First things first... Beowulf on IMAX® 3-D is incredible. Amazing. Best 400 bucks I've spent on a movie. I watched it with my girlfriend last Friday on a regular cinema, and in IMAX with my family and friends on Sunday, and the difference is HUGE. I enjoyed the movie immenseley more on the large screen with full-length 3D effects. Complain about the story's unfaithfullness to the poem, one and a half-dimensional characters, and whatnot, but damnit, I've never been more immersed in a movie quite like this. Trusted, not because of the story but by eye-popping 3D, I didn't bother enough to nitpick the movie's lack of 300-like epicness. I was too busy trying to dodge arrows, axes, and severed heads to care. And no, I didn't read the poem in high school or watched the live-action Gerard Butler version a couple years ago, so I watched the flick with a pretty clean slate sans expectations and comparisons. Yay!

The Right
Eye Treasures
Really, this is a no-brainer in this section. This is easily the most technically profound animated feature yet. As much as a great story is essential, me (and my bro) can't help but always yearn for eye candy in these fantasy / comic movies. The movement is the only thing that gives the CGI away, but in terms of rendering, textures, and insane amount of 'little' details, such as tiny skin hairs, wrinkles, glassy eyes, the movie exceeded my expectations and is an exciting 'what could be' for future movies. Funny thing, as the animation was so real, my sis-in-law's dad who saw the movie in theaters a couple days ago thought the movie was live-action! If you're into effects, treat yourself to the IMAX 3-D experience for some full-length CG-goodness.

Remember me not as a hero, but as a man, fallible and flawed
I like how Beowulf is a complete conceited jackass. Every time he's so full of himself and proclaiming "I... Am... Beowulf"... awesome. He's definitely not your typical goody-two-shoes hero, and I thought it made him a more interesting character. You root for his heroics, but disdain his self-centered motivations. He's cocky, vain, and oozing machismo, and ultimately, more human because of his flaws.



Original Sin
Angelina Jolie. I don't think I really have to add anything, you all know about this already anyway! One thing though, her model here is much sexier than the real-life counterpart. Oh, and if they ever decide to bring Bruce Lee back to life on film, the technology might be flawless in a couple years if CG Angelina is anything to go by. Oh, and she has golden stiletto feet of DOOM!!!

Scene Transitions
I can't help but notice this small thing. The transitions from scenes were done in a nice artsy way at times, and it's worth noting. From a small rat being swooped up by an eagle to take us to a new location to a close-up of Beowulf's detailed crown to show the passage of time, it's just small things like these that add to the experience and show director Robert Zemickis' visual flare.



The Score
It's got that 300 vibe to it. And I instantly fell in love with Idina Menzel's 'A Hero Comes Home' (the end credit and the queen's harp song). Nothing too overpowering, Alan Silvestri provides a fitting score to enhance the scenes even more.

The wRong
Stunning 3D models, Bland 1.5D characterization
Aside from the main hero, we really didn't get any depth from the supporting cast. Not the spirited king Hrothgar, the stoic queen, the smarmy Unferth, and evil Angelina. They're all wonderfully rendered 3D models, but sadly, with bland one dimensional personalities that no-one gives an ounce of shit about. In fact, I felt more for Crispin Glover's fine portrayal of the tragic Grendel. He may be the most one-dimensional of them all on paper, but Glover was so good at portraying his torment with his grotesque form and hyper-hearing but with a hint of tenderness with his MILF mommy, that I actually cared about the big pussy by the time he bit the dust.

Femme-fétale
A minor gripe here. While the male models in the movie for Beowulf, Wiglaf, and Hrothgar are phenomenal, I can't help but feel indifferent to the females. Of course, they spent extra to make Angelina look life-like and uber hot, but other than her, the other female characters don't look as realistic as the males. The queen and Wulfie's 'bed warmer' have nice hair and freckles and all, but I guess the animators found it easier to make the little things in male features such as wrinkles, beards, and such more life-like.



The veRdict
If you're looking for deep characters, an epic story, and all that jazz... I dunno, go watch an indie flick or watch 300 again or something. I enjoyed the flawed protagonist and the gorgeous 3D experience too much to give a rat's ass about those things. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but this bloke enjoyed every last sip. Don't expect LOTR, think of it like a video game even, and you'll have more fun methinks. Trust me, the thrilling final sequence involving the gold dragon made the RPG geek inside me squirm with glee. Take it for what it is, a gratuitous eye-candy-fest and just enjoy the ride! Plus, the ladies will enjoy Wulfie's bare-naked arse and we dudes have Angelina, so everyone wins in the end! haha. From someone whose seen both the theatrical and IMAX versions, do yourself a favor and catch it on IMAX 3D for an experience like no other... it probably shouldn't be seen any other way and is definitely worth every cent since full-length 3D movies are rare. Besides, for the dudes out there, you know you wanna see this in 3D:



ACTUAL RATING (Theater):
ACTUAL RATING (IMAX®):