I caught Beowulf last night, paying the extra few dollars on top of what is already a ridiculous price in New York ($14.50, normally $10.50-$11) to see the first 3-D movie since I was a very small child. It was some pretty cool shit, but I could see it being a hell of a lot better if it wasn’t limited by screen size (I’m thinking IMAX) and it didn’t really do anything to help the movie itself as far as story effects and action.

But, 3-D aside, Beowulf was a pretty fucking good movie.I’ve always been a fan of Neil Gaiman since back in The Sandman days, so I figured that the flick would have a good deal more depth than your average hack-n’-slash flick and I wasn’t disappointed. The movie is not a literal following of Beowulf. Rather it takes the tale and fills in the gaps and connects things, weaving a complex, human and empathic narrative of a bold, cocky and undefeated—yet weak and faulted man who as human as he may be, becomes the subject of legend. On top of that, it throws some serious fucking blood, violence and naked Jolie.

I’m always lamenting the lack of epic fantasy/sci-fi/horror movies where aside from massive effects and action, there exists a solid core of a story. Beowulf definitely met expectations in that regard. You don’t have to pay extra for the 3-D, as I believe that most theaters are showing it in normal film-mode (whatever you would call that). It’s definitely a gimmick, although one I consider kind of cool and fun, but regardless of how you catch it, it’s a good flick