Beowulf (2007)

2 out of 4

Starring: voices of Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover, Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Time: 113 mins

Viewed: Regal Marlboro 8, New Jersey

Animated retelling (via motion capture technique) of the epic Old English poem, about the Nordic hero Beowulf (Winstone) and his battles with three monsters: Grendel (Glover), Grendel's mother (Jolie), and a fire-breathing dragon. Technically proficient, with wonderfully rendered 5th century Danish settings (desolate, snowy plains and cosy, fire-warmed mead halls), but the stiltedness of the human characters frequently drew me out of the picture, and a couple of video game-like sequences don't help. Much-talked-about appearance of Jolie is visually sumptuous but doesn't last long. Give me the fluidity of a Pixar classic like Ratatouille any day!

(c) Joe Wong (18 November 2007)