Paramount Pictures and Imagemovers Productions with Shangri-La Entertainment present a PG-13 rated approximately two hour dramatic animated film directed by Robert Zemeckis with characters voiced by Ray Winstone (Beowulf), Anthony Hopkins (Hrothgar), John Malkovich (Unferth), Robin Wright Penn (Wealthow), Brendan Gleson (Wiglaf), Crispin Glover (Grendel), Alison Lohman (Ursula), Angelina Jolie (Grendel's Mother) with Chris Coppola (Olaf), Greg Ellis (Garmund, Golden Man), Leslie Harter Zemeckis (Yrsa), Nick Jameson (Drehgbearn), Sebastian Roche (Wulfgar), Charlotte Salt (Estrith), Woody Schultz (Hengest) and Rik Young (Eofor, Golden Child).
What I thought was going to be on the level of "300" was not, but mainly because it was filmed in CG which made it of course animated although packaged with a brilliant and vibrant 3D experience. It takes place in Denmark AD 507 and opens to the King and Queen feasting in fornication amongst their peers. The animation is phenomenal with the brief exception that sometimes the characters seem a bit dead in the eyes but if you make your way past that aspect and become engrossed in the story line you tend to look past that somewhat minor disturbance. Scenes move from one to another making you feel like your within the moment. Utilizing some witty adult written humor and dramatics or that of 3D imagery like the mere capture of a rat by a raptor that seems to fly over your head during this fantasy adventure.
When darkness enters the party, evil steps into the picture in the form of a screeching half rotted human beast known as Grendel. Who by the way was fierce in his actions but almost adolescent in his emotions. Killing many of the townspeople he is stopped by only one man that holds the secret to their past, the King. Although the King will not kill Grendel, he offers half the gold to anyone who will. Enter by sea, the great and mighty and yes quite handsome, Beowulf. Any man wishes to be him and any woman wishes to have him. He and his warriors choose to die for glory not for gold and decide to take on the evil Grendel. Not only does Beowulf fight the demon to the death but he does so naked. Thank goodness for strategically placed bodies, swords, pots and shadows or else this film would have lost its PG-13 rating. Albeit in the Queens eyes, whom Beowulf is smitten by, his arms are not the only muscles she admires, as well.
What a bitter revenge than that of a mother even one that resembles the likes of Angelina Jolie. Upon her son Grendel's death, this golden toned water demon seeks to once again repeat history and seduce yet another mortal to sire her a newborn. Beowulf, out to destroy her in her element with sword and dragon horn in hand fails at his task. Like many men thinking with the wrong head! She seduces him and promises to make Beowulf the greatest king to ever live.
Soon the King, Hrothgar, falls and the kingdom along with its Queen is left to Beowulf along with the tales of its past, present and future. Years pass, battles ensue but none as ferocious as that of the golden dragon. A slave has found the lost dragon horn but no demon, no woman, no witch with it. But lies and deceit always come to the surface somehow and a deadly dragon leaves a message for his father. Since the dragon horn has been returned all deals are off. The golden dragon, Beowulf's son, seeks to kill all including the Queen and his mistress. Too late for lies, in the final battle between father and son it is the heart that holds the answers but it is the beauty that unleashes the beast and history to once again repeat itself.
Even though the film was dark, violent and at times a bit over the top I found myself honestly entertained not only by the great 3D effects but that of the story and character development. There are many moments that Zemeckis takes you into a serious corridor but adds a bit of levity to it in order to lighten the load. The only character I found to be slightly out of the visual element was Jolie since she seemed like a bit of a prostitute you may find on Sunset Boulevard. With a whole lot of legs, high heels and a long tail she surely is out to seduce any man that enters her cavern, so to speak. Overall, I believe this film will have a strong performance even though it is targeted more towards adults than kids. Nice to see a well done blast from past! No not just the story of Beowulf but rather the sight of a packed audience all wearing those funky 3D glasses.
Reporting for Talkin' Pets, I'm Jon Patch.