Beowulf IMAX 3D

November 25, 2007

Rated: PG-13 Runtime: 113 min Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Awe inspiring. A seamless expansion into the third dimension transforms the viewing experience into a new and completely immersive adventure. You cannot help but experience a sense of floating suspended in space as objects in your field of vision drift past and behind you. And I’m just talking about the opening credits!

beowulf1.jpgYes, this one just ROCKS! But before I continue with my effusive ramblings, let me point out that all of the really good stuff here comes from the “IMAX 3D” part of the name, not the “Beowulf” part. Had I watched the non-3D version of this on a regular screen, then we’d be talking about a 3-star movie at the most.

But first, the good stuff! I’ve seen my share of 3D features in the past but this is the first time that I felt myself forgetting that I was wearing those funky glasses and becoming part of the movie scene. The combination of the superior animation and the 3D treatment was very seductive. The 3D action scenes were genuinely exhilarating and didn’t feel like cheap ‘thrill shots’ for the most part.

And, when the action calmed down a bit, you can really examine and begin to appreciate the quality of the animation. The very realistic facial expressions and skin details were just simply fascinating. The physics of this animated world were the same as our own and, at times, they helped enhance the feeling that you might not be looking at something animated after all. The way things broke and crumbled; the way that limp bodies flew through the air and crashed through tables; the way the waters rippled and glowed with phosphorescent algae; it was all quite spectacular.

But when you take away the eye candy, you are left with a story that is just merely mediocre. It’s still the same old morality tale that hammers us over the head with the concepts of hero fallibility and sins of the father. This isn’t a totally bad thing as these are lessons that are certainly valuable to learn. Way back in the early days of filmmaking, you would seen films with these kinds of themes all the time…and people loved them. But as time passes and movie audiences get more and more sophisticated, they demand something a bit more subtle and entertaining…and something less preachy and high-handed.

Thankfully, though, the IMAX 3D imagery does a lot to soften the clubbing blows of the story’s central message. So much so, in fact, that I really didn’t consciously notice them until I sat down to write this review. Just beware, however, if you venture out to see this in regular 2D.

Posted by Alex | Filed Under 5 Stars, Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins, Crispin Glover, PG-13, Ray Winstone, Robin Wright Penn, Theatrical 

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Comments

One Response to “Beowulf IMAX 3D”

  1. Mack Guffin on March 23rd, 2008 5:48 am

    I just saw this on DVD. It was a very bare-bones DVD, the only special feature was a 25-minute “Making Of” documentary (Apparently there’s a two-disk set as well).

    * Angelina Jolie is a Monster-MILF!

    * Grendel kind of looked like that thing from the end of ALIEN RESURRECTION, the Ripley-Alien baby.

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