I disagree with the previous reviewer--I feel that this adaptation does an admirable job capturing the feeling of the poem. While it necessarily skips certain sections of the epic (such as tales that are told in the hall) it vividly portrays the main action while preserving many of the poem's actual lines, and a good sense of its sound. I also liked the visuals, which reflect the style of Anglo-Saxon art. Extra points for not taking the easy way out and stopping after the death of Grendel's mother, with Beowulf young and victorious. Showing Beowulf's noble death in old age is critical to staying true to one of the poem's clearest themes: what it takes to be a good king.
Review of Animated Epics: Beowulf
