waste of time. A few mildly notable sequences of CG gore that could be found in any "zombie hunt" video game do not a movie make.