BEOWULF Movie Review
Cast: Ray Winstone, Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins
Director: Robert Zemeckis
It’s been awhile since I’ve seen a 3D movie in theaters and to be exact I believe it was Captain Eo starring Michael Jackson (at Disneyland). So with that being said it was a real treat to watch a movie on a digital 3D screen….not starring Michael Jackson.
The plot follows Beowulf’s quest to rid the villagers of the horrible monster, Grendel. Of course that is only the beginning and as the movie moves along we get a deeper story about the strengths and weakness of the hero. It touches on many aspects, like honor and selfishness.
The movie is a great action adventure flick. I enjoyed most of the films sequences. As far as the technical side of the film, the CGI is by far some of the best you will see out there. Would my review be a bit different if I saw it on a standard screen? Probably, this movie is definitely made to be seen in 3D. If you are looking for a darker adventure story this should be on your list to see.
One last note is that the movie is rated PG-13, but I had several children in the audience getting freaked out. The movie in my opinion could easily of been Rated R. It contains several scenes of destruction and violence (blood spraying and limbs getting cut off) and also a couple scenes with nudity (although most parts are covered due to careful planning).
Popcorn Ninja
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence including disturbing images, some sexual material and nudity.
113 mins
2007
on December 3rd, 2007 at 10:40 am
Great review. I’m just not convinced. I might wait until it comes out on DVD to see it.
on December 3rd, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Well I definitely think that it’s a movie to experience on the big screen and in 3D. I’m wondering how well I’ll like it when it comes out on DVD. Guess we’ll see….thanks for stopping in.
on December 4th, 2007 at 3:38 am
Wow, there’s nothing better than a PG-13 movie so violent that it shuld’ve been R. Yeah, I know, a little coarse of me. But that’s the way I like my movies!
on December 4th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Wait, this is a 3D movie? 3D as is shoots out of the screen with the weird glasses? Or just cg?
on December 4th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Yes, it’s true 3D, as in arrows and limbs flying at you. It is being shown on IMAX 3D, Digital 3D, as well as standard screens (non 3D). And yes you have to were the awesome glasses, although they are better than the old paper ones.
on December 5th, 2007 at 3:24 am
Phew. Not the paper ones!
I always hated those haha.
I think I haven’t seen a 3D movie since….. *drools*
on December 7th, 2007 at 5:02 am
Nice review. Personally i loved the 3-D effects, i got given special goggles and everything. I agree it could have been rated R it was to graphic for me with the killings. Also i think the storyline could have been stronger and this would have allowed the effects to stand out even more.
on December 10th, 2007 at 9:09 am
I like you movies! I am not able to do!
on December 11th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
It looked really great in the preview. Thanks for the review. I will probably check it out now.
on December 16th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
i have seen earlier beowulf movies
but this one s niece
on December 18th, 2007 at 9:47 am
I liked the trailer, but couldn’t stand the movie itself… it’s a pity.
on December 19th, 2007 at 9:36 am
I loved the movie. I will buy it when it comes out on dvd
on December 19th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
looks decent, thanks for the review. was planning to see it at imax but a bit hesitant because i had no clue about the storyline.
on December 20th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Will someone please put Zemeckis in isolation for the rest of his life so that he cannot foist any more idiotic films on an unsuspecting public? I had heard “Beowulf” was a terrible film, but I could not believe it could be worse than “Back To The Future Part 98.” It was!!!!!
If a director doesn’t like the literary work a film-script is based on, then he/she should give the film to someone else. And stop tinkering with a legendary work of literature by writing a totally inept screen-play so that the power of the literature is lost. What a joke this film is—there is no film where technology (style) takes the place of the story-teller’s art (substance). The list of errors Zemeckis made in translating “Beowulf” from epic poem to inept screenplay would fill a doctoral dissertation. He did not illuminate the work; rather, he trashed it. Heaven save us from all that is about to happen to us if Zemeckis is allowed to keep making films like “Beowulf.”
on December 26th, 2007 at 3:43 am
Yes its a 3D movie… and from what I gather the actual movie isn’t as good. But the trailer is awesome though.
on December 27th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
They should just release the trailer on DVD, with the movie as an extra feature from everything I’ve heard. Movie’s bland, trailer rocks.
