I decided several days ago that I wanted to see Beowulf. I’m not sure why, other than I like the idea of seeing a movie about the epic poem that everyone needs tucked into their reading belt if they’re to call themselves true readers.
I went to see the film this afternoon, fully expecting it to be more than terrible. It had the strike against it that it was done completely in CGI. The strike against it that Crispin Clover, who is just a really fucking strange and creepy dude, was playing Grendel (is that a strike? hmm). The strike against it that Angelina Jolie was playing Grendel’s mother. The strike against it that CGI of nude people should really just suck ass.
But it was not. The CGI was amazing. The close up angles that the CGI allowed the movie to capture were incredible. The naked bodies did not look weird. The fire scenes were beautiful and brilliant. The gore was much easier to take because it was CGI gore. And the fight scenes were never blurry because CGI killing is allowed to be shown, whereas it’s harder to make real actors look like they’re getting killed for real since (um) they’re not.
Movie rating: A. I will own this film on DVD. If you have the chance to see it in the theater go at least once.
I read Beowulf in high school. My English teacher, bless his heart, was viewed by us “cool” students as such a complete and utter nerd because he taught English and Latin and wore very outdated clothes. Looking back now, I wish he weren’t dead so I could apologize for not recognizing how cool he was in his own way.
Mr. Lamb would have a Toga Day for his Latin students every year. They’d just wear a sheet over their uniforms. (I never took Latin, but my sister did, and I think she wore the Strawberry Shortcake FITTED sheet from the hall closet.) Anyway, it was on Toga Day during my senior year that Mr. Lamb let us know of his absolute admiration for Beowulf. He brought one of those old, flat tape recorder/player deals into class, plugged it in, pressed Play, and got UP ON HIS DESK and lip-synched to Bonnie Tyler’s “I Need A Hero”. While wearing a striped bed sheet tied at one shoulder. Over a short-sleeved, button-down shirt with a really wide tie.
And this was the teacher that I couldn’t stand because he was nerdy.
I had the same reservations after seeing this version of Beowulf & Grendel, but will take your recommendation under advisement.
Question: I’m thinking that’s Angelina in the image you posted … was she really rendered to be wearing high heels?!
Sorry about that… for some reason my link to Beowulf & Grendel didn’t work… you can find it here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0402057/
“Runaway! It’s the creepy cat robot!”
Was that one of my three?
K, that is a very odd story. Thank you for sharing. If you haven’t already, you need to turn that into a blog post.
Sour, yes, Angelina was rendered with high heels, but just for that one scene. It was appropriate for that moment, kinda. And, yup, that’s the third one.
To both of you: Hope you’re feeling better. :love:
Weehoo! Wuv yoo! :love:
I can’t turn that into a blog post because I’ve told that story to everyone else a hundred times already. Darren would probably shoot a hole in his computer screen if he saw it on the blog
Wubyoo too :love:
You both are so adorable. :blush:
Might I remind you, K, that it’s your blog…? :grins:
Mmmmm… if Poppy likes it… I may too.
I was worried about how the CGI animation was going to be too funky for me. When I see Angelina nooked… I wanted it to be for real… but this will probably be as close as I can get.
Go see it. If you hate it then you have something to complain about. :winks:
I’m a true reader, and I’ve never read it. I do want to see it, though. I’m glad it wasn’t bad – that’s what I was afraid of, too.
I read Beowulf several times and in different adaptations too. Somehow the trailer scares me. It all looks weird.
I don’t know if I want to screw the good memories of Beowulf by going to watch the movie. Then again it’s with Angelina Jolie.
Did you see it in digital 3D? If not you have to see it in 3D. Preferably in an IMAX.
Avi, you need to read it. And go see it.
Franky, it’s totally wrong to see Beowulf for Angelina. Don’t do that. See it for good reasons.
Pat, I don’t have an IMAX theater near me or a theater that offers it in 3D. But, I totally knew it must be in 3D because of some of the careful sequencing. That whip has to be in 3D… Those closeup scenes have to be in 3D. They felt 3D.
SRSly, they are saying the 3D effects of this movie are revolutionary- (I haven’t seen it yet. Baby and all…) On par with some of the great leaps forward in cinema.
A previous post you were looking for suggestions for something fun to do with time off. Locate an Imax movie showing this in 3D and go to it. Even if its in another city.
Pat, you kinda read my mind.