"Beowulf" Is "Postmodern Fun" In 3-D Performance Capture

Hollywood Reporter via Reuters:

What have they done to "Beowulf," everyone's least favorite Old English epic about a hero's battles with a monster, the monster's mother and an annoying dragon that turns up 50 years later?

Director Robert Zemeckis not only deploys 21st century movie technology at its finest to turn the heroic poem into a vibrant, nerve-tingling piece of pop culture, but his film actually makes sense of "Beowulf." In Zemeckis' hands, it's an intriguing look at a hero as a flawed human being.

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See photos of star Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at the UK premiere

Read the whole story: Hollywood Reporter via Reuters

Comments

[loki]

11:45 PM on 11/14/2007

I just saw it. My personal opinion is that its like watching a video game on the big screen. CG wasnt nearly as impressive as the much older Final Fantasy movie of 2001, and nothing as impressive as 300 CG Fx. Overall, its ok. and old story that has been made into movies by everyone and their mother. Even a Sci Fi Chanel movie. Its a shame, I like just about anything Anthony Hopkins is in. With the exception of this one. I think the remake of Kings, The Fog, is going to be another over hashed remake of a movie made 30 times already as well. But I do look forward to seeing how they did with making a movie from the kids book " where the wild things are". I hear its due out soon.

[sureofit]

04:35 PM on 11/13/2007

Saw a preview for the flick. Couldn't get past the headband - I expected the dude to start river dancing. Gay. Totally gay. Liberace gay.

[martinchill]

06:25 PM on 11/12/2007

if this was a photo of jolie actually naked, would HuffPo still run it on the front page?

[Trilby]

05:55 PM on 11/12/2007

Yes, fellas, keep that idealized picture (that even Ms. Jolie doesn't look like) firmly in your mind so that if you are ever lucky enough to be with a real actual naked woman you will be bitterly disappointed.

[KindAndThoughtful]

05:22 PM on 11/12/2007

This film is setting milestones in many technical areas including digital and video capture. If it is successful at the box office, the technology will leapfrog forward.


http://verybestwebsites.blogspot.com/

[kardwell]

04:12 PM on 11/12/2007

Motion-capture/CGI "Hero" films are by far not my genre. I expected to hate it but agreed to tag along to the theater with an open mind. Surprisingly, I LOVED the film. Cretainly, the film serves as a technical and artistic showcase for cutting technology in CGI and 3-D, but hey, why not? High-profile expensive risky ventures like Beowulf have always been essential to the evolution of technology and film. There is never progress in art absent risk and some folly. I would suggest you suspend your doubt and just see the film. I can honestly say it was worth the 180 minutes and $14.

[joetrade]

01:36 PM on 11/12/2007

How can I get an 16 X 20 print of the girl in gold?

[ang4ever]

12:21 PM on 11/12/2007

Cant wait - in 4 days !!!!. Is it Friday yet !

[lisakaz]

11:36 AM on 11/12/2007

I used to look like that...(sigh).

[Darwin48]

11:34 AM on 11/12/2007

Yes! very good production. I have a feeling that it will remain to be better than this one coming out...
already in the preview, we have the obligatory "300" style...
"I. AM. BEOWULF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
or the "SHOW YOURSELF TO ME!!!!!!"
This new "Beowulf" looks like the NASCAR crowd version.
-ugh
looks like awful acting and story with about $400million in digital effects.

[totalliberal]

03:11 AM on 11/12/2007

There is also a Canadian/Icelandic version of "Beowulf and Grendel" with Gerard Buttler, Sarah Polley and Stellan Skarsgard. It is much more sympathetic toward Grendel.

(And his mom.)

The scenery and cinematography are spectacular.