I am intrigued to see it in 3D though.
on December 31st, 2007 at 4:12 am
I did enjoy the movie however it didn’t reach my expectations. This was because I didn’t expect it to be a cartoon when I went to watch it. Probably should have done my research first, LOL! However for a cartoon, it was pretty cool! It took me about 10mins into the movie to realize it was a cartoon and not real people!
on January 4th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I saw the movie. Not really good. I also saw beowulf and grendel and I really liked that one more then this one.
Even if Jolie plays in this movie….
on January 7th, 2008 at 1:43 am
I didn’t even know that they still made 3-d movies - I thought that was just something for the 80’s LOL - well, that is interesting, I’ll think about checking that out next time I am at the movies - thanks!
on January 8th, 2008 at 7:44 am
I thought it was ok, but not much better than ok. It was enjoyable, but it’s not the sort of movie you could watch several times. At least I couldn’t.
on January 9th, 2008 at 3:05 am
I see that you call it “a darker adventure story”. How dark is that actuall?`
on January 9th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
There was something missing in the movie, and that was some clear explanation as to the purposes of the curse and the evil woman, however is still a good movie
on January 14th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Yes, is a good movie.
Good review. I like it.
on January 15th, 2008 at 10:26 am
lol, so violent yet so entertaining, i bet the pre-teen kids were in for a shock
dvd.tv
on January 17th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I have saw the trailer and now after reading your review I will go to see BEOWULF.
on January 21st, 2008 at 11:45 am
Just see the beowulf and grendel version.
Much better.
on January 23rd, 2008 at 8:34 am
The only reason why I saw Beowulf was because one of my friends worked for Ubisoft in the team that made the Beowulf game so he told me to go watch the movie too.
I didn’t think it was that good as he said but I must say that I don’t regret watching it.
It was entertaining!
on January 28th, 2008 at 4:19 am
Everything that Hollywood touches turns to cr*p. Get that in yer heads, and you won’t expect too much from its output. In turn, you can then enjoy the occasional bit of enjoyable hokum that slips past the men in suits.
on January 28th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
that was a good review. i loved the visual effects of the movie. especially the scene where angelina jolie comes out of that pool in all her grandeur.
on January 29th, 2008 at 11:11 am
this is a decent review. was’nt my cuppa tea
on January 29th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
i loved this movie
Gökhan Özen
on January 29th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Sounds like a movie I gonna skip - to see a 3d movie its gonna be perfect - or just not to be
on January 30th, 2008 at 11:05 am
PS How can I get that little cloud before the comment link on the blog? Is that Haloscan and Blog template?
on February 3rd, 2008 at 3:30 am
This was a great movie. I think Russell Crowe and Angelina Jolie were perfect in their roles too!
on February 3rd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Angelina Jolie was in the movie. Russell Crowe did not star in this film, but Ray Winstone did a great job.
on February 4th, 2008 at 4:32 am
Well, its probably an easy sell when someone has been reading your blog for a year or so!
on February 7th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
The Movie was great. But I kinda didn’t like the story.
The Movie that I’m really looking forward to watch is GOD of WAR.
on February 11th, 2008 at 3:39 am
I didn’t find the 3D effects up to the mark.
on February 12th, 2008 at 7:12 am
The 3D part made this movie for me. I would have probably had a whole different perspective (obviously) if it was not 3D. Good but not great.
on February 16th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I agree with you. Bloody scenes should be censored for kids.
on March 3rd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence including disturbing images, some sexual material and nudity.
That is a contradiction in terms. When I was 13 many moons ago, we certainly wouldn’t have been allowed to see something like this.
Having said that, I personally enjoyed the film (in 3D).
