Movies

Beowulf Review

Based on the epic poem written over a 1000 years ago, Beowulf is a story about a great warrior who defeats a near�invincible troll, Grendel. Afterwards, Beowulf is greeted by�awe and becomes the legend we know so well.�Killing Grendel�incurs the wrath of Grendel�s mother, whom Beowulf meets in a cave in the mountains above the town. Here, the film version differs from the epic poem.

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Robert Zemeckis uses the same motion capture technique he did in Polar Express a couple of years ago. He also uses an amazing cast including Anthony Hopkins as Hrothgar, the king who is bedeviled by Grendel, John Malkovich as Unvir, (King Hrothgar�s advisor), and Robin Wright-Penn as the Queen. Angelina Jolie stars as the seductive, demon mother of Grendel.

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The version I saw was in IMAX 3-D, and I would recommend everyone see it in that format. The 3-D is breathtaking and worth the extra few bucks. Spears, bodies and monsters fly through the air right at you, and blood drips from the ceiling onto as you watch amazed. 3-D technology has apparently come a long way from the old green/red glasses I remember as a child. While it is rated 14A, it is not for the faint of heart as bodies, limbs, blood and all manner of gore fly during the battle scenes.

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I will admit I was highly skeptical of this movie (the motion capture idea is silly IMHO) but was more than pleasantly surprised by it.

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