When I was in college; I was told in one of my film classes by one of my professors that one day the film word would be completely computer generated. I didn’t really understand the comment until he explained that eventually CGI would look so real that actors would only be hired for their voices and that filmmakers will simply animate all their films from a computer rather than film them on a set or on location. The technology used to make Beowulf is another step into making what my film professor at time said would eventually happen. The animation and computer technology is really great in this film and at times the characters even look like real actors.
Beowulf is loosely based on the old English poem that was written between the eighth and eleventh century by an unknown author. The plot follows the poem and story for the most part but the plot of the real story changes halfway though at the part where Beowulf is supposed to kill Grendel’s mother. Here is where the plot takes a different turn from the story. I won’t give the plot details away, but it does for the most part make a very good story and is very entertaining, even though it does not follow that of the real story from literature.
Screenwriters Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary wrote a decent, yet very violent script for director Robert Zemeckis. Now I saw the unrated version which is very graphic and violent. I’m sure this was the case when the script was put together, but because of rating reasons the film needed to be toned down for theaters. I found the script to be pretty decent, it droves more on story than it does on character development, although Beowulf himself is very well developed. even some of the secondary characters are as well, but not all of them. However it’s an entertaining script that is sure to please any horror fan.
The acting is actually pretty good as well. Even though the film is mainly CGI, the actors in the movies had to do some work with visual effects artists to make the film come to life. The films cast includes Ray Winstone as Beowulf, Robin Wright Penn, Anthony Hopkins, Brendan Gleeson, John Malkovich, Crispin Glover as Grendel and Angelina Jolie as Grendel’s Mother. So yes even a computer animated film can attract well known actors, and yes the acting in this film is very good despite that it’s pretty much just voice acting for the most part.
The animation and production value is out of this world. Robert Zemeckis really did a great job putting this film together using this new computer technology. Like I mentioned above the animation at times almost looked real life in certain scenes. That’s how good the animation was. For fans of blood and gore, this unrated DVD version has plenty of it. Let’s just say that it has many horror films beat when it comes to gore.
Overall, Robert Zemeckis did a good job with this film, although the story of Beowulf in this film is not entirely accurate to the poem. It still works and delivers a great story. I found the film to be a fun yet dark adventure film, that shows the story of how greedy and evil man can be. After watching this film one tends to wonder who the real monsters are, and the film has some reflection on the way men even treat each other today.
The Director’s cut DVD includes Deleted Scenes, A Hero’s Journey: The Making of Beowulf, Designing the creatures of Beowulf, creating the ultimate Beowulf, the art of Beowulf and many more features.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
