Beowulf

Features, Shorts, Live-Action and Direct-To-Video
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Beowulf

Post by Kaszubas » July 26th, 2007, 5:45 am

Hello :)
The first real trailer (I wouldn't count that flying-logo-teaser) for Robert Zemeckis Beowulf (2007) has just been released, so I think it's good moment to start dedicated thread for this movie :)
Enjoy! (Or Die Tryin' ;) )

http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/beowulf/

I'm really eager to read your comments ;)

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Post by Ben » July 26th, 2007, 9:48 am

It's the elasticity in the skin! It's the elasticity in the skin!

That's what's not there. The look is great, the "acting" much better, but the skin, the skin is tight like the victim of a facelift.

Look at the reaction on the line "stay with me", as he looks up. The skin around the eyes can't do anything, because it doesn't have the weight, the folds of skin, the texture to help the eye and area of the face move accordingly.

The skin on the face just doesn't move enough...not a wrinkle on it when she puts the crown on him...

The bodies look more like Shrek models...watch as she pulls someone from right to left after the shot with the arrows comes down...it's stiff, but not like it's because they can't move in their clothes. Again, it seems their clothes ARE their bodies, stuck to them as part of the model instead of being <I>worn</i> by the model.

The actual eyes - the pupils, as much as I can tell from this - are better, deeper, but now it's a case of too much Botox on everyone's faces.

Shame... :(

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Post by Jeroen » July 26th, 2007, 1:04 pm

Why use motion capture when you're also gonna use their likeness?
It's cool gimick but it still doesnt make sense to me.
It's the elasticity in the skin! It's the elasticity in the skin!
yes! YES!!

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Post by Plightyear » July 26th, 2007, 2:56 pm

I know no one is going to agree with me on this but after seeing this trailer the animation for this film looks like video game animation.

Its like if people who make video games took the time and effort to make good looking movies between levels and in levels and stuff they would come up with something similar to the animation in Beowulf (or maybe even better if they didn't use motion capture).

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Post by Ben » July 26th, 2007, 3:10 pm

I wouldn't say I don't agree with you. :)

It is, however, <I>very good</I> video game animation, but not as "real" as any fakery seen in Lord Of The Rings.

This is what I don't get...more than ten years after Final Fantasy, after all the wonders of LOTR trilogy, and with all the artists and technicians working with one of the most visually inventive, technical directors on the planet, with all the money in the world being thrown at it, and we still don't get perfection!

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Post by bawpcwpn » July 26th, 2007, 4:31 pm

2 words...Uncanny Valley.
"But I'm your No. 1 Fan!"
- Buddy a.k.a Syndrome

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Post by Daniel » July 26th, 2007, 5:47 pm

Yeah, what bothered me the most was the skin, too. Other than that, this looks ok.

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Post by Meg » July 26th, 2007, 7:27 pm

If this is gonna be PG-13 I'm totally forgiving all the problems I have with the visual look. Heh.

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Post by Ben » July 27th, 2007, 6:37 am

??? :)

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Post by YCougar » July 27th, 2007, 1:17 pm

If you're gonna use motion capture, why not go somewhere interesting with the character designs (aka, not looking just like the actors)? As mentioned before, this is using animation for the heck of it, not because it's required.

However, I can practically hear my old AP English teacher's whoop of joy from here - the man is obsessed with Beowulf. :P
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Post by ShyViolet » July 29th, 2007, 8:33 am

I didn't like it. :( The video game comments are spot on.


Some interesting comments. There's definetely some truth in the whole "Bob Z has a love/hate relationship with animation" thing here....


http://www.animationnation.com/ubb/ulti ... 1;t=012506


I love his other movies but it seems like he just wants to make animated films without really making "animated" films....:?
You can’t just have your characters announce how they feel! That makes me feel angry!

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Post by Ben » July 29th, 2007, 9:59 am

"I think for Beowulf the hard part will be getting the little ping pong balls on the Dragon".

That is a genius comment. :)

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Post by ShyViolet » July 29th, 2007, 1:05 pm

Plus, the trailer used one of the best tracks from 28 Days Later.....:? :roll:


What nerve! :wink:


Honestly, this film is closer to the new Wii Zelda game than it is to Gladiator or 300....:roll:
You can’t just have your characters announce how they feel! That makes me feel angry!

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Post by Daniel » July 29th, 2007, 6:06 pm

Know wonder it sounded so familiar!

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Post by rebelrex » August 31st, 2007, 8:27 am

Yeah, this movie looks pretty sweet!

They've got a new restricted trailer up too, now:


http://www.beowulfmovie.com/restricted/index.html

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