Review of Beowulf (2007) by Benb. — 17 Nov 2007

If you're going to rate 'Beowulf' fairly, you need to grade it on two seperate scales. On one scale is the 3-D and animation, which are (and this a word I rarely if ever use to describe anything) perfect- pore to pore, pimple to pimple, these characters and their world comprise what is without a doubt the single most realistic animated film ever.

It doesn't hurt that the 3-D is put to very good use, not so much a ploy as it is a plot thread in of itself, as it totally and completely submerges us into the story. But if this sounds like a rave review, don't be mistaken- if anything, Beowulf is more of a failure than a success.

Why? Well, for one, these characters, as realistic and stunning to look at as they are, are only that- stunning to look at. They have no depth, soul, and heart, which makes it very difficult to even care about them, let alone what they're doing or what's even happening the movie itself.

The actual plot itself is a bit of a letdown, too- I realize that it's based on an old poem, but from what I've heard, they do change it quite a bit, and it's a shame that the story eventually desolves into a simple case of back and forth, back and forth (I won't reveal anything, but suffice to say, should you see it, you'll immediately see what I'm talking about, and just as quickly get heavy eyed).

All in all, it is an entertaining, visually astonishing film... but altogether, it's just not a very successful or meaningful one.