Beowulf is to be released in a few different viewing options for audiences. You can either see it in IMAX 3D, digital 3D, or straight up 35mm. IMAX would definitely be your best bet if a theater is near you but the digital 3D makes for a nice substitute.

It’s hard to fathom how much time and effort went into the animating process of Beowulf. In fact, it may be too good for its own good. While not all the characters look exactly like the actors providing the voices, they still look real enough to be actual people.

What then is the point of animating it? After adapting ourselves to seeing actual humans interacting with computer-generated creatures, thanks to the cornucopia of fantasy films released this past decade, this is just an obvious attempt to hide all of what the film lacks. It’s like the best-wrapped present at a birthday party containing an empty turtle shell.

Sure it’s been adapted a few times before but it was only a matter of time before someone attempted to do Beowulf proper justice. Writers Neil Gaiman (Mirror Mask) and Roger Avary (Rules of Attraction) attempt to give this historic epic poem, written by an anonymous author around 700 AD, a new take while sticking to its original roots. Bring director Robert Zemeckis on board and you have yourself a big budgeted, 3-D animated piece of eye candy. How can a film based on such a classic piece of literature, with the cache of talent behind it, be so drab?

King Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins) and his village are constantly brutalized by the demon Grendel (Crispin Glover) until the day Beowulf (Ray Winstone) and his merry men arrive to slay the beast. Killing this demon only brings about more slaughter. Grendel’s mother (Angelina Jolie) goes on a rampage that takes out many of Beowulf’s men. After luring Beowulf to her cave, she begs Beowulf to give her another son, in exchange for both his life and a promise to make him king.

Unfortunately its good look is all the film has to offer. The story of Beowulf just never had too much depth to it. It worked perfect for what it was - a story, published in the form of a poem, told hundreds of years ago to entertain and bring about a sense of moral urgency. The only urgency felt here is of the actual 3D process. The first half of the film focuses not on story, but on designing shots to utilize the glasses you’re wearing, in an attempt to submerge you visually in order to distract from elements it lacks. It’s like one of those theme park rides but with a way bigger budget. On top of that, Beowulf has an oddly uneven tone. There are times that inspire laughter in most chaotic of places. Too bad it’s too serious for its own good.