Beowulf

[Mark Chance]

The movie opens up with a close-up shot of the queen's face. I'm thinking to myself, "Hmm... She's not bad looking, bit of a butter face." And then over the next 5 minutes or so, something begins striking me as a little bit off...

Then I realize that the entire movie is CGI. Everything.

Hmm. I've only seen 30-second commercial spots on TV, and the first thing I noticed was that the actors were animated. Maybe I have super-vision?

 

[Firebeetle]

I also saw it last night. I thought the cg work was kick ass and the movie was alright (even though it killed Hrothgar and destroyed the story of Beowulf in order to show Angela Jolie's naked CG body for more then 5 minutes).

Unfortunately, beyond the re imagining of the Beowulf plot story I also had issues with the insane amount of yelling and shouting that occurred during more of the movie which was worsened by the fact that they audio levels seemed to be pumped way up during the combat scenes and every time Beowulf had to yell or shout a line. The yelling was so bad that my GF threatened to walk out during that first Grendel scene.

I work at a theater (We are showing the 2-D version, BTW) We had such trouble with the base that we had to move the print to another theater that didn't share any walls with another theater. It's not just the yelling, the whole sound is set to be "rumbly" and thus might really bother some folks. Being a tuba player, I enjoy that sort of thing.

As for the CGI, it was truly remarkable. The characters still manage to look a bit wooden, like Malkovich's advisor. And the action is a bit too fluid to be realistic. These are minor concerns, I really liked the look of the movie and the careful attention to detail.

My first degree is in English, and there are many changes from the original text by story-meister Neil Gaimen himself. I like them all. All characters become linked, the King is linked to Grendel who is linked to his mother who becomes linked to Beowulf who is linked the dragon (you'll have to see it to understand what I mean by "linked".) We see composite characters, and the whole second battle is different (explanation is even given for why the story is different.) I thought it worked well as a movie while still giving me the same emotional impact as the story. Further, my wife and I have been discussing it for two days now. This means the story has reached a level that usual fantasy fare does not. My wife would never discuss the implications of monogamy as an anthropological cultural adaptation for an hour after watching "Eragon"

I have to recommend it. I can't recommend it for kids though. Grendel is VERY scary and there is a large amount of overt sexuality. Not to mention Beowulf's frequently exposed buttocks.

 

[Meloncov]

(spoiler)

Spoiler

.. in this version Grendel's mom survived till the end and ended up seduced Beowulf into giving her a half-human demonic dragon child.

Which gives him a rather strong motive to lie about what really happened.

 

[Truth Seeker]

A worthy tale to have in one's collection.

And by the way, it was funny too.

 

[Mort]

I also saw it last night. I thought the cg work was kick ass and the movie was alright (even though it killed Hrothgar and destroyed the story of Beowulf in order to show Angela Jolie's naked CG body for more then 5 minutes).

It's been a while since I've read Beowulf but the additional plot elements really seemed to add to the story and frankly I liked the whole concept of (minor spoiler)

Spoiler

the legend being passed down inaccurately

Unfortunately, beyond the re imagining of the Beowulf plot story I also had issues with the insane amount of yelling and shouting that occurred during more of the movie which was worsened by the fact that they audio levels seemed to be pumped way up during the combat scenes and every time Beowulf had to yell or shout a line. The yelling was so bad that my GF threatened to walk out during that first Grendel scene.

Considering the story and the culture involved the yelling made perfect sense to me, I mean these guys are the embodiment of "eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die." But I can see how it was annoying.

 

[Rykion]

I enjoyed the movie quite a bit. It made major changes to the story, but it still felt like an epic tale. The CGI was very good as well.

My only concern is that this movie somehow got rated PG-13. Probably because it's animated. It is definitely well into the R level of violence, blood, sexual innuendo, and nudity. It doesn't effect my enjoyment, but someone who might think about taking their kids to see it needs to know.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I enjoyed the movie quite a bit. It made major changes to the story, but it still felt like an epic tale. The CGI was very good as well.

My only concern is that this movie somehow got rated PG-13. Probably because it's animated. It is definitely well into the R level of violence, blood, sexual innuendo, and nudity. It doesn't effect my enjoyment, but someone who might think about taking their kids to see it needs to know.

While I agree with you, Jolie naked (even computer generated) is always a good thing BUT as they covered her in gold to hide (not very well hidden ) the parts, this was no different than X-Men. Violence gets by the rating board, more so if zombie, robots (Star Wars) and Nazis are your foe. The sexual innuendo, was as common as a number of ED commericals.

 

[Rykion]

While I agree with you, Jolie naked (even computer generated) is always a good thing BUT as they covered her in gold to hide (not very well hidden ) the parts, this was no different than X-Men.

Except that Rebecca Romijn was actually covered by prosthetics/costume that change her form. The CGI Jolie was just naked with a gold skin color rather than flesh. It also doesn't account for Beowulf being naked for a several minute fight. I know brief male nudity gets a complete pass by the US rating board, but that was an extended scene.

Violence gets by the rating board, more so if zombie, robots (Star Wars) and Nazis are your foe.

The scenes in Beowulf were bloody and violent. They cut away from the worst violence, but it was till pretty gruesome at times.

The sexual innuendo, was as common as a number of ED commericals.

Innuendo is common, but they went well beyond what is commonly seen on US commercials. The bawdy song, the cleavage scene, and the naked CGI Jolie stroking the sword were each more than any ED commercial.

Like I said before, I didn't have a problem with the movie. It's just that the rating board is there to advise people, and especially parents, of the content of the movie. I think they really blew it with the PG-13 rating they gave Beowulf.

 

[Asmor]

I know brief male nudity gets a complete pass by the US rating board, but that was an extended scene.

It's always been my understanding that nudity, as far as ratings are concerned, in the US is strictly limited to the following:

1: Exposed male genitalia
2: Exposed female nipples
3: Exposed female crotch (despite the fact that the genitalia is not, technically, visible).

And as long as all of the above is obscured, any amount of nudity will not result in an R rating.

Not saying whether that's right or wrong, just that it's the way I've understood it.

That said, if you want to get into a debate about Mystique and Grendel's mother... Mystique may have had actual things covering the fun bits, but Grendel's mother doesn't have any fun bits in the first place. There is nothing to cover up, the gold plating is her "skin" and there is literally nothing beneath it.

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

Saw it last night. Not what I expected. Was under the impression this would be a pretty straightforward action flick. But I should probably know better since Zemeckis directed. Though I probably would've been more prepared for the story had I known Neil Gaiman was involved.

Overall the animation was impressive. I was particularly amazed by the lighting and very precise detail of the whole thing. Of course, loved the dragon. People riding horses still looks weird and wrong. But I can't think of any cg-animated film that's gotten that correct. Shrek 2, maybe?