BEOWULF (2007) (***1/2)
"Don't judge a film by its trailer," my mother always said. Well, she didn't really say that, but in one of the nth alternative timelines of my life I'm sure she would say it. This statement fits this film perfectly, for the trailer made the film seem like a soulless videogame, while the actual film is a digital hyper-real alternative reality that brings new life to the ancient tale of BEOWULF.
In the film, the vice ridden king Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS) has his kingdom plagued by the demon Grendel (Crispin Glover, BACK TO THE FUTURE). The king calls for a hero to kill the beast and the cocky Beowulf (Ray Winstone, THE DEPARTED) arrives to do the job. The king's chief adviser Unferth (John Malkovich, BEING JOHN MALKOVICH) questions Beowulf's accomplishments, which seem exaggerated. Beowulf's right hand man Wiglaf (Brendan Gleeson, BRAVEHEART) knows his boss is a braggart, but he believes in him unconditionally. Along his journey, Beowulf will be tempted by many women, including the king's beautiful wife Wealthow (Robin Wright Penn, FORREST GUMP), as well as Grendel's shape-shifting mother (Angelina Jolie, TOMB RAIDER).