Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Beowulf: The Future Of Film-making.

In the future there will be no need of live actors. People will be scanned into the 3D system and talented voice performers will sit comfortably in recording booths performing their roles in front of a big LCD. I've time traveled a couple of times into the future now and both times, in both possible futures; this is reality. One can't stop it, even if you wanted to. Any why would you? Because after seeing the magnificent spectacle that is Beowulf, one cannot doubt that this is the ultimate extension of pure art.

This movie is based on the famous Old English epic poem about a Geatish hero Beowulf who becomes a Danish king. Naturally translated by the legendary Neil Sandman Gaiman and Roger Pulp Fiction Avery for the unique form of film that this would prove to be. There is obviously some liberty taken with certain aspects of the story to make it more acceptable for the Hollywood-loving masses.

Each frame of this movie is compelling. Just knowing that each bead of sweat, strand of straw or lick of flame has a separate algorithm is staggering. One of the things more easily noticeable on movies with live actors acting against a digital character or background is the fact that much of the time you know that all they were doing is talking to a green blob against a green screen. With this technology; the "actor" is right there in the picture because both he and the background are on the same level, there is no timing to get right or post production trickery to correct the actor's performance - everything is there and it's seamless.

The voice acting is extraordinary and many of the characters are actually 3D representation of the actors. Sir Anthony Hopkins has his squint, John Malkovich has his sneer and Angelina Jolie has her... her... everything you can hope for. I think the only liberty they took was with Ray Winstone who's a bit more portly in reality - but such is the advantage of this emerging technology - one can easily correct or enhance a human's shortcomings with little effort.

Robert Zemekis has finally managed to create believable looking characters (unlike Polar Express and Monster House) with the magic that is 3D. He has achieved this in only 7 years after beginning to adopt this technology which is beyond remarkable and inspires no end of confidence in the man to spend his remaining working years achieving true photorealism and infusing 3D characters with the soul they deserve.

I do have a problem with the rating for this movie. There is an abundance of thinly veiled sexual innuendo, the violence and blood was both graphic and abundant and let's face it Angelina is stark fuckin' naked. While these factors are most welcome and secure the final rating for this splendid movie, it should have a greater audience restriction than 12PG. It's as if the censor said: "This is just a boisterous cartoon. Nothing adult here."

Final Verdict: The future of film making is fast becoming a reality. Directors: Why search for a perfect actor if you can create one yourself? See this if you want to see a cracking good fantasy tale of magical beasts, swords and sorcery.

Colonel Creedon Rating: *****

7 comments:

cork-host said...

Don't forget the care and attention placed in the fleshtones. Which means that there is another use for perfectly rendered flesh exposed virtual people. Isn't there?

Anonymous said...

Quite right, Hosty, Target Practice.

Major General Creedon said...

You beat me to it Civvy :)

Anonymous said...

So, how 3D is it on a normal screen ?...

I'm surprised you didn't travel to the IMAX 3D in Manchester to see it, or is that a future trip ?

exactly how good does it look, or how good could you imagine it looks in actual 3D ?

Major General Creedon said...

I'm not 100% sure what you mean? I've actually never seen a 3D movie like Jaws 3D and I've never been to an IMAX. There's no indication that it's more "3D" than Shrek is on a normal screen, but with superior rendering and the fact that the characters are true to life as opposed to talking donkeys!

I was in Malaga, Spain at the weekend for a Stag Party and I actually saw a poster for the movie at the IMAX there but I was seduced instead by the promise of Triple-JDs served by hot senoritas!

Anonymous said...

Hmm, look at the official movie site, in the special features section, under Beowulf 3D....
also have a look in the video section under film clips, the first clip "here to kill a monster" and as the horse approaches his spear looks really 3D, I susupect if you had some glasses on you'd be poked in the eye...

Look also at the video > featurettes section, the first movie "visual look of Beowulf", they talk about the 3D effects....

Anonymous said...

I've already seen this movie and I must say its really awesome. This is the movie of future and this is the very best ever made 3D movie I've ever seen.