The CGI landscapes go a long way in helping the imagination nestle comfortably into the world of myth, creating a medieval Denmark of fantastical and impenetrable isolation which becomes fertile ground for the terror to come. I've seen other screen adaptations of the Beowulf myth (most notably Sturla Gunnarsson's live action film from 2005) and they pale by comparison in doing the job of setting the right tone. Something about actual Nordic landscapes that simply don't speak to the same ancient part of the imagination as Zemeckis' conjured ones do.
The story told here deviates from the original poem in several areas but you don't need to know the poem to enjoy the movie. It stands on its own as a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris and the corrosive effects of keeping secrets while at the same time doing its post-modern part in deconstructing the hero myth.
The movie stars Ray Winstone as the bellicose hero Beowulf, Anthony Hopkins as the old king Hrothgar who has a secret that's come back to haunt everyone, Crispin Glover as the creature Grendel who terrorizes the king's mead hall and its inhabitants and Angelina Jolie as the demonic mother of said creature who, when she so chooses, is able to morph into the most seductive demon-trollop ever conceived in order to get her way. She is corruption, passing from leader to leader, spoiling everything.
The movie opens with a joyous celebration in King Hrothgar's brand new Mead Hall. But the celebratory atmosphere is soon shattered as Grendel invades the hall and tears nearly everyone limb from limb before disappearing in a cloud a electric blue fog. Hrothgar puts out the call far and wide for a hero to come and rescue his kingdom from the demon who hangs over it like a perpetual stormcloud. Beowulf arrives by sea to take up the challenge and promptly tells the king to open the hall in order to bring Grendel out in to the open.
Due to a combination of moxie and luck he manages to mortally wound Grendel in the ensuing attack and rises quickly from boastful outsider to demon slayer in the eyes of the locals. After Grendel dies his mother rains revenge down upon the warriors in the mead hall. Beowulf, sensing that he may be in over his head but unable to admit it to others who've now come to believe in his omnipotence, reluctantly agrees to confront her. As it turns out he was right to doubt himself because the needs of his ego are easily leveraged by her seductive trickery. He makes a secret deal with the mother and returns to the mead hall declaring victory. Hrothgar though isn't buying it. Having eaten himself from the demon's buffet he senses Beowulf isn't telling the whole story and when Beowulf dodges the question of whether he actually killed the mother Hrothgar knows what's happened.
He also knows that his beautiful young queen is smitten by the warrior from beyond the seas and as a last spiteful dig at the two he declares he's leaving everything to Beowulf, including his queen, and then leaps to his death. Beowulf is now king and has the woman he's been longing for yet because of his deal with the devil he's unable to show her love or husbandly affection. She thinks he's simply lost interest in her. He's trying to ensure that the demon doesn't rain whoopass down upon her and the rest of his kingdom. And this speaks to an important point. Beowulf is not a bad guy. He's a simple guy with some basic principals who was given extraordinary physical gifts and experienced some good luck. He's a braggart sure, and a sucker for a pretty face, but he's not out to harm anyone; he just wants some attention.
The film is peppered with references to Christianity that at first seem curiously unnecessary. By the third act though when Beowulf is bemoaning the fact that Christianity has killed off the hero and replaced him with the martyr things make a little more sense. It's also a film that isn't afraid to poke fun at itself though it doesn't abuse the privilege.
As a whole the movie is a compelling visual experience, and though mostly somber in tone it pulls itself back from the ledge when need be with well placed bits of levity. I decided against seeing the 3D version when it was in theaters choosing instead to see if the story would stand up in standard 2D. It did. Brilliantly.
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