If you haven’t heard the story of Beowulf already, don’t kill yourself trying to read it now. Rather, take a seat in front of the big screen and transport yourself to the world of kings, daemons, and limitless magic - the only world where such tales of cherished heroes as Beowulf can be told.
As legend has it, the warrior Beowulf once valiantly defeated the dreadful monster Grendel, the terror of a Danish kingdom helpless to protect itself from the demon’s blood-lusting fury. But when Beowulf is called upon to slay Grendel’s mother and secure the world from evil once and for all, he slips into her seduction, himself becoming an even greater threat to his kingdom than even Grendel had been before.
Beowulf the movie harnesses groundbreaking animation technology to simulate the actors so closely, it is at times hard to tell that the figures on screen are not real. I was astounded by the visual brilliance of characters so detailed with the essence of life that I could clearly see the faintest lines in their flesh and the deepest personalities in their eyes. The animated monster Grendel is done in such a wonderfully horrific fashion that he truly highlights the terrible magic of a world unlike our own. The voice talent of stars Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Alison Lohman, and Angelina Jolie lend just the right elements to liven the film’s human characters so that they’re much more than animations on screen.
There is something about seeing a movie version of an epic classic that solidifies its meaning and brings new life to the significant elements of the story. Watching Zemeckis’ version of the timeless poetry on screen, I found myself witness to the story of Beowulf in much greater detail than I experienced reading it in high school and college. Emphasis is something that cinema so greatly bestows on the most critical points of an already compelling plot, and the essence of big-screen Beowulf was no exception.
I, like many other movie goers, was perhaps most curious about Angelina Jolie’s role in the film: the intoxicating and superhuman seductress that is Grendel’s mother. I lost faith in Jolie as a person after what she did to the Aniston-Pitt home, and I’ve since lost faith in her acting after retching my way through A Mighty Heart. I was somewhat satisfied with Jolie is this role; she is a lot less vile in animation, and her portrayal of a demonic temptress (with a penchant for bearing an eclectic bunch of babies) seemed to be spot on. But her high profile as a house wrecking temptress in real life makes her stand out awkwardly amongst a cast of actors more revered for their past performances than gawked at for their family drama. And trust me, the hype surrounding her monster nude scenes amounts to nothing at all.
Literary genius Neil Gaiman spent ten years writing the Beowulf script along with Roger Avary, and it was good time well spent. All elements of fantastic writing were blended together wonderfully here: intense drama, subtle and intelligent comedy, contemporary word puns that capture 5th century and modern day humor in full brilliance, and well developed characters whose dialogue didn’t miss a beat. I was simply dazzled by this film, and if you like any one of intense action, beautiful animation, and compelling story, you’ll be captivated by Beowulf too.
