Modern Viking Hero

Rating: 8/10 (18 November 2007)

Beowolf is an entertaining action movie. I vaguely remembered the story from long ago English lessons, so I expected the film to be dull but worthy, but it was enjoyable and often gripping. The dialog is cleverly written and you soon forget you are watching animated characters. Beowolf as a hero, would not be out of place in Marvel or D.C. Comics. The film also has a sense of humor.
Liberties are obviously taken with the original story so that Beolwolf is depicted as a hero with character flaws and marital problems. These these adjustments probably make the film more palatable to modern audiences and make him appear more sympathetic. The story starts with a Danish king (Hopkins) who is being terrorized by a monster called Grendel. He sends for help and Beowolf arrives from Sweden with his team of warriors. Beowolf is initially made to seem like a silly, loud-mouthed braggart, but he quickly proves he is brave and up to the challenge. Beowolf likes to fight fairly and brawls with monsters in the buff.
The "cast" are excellent although, the accents seem all over the place. The digitalized Beowulf combines the head of a twenty-something Ray Winstone (who is fat and fifty) with the body of a superhero. Winstone also sounds like a Swede who has spent a lot of time in south London. Robin Wright Penn is a Danish queen who sounds Welsh. Angelina Jolie who plays Grendel's mother has a strange unidentifiable accent and spends most of her time on screen naked and in high heels. Her character is a beautiful yet vicious seductress who charms men by offering them sexual favors. It's a fun movie.