In early medieval Denmark, a horrific monster called Grendel (Crispin Glover) is terrorizing the court of King Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins). In desperation, Hrothgar hires famed adventurer Beowulf (Ray Winstone) to take Grendel down. However, Beowulf’s challenges are far greater than they first appear.

Based on the Old English epic poem, Beowulf had a lot going for it at the time of its release. Directed by Robert Zemeckis of “Back to the Future” and “Forrest Gump”, starring a host of talented actors and based on one of the oldest English-language stories. However, despite generally positive reviews and a number one spot on opening weekend, it was not financially successful and is somewhat obscure today. That’s a shame because “Beowulf” is actually a solid movie.

Animated using CGI and motion capture, it’s visually spectacular. Zemeckis and company and ImageMovers put a lot of effort into creating action that gives even the best fantasy movies a run for their money. Whenever Beowulf goes into battle, whether he’s fighting with a human, a sea monster or a fire-breathing dragon, you know you’ll be in for some great entertainment. The movie also overcomes some of the hurdles to creating action in animation. Many filmmakers have a hard time animating fights or stunts, but the motion capture in this film was definitely an asset.

Even better than the action is the voice acting. First, there’s big and scary Cockney Ray Winstone as our hero. He’s tough and grizzled. Winstone gives it his all, making Beowulf an awesome character. Other standouts include Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins as the conflicted King Hrothgar, John Malkovich as royal advisor Unferth and Angelina Jolie as Grendel’s Mother. Jolie surpasses the audience’s expectations and performs brilliantly in her role.

Despite being a classic and having a strong cast, “Beowulf” does make some big mistakes that prevent it from being a great movie. First and foremost is the story; it’s not a bad one, but as it is, the story doesn’t suit itself to a feature film. After about an hour it becomes clear that many of the quieter scenes are just there to fill time while you wait to get back in the action. Its story would make a great short film or T.V. episode, but there’s just not enough going on to sustain our interest for two hours. The other thing that holds this film back is the CGI on character’s faces. Because they look so real, but somehow not real enough, we are repulsed. This is known as the uncanny valley effect.
Despite some glaring weaknesses, “Beowulf” is still a very entertaining movie that action and fantasy fans will get a kick out of. It’s gritty, action-packed, very well acted and left me quite satisfied. If for no other reason, check out George McFly himself, Crispin Glover, as Grendel. You’ll never look at that lovable bookworm the same way again.