Villavicencio--Beowulf

     Before viewing the film, I must admit a strong opposition towards digitally enhanced films such as Beowulf. In past experience, (and later proved by this film), I’ve found it near impossible to connect with the characters, understand their emotions, or feel anyway engaged in their story.
Although countless scenes throughout Beowulf are in dire need of some editing (such those with supernatural characters or gruesome battles), I found one scene that perfectly exemplifies why films made entirely by CGI fail so miserably.
     Around the 70th minute, a man is seconds from his murder when he requests Beowulf himself to take his life. Sensing mockery, Beowulf decides to explain “man with no name” exactly why his energy would be wasted on physically killing him himself. Throughout this short scene, Beowulfs emotions (are supposed to) change from self-content, to offense, to pride, to pity and almost (if possible) sympathy. Unfortunately, his facial expressions hardly portray much more than on emotion (most likely arrogance.) The “nameless” man’s emotions should have moved from terror, to confusion, to extreme fear, and finally intense relief. Instead, however, his cartoon-like shuddering and lack of true emotion from his face to body language are more significantly more distracting than convincing.
     Although maybe not a key scene, this conversation exemplifies why digitally enhancing human characters is a unfavorable choice. The only true way I can suggest to improve the scene would be to use real people.
Fairly successful CGI movies could be Spider Man, The Mummy, and King Kong, however they merged real people with their supernatural co-stars rather than transforming everything. Given the obvious knowledge that supernatural characters are not real, the CGI doesn’t take away from the film as it does when real people are forced into animation.