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Beowulf - Film Review
18/11/2007 12:58Yeah, I'm still around, but busy as hell, which is why I haven't posted in a while. So anyway, I went to see Beowulf at the cinema last night. And yes it is one of the films that must be seen in a cinema at least once for the best sound and maximum visual effects. I had wanted to see it in 3D, but my nearest cinema with that capability wasn't showing it (rrrghh). So I saw in normal form.
Anyone who is familiar with the original Anglo-Saxon poem will know that the film would contain a good bit of violence and needless to say, quite a bit of blood. What I wasn't prepared for was the sheer amount of graphic detail. There were a couple of times at the beginning where i just about lost my dinner, but my stomach got a bit stronger after about half an hour. Grendel is horrifyingly gruesome and grotesque, something the graphics people would love to hear seeing as Grendel is supposed to be disgusting to look at. He either has no conscience about killing men, or does not know better. The reason I don't know is that the film doesn't do a very good job of explaining the whys and why nots of the plot.
I wasn't too impressed by the plot line, it seemed to stumble about in the middle of the film. It's not terrible, but I do remember feeling qutie tired in the middle. The beginning really gets your adrenaline up and going, then it slows down, but you spend about 15 minutes tense and waiting for something to come out and scare the crap out of you. Then near the end, it picks up pace again and up go your adrenaline levels again.
Good points about the film, the graphics are astounding. everything is CGI animated. But it doesn't look like it's animated, it looks real. I knew beforehand that much of the character's bodies were CGI constrcuted (let's face it, Ray Winstone does not look that good in real life! lol) I did spend about 30 minutes trying to work out whether the faces were real and superimposed or if they were also CGI. I believe they are CGI too, the lips don't move quite like real human's would. I would be really surprised if this film doesn't win any awards for it's graphics, any details that give it away as CGI are easily missed.
Characterization was extremely good, whoever did the casting is to be commended. None of the characters were overblown or overacted. Anthony Hopkins in particular was fantastic as Hrothgar, as was Brendan Gleeson and John Malkovich. Crispin Glover does a fantastic Grendel, he thoroughly grossed me out. I didn't see the actors trying to do be someone else, they threw themselves wholeheartedly into their characters.
One thing I can't work out is why on earth the UK ratings board gave it a 12A. 12A!! There is no way I'd take my 12 year old to see that. Depending on the person, I'd even have to stop and think about taking a 15 year old. It is graphically violent, contains nudity and coarse sexual language, but gets a 12A probably due to the fact that it's entirely CGI. Utterly ridiculous reason in my opinion, but there you have it.
Overall verdict: Good film, well worth a look. I'd definitely watch it again on DVD. Graphics and characterizations more than make up for the plot hitches. As for the graphic violence, a touch overdone, but probably necessary.
Anyone who is familiar with the original Anglo-Saxon poem will know that the film would contain a good bit of violence and needless to say, quite a bit of blood. What I wasn't prepared for was the sheer amount of graphic detail. There were a couple of times at the beginning where i just about lost my dinner, but my stomach got a bit stronger after about half an hour. Grendel is horrifyingly gruesome and grotesque, something the graphics people would love to hear seeing as Grendel is supposed to be disgusting to look at. He either has no conscience about killing men, or does not know better. The reason I don't know is that the film doesn't do a very good job of explaining the whys and why nots of the plot.
I wasn't too impressed by the plot line, it seemed to stumble about in the middle of the film. It's not terrible, but I do remember feeling qutie tired in the middle. The beginning really gets your adrenaline up and going, then it slows down, but you spend about 15 minutes tense and waiting for something to come out and scare the crap out of you. Then near the end, it picks up pace again and up go your adrenaline levels again.
Good points about the film, the graphics are astounding. everything is CGI animated. But it doesn't look like it's animated, it looks real. I knew beforehand that much of the character's bodies were CGI constrcuted (let's face it, Ray Winstone does not look that good in real life! lol) I did spend about 30 minutes trying to work out whether the faces were real and superimposed or if they were also CGI. I believe they are CGI too, the lips don't move quite like real human's would. I would be really surprised if this film doesn't win any awards for it's graphics, any details that give it away as CGI are easily missed.
Characterization was extremely good, whoever did the casting is to be commended. None of the characters were overblown or overacted. Anthony Hopkins in particular was fantastic as Hrothgar, as was Brendan Gleeson and John Malkovich. Crispin Glover does a fantastic Grendel, he thoroughly grossed me out. I didn't see the actors trying to do be someone else, they threw themselves wholeheartedly into their characters.
One thing I can't work out is why on earth the UK ratings board gave it a 12A. 12A!! There is no way I'd take my 12 year old to see that. Depending on the person, I'd even have to stop and think about taking a 15 year old. It is graphically violent, contains nudity and coarse sexual language, but gets a 12A probably due to the fact that it's entirely CGI. Utterly ridiculous reason in my opinion, but there you have it.
Overall verdict: Good film, well worth a look. I'd definitely watch it again on DVD. Graphics and characterizations more than make up for the plot hitches. As for the graphic violence, a touch overdone, but probably necessary.
