Beowulf

WARNING: This review is hidden because it reveals the content of the film.
Click here to show this review. I saw this film in IMAX and I get the impression that this feature made the film seem more enjoyable than I would have thought it in a regular 2D screening. The sound is fantastic (effects and music), the costumes and sets are historically accurate, and the social norms of the time show through, creating a contrast with our way of thinking. (By the way, the repetition of Beowulf’s name, not just by him but by others, too, is normal and not overdone; he’s building his reputation as a great hero and wants to be remembered through the ages. Think Achilles in Troy.) These are all good things. The story is familiar and, thank goodness, respects the traditional canon for this legend... though I did find it a pity that they didn't include an explanation for Grendel's acting the way he does, apart from ‘his mother tells him to’. This is a more teenaged Grendel than we usually imagine/see; less hell-bent, more uncertain. And Beowulf is more suave than usual. Now for the image. The film is entirely presented in CGI, which allows the filmakers a lot of leeway, seeing as they need to depict monsters. Overall, the effects are okay. The shading is always spot-on, the colours are perfect, the hair (especially body hair) amazed me, and the water (on skin, sitting in a pool, etc.), which is so hard to depict, was very realistic. Often, the effects are spectacularly life-like (close-ups of skin and eyes, sparkles on snow, muscle mass that moves realistically, etc.) but sometimes they are obviously fake (much of the horses' movements and hair, lesser characters look like animated Mme Tussaud figures, etc.) So there's wonderful stuff and there are shortcomings. All in all, the good parts are so exquisite that they make up for the plastic bits. I'm just disappointed that they didn't apply that level of craftsmanship to every part of the film. 13+ isn't enough, in my opinion. People aren't mentioning it but there is a lot of gore and loads of nudity. (The fuss with Angelina? Please. She's nice and all but we've seen this before. Beowulf nude-- now THAT'S a show worth watching!)