Release Date: February 26th, 2008
Running Time: 114 min

The Film

CGI is becoming more and more integrated into filmmaking as it becomes increasingly convincing. Director Robert Zemeckis has always elevated the form, combining true actor performances in fully digital worlds. Beowulf: Director’s Cut marks the next step in digital filmmaking, and is a bloody, monster-slaying good time.

The film stars Ray Winstone as Beowulf, the legendary hero from the classic epic poem of the same name. Shot in a style that captures all of the nuances of the actors’ performances and then translated into a CGI world, Beowulf features a gorgeous recreation of the snowy kingdom of Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins). Hrothgar celebrates in his famous mead hall, drinking, singing and enjoying all the pleasures of life with his men and wife Wealthow (Robin Wright-Penn). Everything is fantastic until a horrible, deformed monster known as Grendel (Crispin Glover) attacks the hall, slaughtering countless people. Hrothgar sends out a notice calling for a hero to come slay the monster and end their plight. Enter Beowulf.

Beowulf is a classic hero full of outlandish tales of battle and manliness. His confidence is unwavering, and the very name lessens Hrothgar’s worries. He is Beowulf—ripper, slasher, tearer, and all other badass names. To the surprise of few, Beowulf handles the Grendel problem only to unleash the rage of his demon mother (Angelina Jolie).

A lot has been said about Beowulf. The action scenes are top-notch, featuring plenty of impressive effects and gore. Some of the sweeping, epic camera shots will make you forget you are watching a CGI film, even if the style hasn’t been perfected quite yet. The film also features the best man versus dragon battle I have ever seen. The criticisms, however, seem to stem from how the film strays from the poem. In the poem Beowulf was the perfect hero through and through, an iconic man full of righteousness. Zemeckis’ Beowulf is a more flawed, human character, driven by ego and emotion. He makes mistakes, horrible ones that cause massive problems for him and others. Still, even a flawed Beowulf is far more heroic than most, and perhaps more believable and relatable for today’s jaded viewers.

I did not notice any significant changes in the “Unrated Director’s Cut.” The only thing I can figure is that there may have been more blood, but from what I remember in the theatrical release, it is pretty close.

As one final note, I have to admit that the effects aimed at being 3-D in theatres become more glaring as gimmicky when watching it in 2-D. It doesn’t spoil the film by any means, but it can take you out of the moment.

The DVD

The video is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and looks impeccable. The level of detail is mind-blowing, down to the grain in the mead hall tables or the flaws in the characters’ skin. The colors are bold, from the deep reds of the bloods to the fiery oranges and subtle shades of blue. The detail and clarity remains throughout, even in the action scenes, avoiding any blurring of the image. With the exception of a few others, this is the highest quality best digital film I have seen on DVD.

The audio is offered in English/French/Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with English/French/Spanish subtitles. The track is epic, from the atmospheric effects of the mead hall celebrations, to the chaos of the battle scenes. This is an aggressive, high-octane mix that perfectly complements the image. The only downside is that occasionally the dialogue can be too soft during the action scenes, but that is the rare occasion.

The Extras

“The Hero’s Journey” is a 24-minute “making of” piece that gives you a detailed lok into the motion-capture production of the film, truly letting you see the actors’ performances. This is a must-watch for everyone to understand the skill involved in making a film of this caliber.

“Beasts of Burden” is a 7-minute look at the creatures of the film from concept to final product. I would have preferred a lengthier look at this topic, but I’ll take what I can get.

“The Origins of Beowulf” is a 5-minute piece what made Zemeckis tackle the subject. Again, this could have been made into a very in-depth comparison piece between the film and the original material, but what can you do.

“Creating the Ultimate Beowulf” is a 2-minute piece that looks at the title character and bringing him to life.

“The Art of Beowulf” is a 6-minute featurette on the look of the film and the development of the visual style.

Six unfinished, Deleted Scenes are available as well, none of which are anything special.

The Trailer and Previews round out the special features.

Final Thoughts

Beowulf: Director’s Cut is a fast-paced, gorgeous action film featuring some of the best CGI to date, even if it isn’t the most faithful adaptation of the story.