Beowulf Technology Review: "It Is Leaving Something Out"

Beowulf Technology Review: "It Is Leaving Something Out"

When John Markoff wrote about the Contour digital special-effects system last year, he noted that it would be judged by its ability to help animators cross the "uncanny valley." That is the no man's land where artificial humans look both realistic and unrealistic at the same time, giving them a creepy vibe.

Contour's big test comes on Friday with the arrival of "Beowulf," a big-budget computer-animated version of the ancient tale, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring the Contour-captured faces of Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich and other stars. I got an early look at the 3D Imax version last night. When it was over, I felt relieved to be back in the company of uncreepy flesh-and-blood humans again.

Read more Beowulf Reviews

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot