FINALLY!

I watched the movie yesterday night, after weeks of wanting to watch it. Hmm, I really don’t know where to begin with this awesomeness of a movie.

Ok, from the start then.

Beowulf was a legendary poem written by some guy. I only found out this fact after watching the movie, and my friend told me about it. That must be why it has such a fantastic storyline. Superb in every sense.

I haven’t seen a good ‘hero’ movie, set in medieval times, for a very long time. I couldn’t even remember the last good one. Troy, perhaps? But Beowulf is a ‘hero’ movie different from all others. It really captures how events turn to stories and then to legend. Like all legends from all over the world, they’re probably exaggerated a little to add a little flair. The movie’s witty dialogs and style will get you thinking about it way after the credits roll.

Beowulf was a viking warrior who seeks glory in slaying monsters. He travels with a small brigand of soldiers who call themselves Beowulf’s Army (simple enough, no?). In this movie, he travels to Middle Ages’ Denmark, where the city is under constant attack from a troll-like monster. I actually pitied the monster Grendal, and you’ll see why, if you watch the movie.

Ok, that’s as far as I can go without spoiling anything for ya. Coz, any further into the movie, you’ll encounter all the great elements that make Beowulf such a good movie.

I came in wanting to see its animation, rendering etc… but I ended up being fully immersed in the story, as if I’m in the heart of the action itself. The actors, voices, environments, monsters, everything… they’re just beautiful.

Beowulf was played by Ray Winstone, not really a popular actor, but he pulled off the voice with great majesty. Actually, when he first appeared in the movie, I thought he looked a lot like Sean Bean, who played Boromir from Lord of the Rings.

Then there was the old king, played by Anthony Hopkins. How the character emulates the actual actor is simply uncanny, unfathomable, unbelievable. I often find myself thinking if it IS real life. Beowulf’s loyal friend was played by the guy from Braveheart. William Wallace’s childhood friend, remember him? He looked damn familiar and again, the resemblance is uncanny.

John Malkovich’s character was also nailed to perfection. Even the style and trademarks of the actors were captured. All the way down to Anthony Hopkins slightly tilted head while acting, and John Malkovich’s weird style of talking. Oh, and who can forget Angelina Jolie… only, this time, she’s super-fine! Way better than the real one. Everything… and I mean, everything… is enhanced to perfection. She plays the sorceress/witch, by the way.

I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about the movie except that I wished it had gone on longer, maybe a trilogy? Like Lord of the Rings? Coz really, it’s of the same stature as LOTR, I think.

And to those people who still say that this is just a cartoon …. …. …. wake up. This is the future, and you people must be stuck in the stone age. I don’t care to argue with them anymore. Suit yourself and don’t watch it. Go ahead and miss out on one of the best movies of the year.

I give Beowulf 9.5/10. The 0.5 is due to the irritating exit light in my line of sight, and the fact that I couldn’t get nachos before going in, coz of some problems with the booking system. Other than that, Beowulf scores full marks on my watch.

Tags: angelina jolie, animation, babe, beowulf, movie review