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Direction: Robert Zemeckis
Screenplay: Neil Gaiman, Roger Avary
Director of Photography: Robert Presley
Score: Alan Silvestri Cast:
Ray Winstone
Anthony Hopkins
John Malkovich
Robin Wright Penn
Brendan Gleeson
Crispin Glover
Alison Lohman
Angelina Jolie The Story:
Based on the ancient English language written
around 700 AD, the legend of Beowulf is brought to life on the
screen in a magnificient visual story about dragons and
warriors. The story is simple, really. The Viking warrior
Beowulf lands on the shores of Denmark upon hearing that they
are being troubled by a dragon. They are terrorized by the
dragon all the time and Beowulf tells the king (played by
Anthony Hopkins) that he will slay the dragon called Grendel
(Crispin Glover). Beowulf is smitten by the king's wife which
does not go unnoticed by the king. The king, however, is old,
and his wife is very young. The king promises his kingdom and
his wife to Beowulf if he slays the dragon.
Bewoulf mortally injures Grendall when he
arrives again and Grendall slinks back to the cave where he and
his mother stay and dies. The king tells Beowulf that the curse
is lifted but they still have to fear from the dragon's mother,
played by the sensuous Angelina Jolie.
So off goes Beowulf to the cave to slay the
dragon's mother. But she is too powerful and also charming and
seductive and Beowulf falls under her charm and hands over the
golden horn-shaped drink bowl to her in return for her not
troubling the country.
He returns and tells the king that "old hag"
is no more. The king knows more about her and reminds Beowulf
that "we both know she is no hag". But he is happy that she will
not trouble the kingdom. He hands over his kingdom and his wife
to Beowulf and ends his life.
Years later, a slave somehow gets the golden
drink bowl and Beowulf is highly concerned. He is old now but
goes bravely to fight the dragon's mother. She tells him it is
too late and assumes her real dragon shape and flys out to
destroy the country and the fortress.
How Beowulf finally defeats her (at least he
thinks so) and how he dies is the rest of the story.
Review:
This is Robert Zemeckis' best effort, far
superior to 'Polar Express' of 2004. He once again uses motion
capture technology to create this digitally animated film. The
visual effects are stunning. Ray Winstone appears as a six-foot
six warrior (but you can recognise him from his voice) with a
swagger. Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich and Angelina Jolie have
been captured very well too and all the characters appear almost
life-like. Almost. That's where you might feel a bit let down.
Zmerckis could have used real-life actors,
but probably did not, because he could not have created the
scenes involving ancient landscape and the gory creatures.
Angelina Jolie is quite different in the film unlike the
original story. She is of course Angeline Jolie, the curvaceous,
seductive and mesmerizing woman.
The film is eminently watchable. Though
Zemeckis tries to match '300' and 'The Lord of the Rings', he
fails, yet produces a magnificient movie.
The best part of the movie is the music.
After a long time, I heard enthralling soundtrack. Alan
Silvestri has done an outstanding job and if the movie succeeds,
much credit has to go to Silvestri. The background score and the
three songs are simply stirring. Especially the song 'Always the
Hero Comes Home' lingers in your mind and ears for a long time.
It's one of the best songs I have heard in a long time.
Silvestri certainly goes up in high company in this film and
stands head-to-head with composers like John Williams.
A not-to-be-missed film.
Final score:::: Three out of four stars
Sam Walker
California |
