Rating of
2.5/4
CGI Candy
Chris Kavan - wrote on 11/18/07
I believe I’ve come to the realization that either video games are becoming a lot like movies, or movies are becoming a lot like video games. Certain parts of Beowulf look like they would fit right into a cut scene in say, a God of War or Heavenly Sword-type game. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing, for me at least, but it makes one wonder if this is the future of film, than maybe game makers are the ones ahead of the game.
Utilizing the latest in completely photo-realistic CGI (much improved from The Polar Express), Robert Zemeckis takes an ancient story, throws in some great monsters, fight scenes and spectacular settings, and manages to make it resonate with modern audiences.
Still, with a story that old, you know there’s going to be some liberties taken – such as having Grendel’s mother - a gold painted Angelina Jolie – walking around in high heels. Even better is Beowulf’s decision to fight Grendel in the buff – leading to some Austin Power’s like exercise in hiding his manhood from the camera. It’s a little too soon in this medium to be showing full frontal CGI nudity apparently.
In consensus amongst those who attended the film, it was decided that a great attention to detail was given to the main characters – facial features, hair, clothing, aging – it was done near perfect. Yet, for all the work, they seemed to take less approach to the peons in the background, making them less spectacular in all areas. That, and it appears that rendering horses is a bit behind the human rendering. It wasn’t quite My Little Pony, but it was a bit disappointing none the less.
Still, the best features were given over to the monsters: Grendel, Crispin Glover looking like a malformed horror that would make anyone’s stomach turn, and the dragon – better than any I’ve seen yet put on screen – flaming breath and all – were enough to make it worth seeing at least once. Throw in Angelina Jolie as one seductive mother, and you have a perfect trifecta: a horror, a beauty and a beast.
For all the great effects, I fear that most people who watch this will be disappointed by the story. In effect it boils down to the sins of the father will be visited upon his children (or in this case, his kingdom) – a concept that has been explored many different times. Plus it’s a decidedly male-oriented film, most of the females are either wenches or play-things (heck, even the queen is treated like a possession). Those who are really into Beowulf as a literary milestone will gnash their teeth over the changes made from the original material. I think this film will have a limited appeal.
I don’t know if complete CGI is the future. It allows some spectacular visuals, but I never felt that connected to the film. Technical wonders aside, there isn’t much different from Beowulf than any other sword and sorcery epic. Every time the hero exclaimed “I AM BEOWULF!” I kept waiting for him to slip and yell “I AM SPARTA!”
