"Beowulf" in IMAX 3D: B

Loosely based on the Old English epic poem, thought to be written in the eighth century, tells of a Danish kingdom terrorized by an evil sorcerer and her son "Grendel" a deformed mixture of man/scaly beast. The king (Sir Anthony Hopkins) offers a reward of half his Kingdom to the man who can kill these menacing creatures. Beowulf (Ray Winstone of Sexy Beast) enticed by the offer of GLORY and GOLD accepts the Danish kings challenge....

I was first attracted to this movie for several reason's, first, the storyline, I had read this Poem and had seen other interpretations of this movie with my father as a child; second, since I was a boy I remember hearing of "3D movies and those funny looking glasses", (having missed that era by about twenty years I never had the chance to experience 3D Imaging first hand); third, since the release of "300" I can't get enough of these "Glory" films.

This film got so many things right while at the same time ruining what could have been a blockbuster! The animation, while really cool and more advanced than almost anything I have seen in several years (mostly due to 3D imaging) was simply that, animation. It is hard to get past that reality no matter how good the graphics are. The storyline, although resembling the poem, takes liberties that make the movie almost unnoticeable except for the name "Beowulf" & the evil Dragon (don't worry I am not spoiling anything). While Director Robert Zemeckis (Polar Express) has re-written "Beowulf", he has succeeded in relaying his underlining message of this film in excellent fashion. This new interpretation of "Beowulf" is ridden with an insatiable desire for More, More, More. Excess and pride are the central themes of this film, how these sins destroy and curse those who desire such things, how they create a "Hero" reduce him to cowardice and then create a "Hero" again. The infusion of Christianity into pagan society plays a key role in relaying Zemickises message. I enjoyed this movie immensely, despite itself and the "funny looking glasses" I wore.

Rated: "PG-13" for violence & Partial Nudity.

See also: 300, other "Beowulf" feature films, and 13Th warrior.