By Ricky Simpson

Beowulf

Starring Ray Winstone, Robin Wright Penn, Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie and Crispin Glover

They are calling it the future of filmmaking. It allows unlimited imagination without deleting the actor. Everybody wins, especially the audience.

“Beowulf” is based on the ancient, epic poem of the same name. Well, loosely based. This is not so much the “Beowulf” you read in high school.

Here Beowulf (Winstone) comes from afar in attempt to defeat the devilish Grendel (Glover) who terrorizes the small village ruled by Hrothgar (Hopkins). As time passes we find that Beowulf has more than just Grendel to worry about as Grendel’s mother (Jolie) turns out to be even more seductively sinister.

This is an animated film like no other. There is strong violence with severed limbs and cracked skulls, and also an incredible amount of animated nudity (including a CGI Jolie). But for those in need of a holiday action flick, this one is full of it. From beginning to end, this film is wildly entertaining and filled with action.

With so much adult content, this is far from a children’s cartoon. There is a dark overtone throughout and a number of frightening images none more than Grendel himself, with a scaly face and crooked jaw that adds to his monster look. The risk of marketing an adult cartoon has not paid off just yet as the film is still falling short of its $70 million budget, but it soon will eclipse that mark and is sure to make a lofty sum in DVD sales.

This film runs 113 minutes and is rated PG-13 despite a large amount of violence, nudity, disturbing images and adult content. With an adult angle to this film and tons of action till the curtain drops, this is an interesting film and one of the most entertaining of the year.

Grade: B

Playing at Cinemark Fayette Mall, Regal Hamburg Pavilion, Movies 10 Codell Drive.

Opening Today

The Golden Compass

Starring Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards

Whether you want to hear it or not, this really is a movie based on a book that undermines Christianity and counters the novels of C.S. Lewis. I have a feeling this high budget flick may bite the big one on opening weekend.

Atonement

Starring Keira Knightley,

James McAvoy

This super-dramatic love story, based on the Ian McEwan novel of the same name, is highly anticipated and has as much Oscar buzz as any movie so far this season. This film will probably be the one to check out this weekend.

Grace Is Gone

Starring John Cusack

This tearjerker, about a man who learns of his wife’s death in Iraq and takes his two daughters on a road trip to help with the pain, is one of two dramatic roles this season for Cusack that is worth a watch.

Upcoming DVDs

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

If you ask me, this is the weakest of the “Potter” films. It is dark and more directed at adults, and I think loses a lot from that.

Lost — The Complete Third Season

Starring Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Josh Holloway

Finally, all of you who wait for the DVD to catch up, you can finally go on that 48-hour Lost binge just in time for the next season.