Beowulf: Great Epic Poem to Great Epic Movie

Beowulf. Can an Epic Poem become an Epic Movie? Impossible?

Beowulf is an Old English heroic poem of good against evil. It's the single surviving work of Anglo Saxon Poetry. The setting is the period when the world was young, superstitious, and ruled by Kings. The backdrop of the story is a blend of fantasy and history. Beowulf is considered the first, the original Super Hero. If you ever dabble in the theories of The Nephilim, Beowulf fits that mold also.

Again, it would seem impossible to bring such a highly lauded piece of ancient literature to life. It would take one hell of a capable crew.

Enter Director Robert Zemeckis. He's defined his career by taking enormous leaps of the impossible. His list of accomplishments include Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, What Lies Beneath, Castaway, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Director: check.

Next, consider the writers. A studio will throw all the special effects at the audience, but without a good script, it doesn't matter. Enter Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary.

Neil Gaiman is one of the most acclaimed authors in comic book history. He was the critically acclaimed writer of The Sandman, which was the only comic to win the World Fantasy Award. Gaiman also penned the Engligh Language Script for Princess Mononoke. He's also the writer/creator of Mirror Mask & Stardust.

Roger Avary co-wrote Beowulf with Gaiman. Avary is no stranger to collaborations. He co-wrote Reservoir Dogs, True Romance, and Pulp Fiction. He was overshadowed by his buddy Tarantino until Rules of Attraction.

Now the actors. Although it's mainly voicework as their contribution, they maintain their high level of excellence. Anthony Hopkins is the quintessential anchor for any movie. The consummate professional that never drops the ball, constantly delivering Oscar worthy performances. Here, he's the physical model as well as the voice and spirit of King Hrothgar. Even if he physically acted the role, it couldn't have been better than his performance.

The voice cast is rounded out by serious acting heavy weights John Malkovich, Crispin Glover, and Robin Wright Penn. Don't get me started on Angelina Jolie. She haunts the teaser trailer with "are you the one they call Beowulf."

The titular role of Beowulf is brought to digital life by Ray Winstone. This is more of a visual role than that of Mr. Beaver in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. His Beowulf, backed by the mighty pen of Gaiman/Avary is commanding. He's physical specimen of testosterone seen only in epic battle movies. This is a man's movie. Expect Spike TV & G4 to have a bidding war once it's available for broadcast.

It's a big budget computer animated epic translation about a great warrior battling a great beast. It's epic tone borrows a lot from director John Boorman's 1980 classic Excalibur. The magic of their world is dying out, simultaneously- tales of the New God Jesus the Christ is spreading threw the village. It illustrates the historical-religious awareness that is present in the Epic Poem. Also, it's a clever homage to Excalibur. "The One God comes to drive out the many gods. The spirits of wood and stream grow silent. But that's the way of things. It's time for men and their ways." Sorry, that's a quote from Merlin in Excalibur. Indulge me. And I'm certainly not a spoiler sport. So the second Excalibur similarity, you'll have to view it for your self.

Then there's Edgar Allen Poe. Didn't expect his cameo did you. Ok, I'm kidding. But when Grendel is first introduced, there is a specific affliction and reasoning that's reminiscent of "The Fall of the House of Usher". King Hrothgar in his mead hall, is akin of the prince from Poe's "The Red Masque of Death."

Beowulf might not make back that $150 Million anytime soon. But over time, it will be money well spent. A classic. Illuminating both computer rendering classes & literature classes for years to come. I bet they still show that Romeo & Juliet movie in every high school. I'm sure the Leonardo Dicaprio/Claire Danes version upped the ante. But Beowulf- there is no comparison.

We've been thru 300, Lord Of The Rings, Gladiator, Braveheart, and even Troy. They are all replete with testosterone laden battle cries. Beowulf doesn't disappoint. "I am ripper, tearer, slasher. I am the teeth in the darkness, The talons in the night. Mine is strength, and lust, and power... I am BEOWULF!