Missy Thompson

STAFF WRITER

"Greasy, grimy Grendel." Just about every student who had Diane Cramer for 11th grade English at Tooele High School heard this when the class read "Beowulf." Because of Cramer, and having read the Old English poem, I went into the "Beowulf" screening with a more skeptical eye. I don't know how Cramer will feel about one of her beloved poems being made into a film, but I hope she -- along with all audiences -- appreciates the marvelous 3-D animation.

This film is a hybrid of sorts wherein real-life and fantasy intertwine in a melting pot of characters and creatures. Director Robert Zemeckis -- who also directed "The Polar Express" and all three "Back to the Future" movies -- combined digital animation with the actors' movements and facial expressions to create a revolutionary film. If you get the chance, I suggest getting the full cinematic experience by watching it in 3-D IMAX.

"Beowulf" is like "300" with a literary twist. Because of the way the movie was filmed, it reflects a more fantasy-like feel, which is appropriate for "Beowulf." It would be wonderful to say the performances were spectacular, but that wouldn't be entirely accurate. The actors used their voices while the animators used their movements, expression and individual look to create the characters.

The character Hrothgar, who is voiced by Sir Anthony Hopkins, looks almost exactly like the English actor. While "Beowulf" is a great literary masterpiece, the animation is what makes the film worth seeing. Usually 3-D films can make one feel ill, but in this case it is better than in 2-D.

It's the AD 500s and a Danish kingdom is terrorized by the mysteriously evil monster Grendel (voiced by Crispin Glover). King of the land is Hrothgar, a jolly man who drinks too much and enjoys the company of young women. He wants someone to kill Grendel so the kingdom can live in peace.

The mightiest of all warriors, Beowulf (voiced by Ray Winstone), emerges with fellow men to defeat the beast. At a dinner to celebrate Beowulf coming to their rescue, the kingdom's people become belligerent and sing, which irritates Grendel. With the land under attack, Beowulf discovers the monster's weakness -- loud and obnoxious noise -- and kills the beast.

Grendel's greedy and seductive mother (voiced by Angelina Jolie) wants a gold cup given to Beowulf after Hrothgar's death, and to marry the former king's wife Wealthow (voiced by Robin Wright Penn). But when the cup is returned to the kingdom, Grendel's mother becomes angry and starts a killing rampage that will destroy the Danish town if Beowulf doesn't kill her first.

It seems as if Zemeckis wanted to get away with as much violence and questionable sexuality as possible. For a good five minutes, Beowulf is fighting completely nude. And Grendel's mother is shown wearing very little -- what looks like liquid gold. Because "Beowulf" is PG-13, I would not suggest younger children watch this film.

That being said, adults and teenagers will probably enjoy watching "Beowulf" -- especially in 3-D and IMAX. Although I believe the best-known epic Old English poem is wonderful and should be read by everyone, this film is so revolutionarily enjoyable it's difficult not to like.

missy@tooeletranscript.com

Grade: B

Rated: PG-13

Time: 114 minutes

Opens Friday