Beowulf shows computer generated isn’t just for kids

For those who loved director Robert Zemeckis’ 2004 eerily realistic and beautiful feature film version of author Chris Van Allsburg’s “The Polar Express”, you will be not be disappointed with his adaptation of the Old English epic poem “Beowulf”.
For starters, Beowulf is the most visually awe-inspiring computer animated movie done since 1995’s Toy Story and while the same motion capture computer generated techniques that were used in The Polar Express, “Beowulf” ups the ante with more detail and style then most live – action films. Every character in the movie whether human or not looks exactly to close to the actor or actress playing them from Raymond Winstone who plays the title character to Angelina Jolie who may go down in history as the greatest interpretation of Grendal’s Mother in any art medium.
The adaptation of the classic epic poem tells the story of Beowulf, hero of Geats who is tasked with killing the monstrous yet sympathetic Grendal played graciously by Crispin Glover of Charlie’s Angels. While the screenplay does differ in many ways from the original tale, one could take the film as a re-imaging of it.
What makes the movie great is Winstone’s energetic and cocky performance of Beowulf that is over-the-top yet natural.
The epic fight that takes place between Beowulf and Grendal in the film may be one of the most beautiful yet brutal showcase of what CG can do.
Also adding to the films greatness is the ability to see the film in 3D that doesn’t take away from the film. Instead of doing something cheesy like some films such as poking at the screen, all the glasses do is add depth to the film making it feel as if one is in the audience that works really well.
Setting Beowulf apart from the thousands of CG movies in existence is the films realistic yet dark tone. If you want a CG film that doesn’t have cute animals nor a bubble gum family fun plot then this is the film for you. Though the film is full of blood and guts (the film was hinted to have a R rating for a while) it’s not stylized in anyway and when blood flies, you will cringe. This movie will do what Sony Picture’s 2001 mega-flop “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within”(the most thought provoking CG film of all time) tried to do, make CG films with more serious and adult themes for a mature audience.