Film Review: BEOWULF

AH YES, a tale for the ages. Heroes, demons, dragons, angelina jolie dripping in gold. BEOWULF.

Directed by Robert ZEMECKIS and co-written by Neil Gaiman, the movie BEOWULF full of action and thrills. This is not a PIXAR-ish animated tale, but deals out a classic fable with mature themes and is definately not for children.

Written in the 7th century, BEOWULF is the story of a hero on a quest to the far off land of Denmark to rid it of the monstrous Grendel. The story says that after Beowulf defeats Grendel, he kills the creatures mother, and then in his old age dies slaying a dragon underwater (the dragon is a descendant of Grendel's mother).

BS.

The 21st Century BEOWULF, while he is a computer generated bad ass, does have faults. He is proud, boastful, and greedy; 'fallible and flawed'. He is not what he was romanticised to be in the poem, but after all the toughness and bravado, Beowulf is just a man.

Giving such a larger than life character such human qualities is what endeared me to this movie in the first place. Beowulf is the basis of all legends like King Arthur, Lord of the Rings, Conan the Barbarian, etc. Being the oldest, it is about time a movie was made a about him that answered some questions that were never answered by that poem.

Who was Grendel's Father? And where did that dragon come from? Why was Beowulf given a kingdom so freely?

Why not see the movie and decided for yourself. It is a good time to be had by all. So, grab a cup of golden mead and some popcorn. Enjoy.