One question, how do you pronounce the film title!
on March 4th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Beowulf’s animation was pretty good, though the characters’ movement reminded me a lot of Shrek. I appreciate the fact that this movie gives a pseudo-education in ancient literature (never had to read the book as a child)
on March 5th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
loving it loving it loving it
on March 10th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Actually I just watched it yesterday and it was great, one of a kind smooth animation, really ancient story.
on March 13th, 2008 at 8:47 am
I had to read Beowulf in high school. It wasn’t too bad of a book to read compared to the other stuff I had to read for school. The “I am Beowulf” in the trailers really annoyed me.
on March 19th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
honestly, i never thought that this movie was an animation!
I knew that it stars Angelina Jolie, but not in animation.. but it is good actually, I loved it!
on April 7th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I’ve heard mixed results about this film probably slip by without watching until it comes out on TV
on May 28th, 2008 at 5:31 am
Why not… It´s just a movie
on June 11th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Maybe i will just skip that movie… It doesn’t sound like something for me.
on July 15th, 2008 at 2:06 am
I watched this movie without know it is an animation! Gosh, i feel kind of cheated.
on July 21st, 2008 at 6:34 pm
I thought Beowulf was fantastic, I love the style, and I thought that the changes made to the story were quite brilliant and an improvement over the shallow paper cut-out it’s based on.
on July 24th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Although I thought this movie was good, I think it would have been much better off if it followed the poem a little more closely.
on August 24th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
its really good to see what can be acomplished with cg, imagine how good it will get 10 years down the line. thanks for this honest movie review.
on September 11th, 2008 at 5:32 am
I have not seen the movie so ill just wait for the dvd to be on the shelves. It might be an interesting movie for me, since beowulf has always been a part of me growing up.
on September 14th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Beowulf was a great movie. Angelina was great in the movie. The 3D aspect was pretty good but not top notch. It seems that a few commentors here did not like the movie. But, I think, for the subject matter, it was really good. I think some people may have gone into it with too high expectations. It is a 3d CG movie for gosh sakes. It’s not going to be Colorado and get all cerebral and explore social avenues.
on September 26th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Angelina was awesome in this movie. I cat believe how far they have come with CG. ITs amazing… Definitely a movie that everyone needs to check out at least once.
on September 26th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
if youre going strictly off just the movies its still pretty good, but for the rest that also read the book and compared the movie its about time that someone does a good job detailing instances that happened inside the book to relevant content inside the film! great job.
on October 1st, 2008 at 11:33 am
I totally agree with the Ninja. This could have been a rated R movie for sure. My kid was freaking out in the theater when we saw this movie. I was cracking up. Overall he said he liked the movie.
on October 11th, 2008 at 2:08 am
I’ve watched this film and found it so amazing. the CGI animated graphic was so wonderfully made and it also different to many other animation movie ever made. mature viewers finally got their own cartoon movie.
on November 30th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Phew. Not the paper ones!
I always hated those haha.
on January 24th, 2009 at 3:55 am
Nice review, but i didnt like the trailer..
on January 29th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Have seen the film and liked the style - new and different - also liked the Nordic storyline. Having done a Google search I learned that it was Angelina Joelie that played the mother of the beast. I would rank this 3,5 of 5.
on February 18th, 2009 at 3:41 am
Great review. The film is just great, and Angelina Jolie is just amazing.
on May 6th, 2009 at 2:13 am
Its really good to see what can be accomplished with cg, imagine how good it will get 10 years down the line. But it is good actually, I loved it!i loved the visual effects of the movie
on June 17th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
I watched the movie in theaters after having read the epic in class. The CGI was pretty good, but the way the movie was run was a bit laughable, at least I thought so while watching it. It was sexual innuendo after sexual inudeno. Beowulf was just constantly naked, and so were many others. Also, the hero’s attitude was different from the story. It did make the hero a little bit less “heroic”, actually it portrayed him to be a bit of a jerk… which might actually be a good thing, as it seems more “realistic”. Its an alright film overall, nothing spectacular.
-Randy
on July 6th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
To be honest, 3D movie is much more wonderful than movie on screen. Would you give out a list of these excellent movies list at the next time?
on August 27th, 2009 at 6:21 am
Just loved it. Cheers for a great review.
on October 23rd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I haven’t seen Beowulf yet, but reading this review, I really look forward to watching a 3D movie soon and to they begin selling cheap 3D TV.