109 mins, Warner Home Video, Action/Drama, also available to buy. Starring: Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Crispin Glover, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich. ROBERT Zemeckis's computer animated adventure re-imagines the oldest surviving poem in the English language. In Denmark AD507, the sins of corrupt King Hrothgar (Hopkins) condemn his people to brutality at the hands of savage beast Grendel (Glover).After a particularly vicious attack, Hrothgar sends word that he will give half his gold to any man who can slay the hideous creature. Soon after, valiant warrior Beowulf (Winstone) arrives by long boat. Aided by his loyal sidekick Wiglaf (Gleeson), Beowulf wrestles with Grendel and rips the beasts' claw from its socket, fatally wounding his prey. The ogre dies and Grendel's mother (Jolie) vows revenge, exploiting Beowulf's lust for power to effectively seal the kingdom's fate.
Utilising the same sophisticated motion capture technology as The Polar Express, Beowulf is a smorgasbord for the senses, boasting dazzling fight sequences, lusty serving wenches and mythical, demonic creatures. The animators push the state-of-the-art technology to the limit, including a vertiginous aerial battle with a fire-breathing dragon.
Dazzling as the visuals may be, the technology still cannot replicate realistic eye movement. Close-up, the characters look like dolls, with lifeless, glassy orbs replacing the windows to their souls. Winstone's Cock-er-ney growl is horribly misplaced next to the rest of the cast, many of whom attempt a Nordic twang, including John Malkovich as the king's snide adviser Unferth.
The story sags badly in the middle section and the tone errs towards the unintentionally camp or unnecessarily risque, including carefully positioned swords sparing the naked hero's blushes in an Austin Powers style. What do you think? Have your say.
news source : http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/
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