Review of Beowulf (2007) by Leigh S — 16 May 2011

A movie one hated in high school may be better appreciated later on in one's life due to different circumstances within the different experiences. However, my experience with Beowulf as a young adult, was grim.

The written story deconstructs what it means to be a hero due to the hero's flaws and accessibility. The hag known as Grendel's mother is vague and never fully described. This helps a reader put themselves in the shoes of a Beowulf while filling in and projecting their own fears onto Grendel's mother.

"The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself." The film wonderfully captures the true, very adult, spirit of the Vikings and the CGI was not only pleasing to the eye, but also visually stunning and helped the fantasy elements become more believable.

But the enjoyment of the movie is completely lost halfway through when Grendel's mother is revealed to be the lovely and not scary Angelina Jolie. If you enjoyed Troy or even Clash of the Titans, you are likely to enjoy Beowulf.