Today’s quick review: Beowulf. When the demon Grendel (Crispin Glover) attacks the domain of King Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins), the legendary hero Beowulf (Ray Winstone) travels from afar to slay the monster. His heroics earn him the praise of the king, the adoration of his wife (Robin Wright-Penn), and the grudging respect of his advisor (John Malkovich). But in defeating Grendel, Beowulf sets loose an even greater demon on the land: the beast’s mother (Angelina Jolie).
Beowulf is a fantasy action adventure movie loosely based on the classic epic poem. With a talented cast, violent action, and a touch of attitude, Beowulf aims to bring epic fantasy to a modern audience. In this it is only partially successful: the film’s experimental visual style does not quite pay off for it, the script is competent but not iconic, and the tone is an unusual mixture of defiant heroism, action horror, and faded glory.
Beowulf sports visuals done almost entirely in realistic CGI. As a result, the film is free to indulge in elaborate action sequences, sweeping camera shots, and impossible camera angles. However, the character models have an unnatural look to them that is difficult to get used to. Movements are just a bit too exaggerated, while everything from the film’s physics to its sense of perspective feels distorted. The visual style is a bold experiment with mixed results.
Perhaps the movie’s best feature is its action. Here the imagination runs wild, with Beowulf’s almost superhuman prowess pitted against the grotesque monsters stalking Denmark. Though the choreography is not outstanding, the action does feel suitably grand in scope. However, there is an edge of horror to it that some viewers may find unappealing. Between the unsightly monsters, the occasional scare, and a few brutal kills, Beowulf is not a tame movie.
Watch Beowulf only if you are drawn to the visceral side of fantasy action. Beowulf is an unusually ambitious action movie whose gambles do not all pay off. Most viewers would be better off watching something like Clash of the Titans instead, which has the same type of monster-slaying action, but with cleaner presentation and a purer heroic tone.
6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for decent action, an odd aesthetic, and a not entirely satsifying tone.