Beowulf
(NC16)- Release Date: 15th November 2007 (Showtimes)
- Language: English
- Running Time: 114 mins
- Genre: Action / Fantasy
- Director: Robert Zemeckis, Vincenzo Marra
- Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Joel Coen, Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Robin Wright-Penn. (Full Cast)
- Local Distributor: Warner Bros
In this latest adaptation of the classic, we are brought back to a legendary time of valiant heroes, where the mighty warrior Beowulf battles the demon Grendel and incurs the hellish wrath of the beast's ruthlessly seductive mother. Their epic clash forges the timeless legend of Beowulf.
Latest Review
Modern Interpretation of an Old Poem
What I loved most: Great, life like CGIs
What I really hated: Lack of human like expression
Based on an old English poem about Kings, dragons and monsters, the legend of Beowulf come to life albeit with the help of CGIs and performance-capture devices. In this modern interpretation of the Anglo-Saxon literature, the film begins with a feast at the Hearot - the function hall of Danish King Hrothgar (a CGI of ANTHONY HOPKINS). The noises created by drunken men at the feast awaken the monster Grendel (voiced by CRISPIN GLOVER) who gatecrashed the party and started a killing spree, only to stop when confronted by King Hrothgar when he was about to kill Queen Wealthow (a CGI of ROBIN WRIGHT PENN). The Hearot was closed after the attack but it was not for long until a young Viking warrior Beowulf (a CGI of RAY WINSTONE) came to the rescue and killed the monster. However, the death of Grendel lead to another nightmare when his mother - a seductress with lizard tail (a CGI of Angelina Jolie) - took revenge and silenly killing the revellers in the Hearot. Beowulf now has to confront this seductress at her watery dent but lost to his temptation instead. Nevertheless, he was hailed as a hero for killing the monsters and made the king of the nation when King Hrothgar committed suicide after telling him a dark secret. Years later, Beowulf is an aging king and history is repeating itself when a dragon wracked havoc in the Kingdom. King Beowulf now must face the consequences of his younger days sins. Being a production entirely using CGI, the film managed to entertain with its awesome graphic. The fighting scenes in the finale involving the flying dragon and burning castle were also interesting. However, being CGI images of the actors made their facial expression look fake and lifeless; up to the point that when Angelina Jolie emerged naked from the water, there was not much excitement about it. The theme song - 'A Hero Comes Home' - is a nicely written song and could make it to the final nominee of the Oscar next year. An entertaining watch for all.
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4