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Robert Zemeckis, Beowulf

by Chris Flippo
11/17/2007

“Are you the one they call Beowulf? Such a strong man you are. A man like you could own the greatest tale ever sung.”- Mama Grendel

Adverbs be damned, Beowulf is gloriously, beautifully, thoroughly square. I don’t know if there are enough people out there interested in the film to justify its existence. But, you know what? Right now, as I write this review, I don’t seem to care. Beowulf will probably have a small audience, but that small audience will be stunned. I know I was.

The story is familiar to anyone who didn’t fall asleep in Brit Lit. Yes, the titular hero (the invaluable Ray Winstone) comes to the aid of King Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins), whose kingdom is under attack by the monster Grendel (Crispin Glover, who was born to play this role). However, defeating Grendel is only the beginning for the Geat hero, as Beowulf must contend with the monster’s deceptive mother (Angelina Jolie) in the hope of breaking a centuries-old curse.

Beowulf 2007 doesn’t reinvent the proverbial wheel with its storytelling, but then again, it shouldn’t have to. Why mess with a winning thousand-year-old formula? What makes this version stand out is director Robert Zemeckis’ keen eye for visual effects. I’ve always believed Zemeckis was as good a showman as he was a director, and Beowulf proves it. We are not talking about the lifeless, dead-eyed kids found aboard The Polar Express (2004). Here, every character has presence and weight. You stop thinking about these characters in terms of 1's and 0's and start thinking about them in terms of the story. That’s the highest compliment a special effects-laden film can receive.

However, I do have some small complaints with the film. Beowulf is being released in both 2-D and 3-D formats, which is both good and bad. There are portions of the film that seem to be made for the IMAX screen since arrows, swords and body parts fly at the camera. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a great experience, but those seeing it in 2-D can’t help but feel a little short-changed. If just seen at your local cineplex, the arrows whizzing by the camera can become distracting.

But that’s almost beside the point. Dear Reader, if you’ve made it this far through the review and you’re still interested, then stop what you’re doing and go see Beowulf. Its scary, sad and really weird, but it’s also almost always breathtaking. I recommend it for those of you willing to take the plunge.

Oh, and while you’re around, let me add that Beowulf is as good evidence as any that animation is no longer “kid’s stuff.” Zemekis' Beowulf features enough violence and sex to warrant an R-rating, but has managed to sneak by with a PG-13 probably because it is animated. We’re getting to a point where “animation” is no longer a genre, but rather a method. I can’t think of anything this film and Ratatouille have in common... except for the fact its stars could act in their pajamas.