Post by inkpetal on Dec 8, 2007 7:35:23 GMT -8
Never before have I seen a movie that I both loved and hated! The friends I went with were divided as well. We saw the 3 D version and I will say that this is the first time I have seen this type of "animation" techniques used. I know it is occurring more in movies now a days (like 300) For myself, it took getting used to. The opening scene of the castle fortress of King Hrothgar looked so fake - very disorienting. It reminded me of scenes from Walt Disney's "Sleeping Beauty's"' castle - pure cartoon and fantasy , we knew it but totally believed in it! Not so here.
I just do not understand why a director would animate such great actors! John Malkovitch, Anthony Hopkins, etc., so much great acting potential and all those inflections, nuances, gestures that are not captured by the this awkward animation of real humans.
And the 3 D- whoa- blood, guts, spears, flaming breath, gigantic boulders, long strings of spittle - all headed straight for my face- way over the top, I say.
Having said that, I actually liked most of it. The animation lends itself to the construction of fantastical scenery that would never be possible in real life and camera angles that would be virtually impossible to pull off in reality.
And the dragon was a creature of wonderment and ferocious grace.
The Beowulf tale was told with creativity and of course, not faithful to the poem epic but it did capture the dark ages values of heroism, fatalism, camaraderie and implied the impact of Christianity was having on these in history.
It had truly awesome, gruesome and awful bawdy, hokey, gory, tender and insightful moments. And moments of the wonderfully absurd - when Beowulf fights Grendel nude. Like a Monty Python episode - hiding his genitals in creative ways - why? Angelina Jolie is seen in all her animated nude glory. And speaking of bodies- check out the 6 pack on Ray Winstone- Ray Winstone for pete's sake!!!! Have you seen his huge belly in his latest movies? Ahh, the magic of movies!
Anyone else see it?
I just do not understand why a director would animate such great actors! John Malkovitch, Anthony Hopkins, etc., so much great acting potential and all those inflections, nuances, gestures that are not captured by the this awkward animation of real humans.
And the 3 D- whoa- blood, guts, spears, flaming breath, gigantic boulders, long strings of spittle - all headed straight for my face- way over the top, I say.
Having said that, I actually liked most of it. The animation lends itself to the construction of fantastical scenery that would never be possible in real life and camera angles that would be virtually impossible to pull off in reality.
And the dragon was a creature of wonderment and ferocious grace.
The Beowulf tale was told with creativity and of course, not faithful to the poem epic but it did capture the dark ages values of heroism, fatalism, camaraderie and implied the impact of Christianity was having on these in history.
It had truly awesome, gruesome and awful bawdy, hokey, gory, tender and insightful moments. And moments of the wonderfully absurd - when Beowulf fights Grendel nude. Like a Monty Python episode - hiding his genitals in creative ways - why? Angelina Jolie is seen in all her animated nude glory. And speaking of bodies- check out the 6 pack on Ray Winstone- Ray Winstone for pete's sake!!!! Have you seen his huge belly in his latest movies? Ahh, the magic of movies!
Anyone else see it?
