Beowulf

I see why they used the motion-capture CG effect in this film (does that technique have a name yet?) as it allows several advantages over traditional film and special effects. Some of the camera moves are completely nuts and put to shame even what was accomplished in The Matrix Trilogy. The story, characters, and effects all work when applied in the correct way: Anthony Hopkins as a rotund and heirless king works; Angelina Jolie as the naked demonic temptress works; Brendan Gleeson as the noble and devoted second-in-command works; Ray Winstone as the chiseled and flawed hero in the titular role? Not so much. Maybe it's because I always picture good ol' Ray as the porky Cockney that he is. (Incidentally, when he's playing a hefty talking beaver in The Chronicles of Narnia, that works OK.) This to me was the film's only major flaw, although it starts to go away as the film goes on. Or at least, you forgive it more. I really wonder if they wanted someone like Russell Crowe to play the part; maybe he was busy. Most of the film is forgettable, but it is a well done and sometimes enjoyable forgettable.

Overall an entertaining film, it would have gotten 5 stars but they didn't follow the poem hardly at all.. and whats up with the animation? It looks like all the people are animated somehow.

I found this movie to be slow and the graphics unrealistic. Unless you are bored with nothing else going on in your day I would highly recommend skipping this one.