Not bad but doesn't resemble the poem.

Rating: 6/10 (24 November 2007)

I just saw Beowulf and can say that if I had not ever read or taught the poem, I would think it were great. The CG is great, and many times I forgot that I was watching characters created by a computer and not the real things. However, the movie of course does not consistently follow the poem, and the movie makes Beowulf out as a weak-minded character. Sure, the Beowulf in the poem is a boastful one, but he truly does care about his people and those he has promised to help. He would never have let a woman deter him from a race (with Brecca) or from defeating a menace to the Danes. The Beowulf in the movie is a fraud and a liar. In fact, the battle scene with Grendel even portrays Beowulf as weak. If the creators had followed the poem--and not focused on hiding Beowulf's male member--the scene would have been better. I wanted to see Beowulf use his own strength to rip off Grendle's arm! Speaking of Grendle, I cannot believe that the creators made Hrothgar Grendle's father and Beowulf the dragon's father! I also found Wiglaf to be somewhat of a weak thane, unlike the Wiglaf in the poem. One last problem with the movie is the pronunciation of the word "Scop." Anthony Hopkins, please pronounce it as "Shope" not "Skop!" So, what did I like? I liked the CG, the dragon battle scenes, the introduction of the Christian elements, and Unferth. I thought that John Malkovich was perfect for the role. I understand that some parts of the poem had to be "updated," but I think that using most of the battle scenes from the poem would have made this movie a better one.