After wowing audiences with CGI motion capture with The Polar Express, Robert Zemekis set his next spell to be cast over the age-old classic, Beowulf. Obviously, there’s plenty of mystique left in the old tale, even after confusing high school and college English Literature students alike.

Beowulf is one of those stories that we were all forced to read, yet never really understood its grasp. On the one hand, it’s the timeless tale of good versus evil; on the other hand, it’s a philosopher’s nightmare—and darn near impossible to understand. Maybe that’s why after a good half-dozen film adaptations (some good, some awful, and some that are just confusing), no one seems to tell the same story.

Zemekis’ Beowulf, despite its poetic source material, is best viewed as a film of its own merit. Like many film adaptations of classic literature, the filmmakers have taken a number of liberties to fit the story into a two-hour cinematic adventure. This has its own share of strengths and weaknesses. Read more »