BB.5

(out of 5)

It’s no easy task making something entertaining out of the English language’s earliest known narrative work, so don’t be too harsh on Robert Zemeckis if he didn’t make a complete winner out of it. In this adaptation of the Scandinavian myth that predates all known literature, a village is besieged by the monster Grendel, who attacks and kills people every night while the king (Anthony Hopkins) makes merry in his hall. Handsome hunk Beowulf (Ray Winstone) comes from afar and kills the beast, then sets after its sexy dragon mother (Angelina Jolie) and comes back claiming to have killed her too. Whether or not he did is the reality that catches up with him years later, when he is an old man who has been reigning as king of the land with his predecessor’s beautiful wife (Robin Wright). Although the film used real actors on real sets, it’s all been overlayed with computer animation much like Zemeckis’s previous effort The Polar Express, with many of the actors appearing as themselves (though Winstone definitely doesn’t).  Screenwriters Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary should be credited with doing just enough tweaking to make the tale entertaining to modern audiences without pandering to current sensibilities, but the overall effect is hollow—the main character is never more than a symbol of storytelling, and his quest never becomes a matter of emotional necessity. Still, the animation is gorgeous and the climactic dragon chase is terrific.

USA, 2007

Directed by Robert Zemeckis

Screenplay by Neil Gaiman, Roger Avary, based on the epic poem by Anonymous

Cinematography by Robert Presley

Produced by Jack Rapke, Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis

Music by Alan Silvestri

Production Design by Doug Chiang

Costume Design by Gabriella Pescucci

Film Editing by Jeremiah O’Driscoll

Cast Tags:  Alan Jones Silva, Alison Lohman, Amy Esacove, Angelina Jolie,Anne Marie Wilson, Anthony Hopkins, Brendan Gleeson, Brice Martin, Camille Lannan, Charlotte Salt, Chris Coppola, Chris Cummins,Chris Mala, Costas Mandylor, Crispin Glover, Daniel D. McGrew, Dominic Keating, Emily Johnson, Fred Tatasciore, Fredrik Hiller, Greg Ellis, Holly Dorff, Jacquie Barnbrook, Jared Weber, John Bilezikjian, John Littlefield, John Malkovich, Julene Renee, Kevin Dorman, Larkin Campbell, Leslie Zemeckis, Matthew A. Ward, Michael Lofgren, Nadine Stenovitch, Neil Dickson, Nick Jameson, Paul Baker, Peter Dennis, Peter Lavin,Ray Winstone, Richard Burns, Rik Young, Rob McCabe, Robin Wright, Rod D. Harbour, Sebastian Roché, Sharisse Baker-Bernard, Shawn Driscoll, Shay Duffin, Sonje Fortag, Tim Trobec, Tom West Jr., Tyler Steelman, Woody Schultz

Chicago Film Critics Award Nomination
Best Animated Feature