> Okay, I had this brilliant rebuttal all written up, and now I can't
> find it, so I'll have to rewrite it later and send it to your blog.
> While you wait, I refer you to my fps magazine review, which kinda
> touches on some of your points:
>
> http://www.fpsmagazine.com/blog/2007/11/beowulf-or-how-i-learned-to-s...
>
> Quickies for now...
>
> On Nov 26, 6:11 pm, "mdo...@crocker.com" crocker.com> wrote:
>

>> I posted this piece over athttp://animationreview.blogspot.com/. I'd
>> like ot get your reactions and comments.

>

>> Mike Dobbs

>
>
>

>> would "Beowulf" have been made at all if it didn't have its video game
>> animation aided by motion capture, its prurient brushes with nudity,
>> the use of a name brand cast and its multiple platform release?

>
>
>

>> And the result of this animation style is a cross between video game
>> fare and Madame Tussaud's wax sculptures.

>
> Why do we constantly make these video game comparisons? Video games
> use many different kinds of animation.
>
> The Valis used tradionational, hand-drawn anime stylings.
>
> Fear Effect, Jet Grind/Set Radio, and Paper Mario use cel-shaded CGI.
> The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker was infamously known as "Celda". (A
> Legend of Zelda was also release on a CD-Rom system 10+ years ago with
> horrible hand-drawn animation, but that's best left unmentioned.)
>
> Dragon's Lair featured footage from Don Bluth's team of animators,
> right?
>

>> The greater irony is that despite a budget of $150 million, the main
>> characters project far more acting through the vocal performances than
>> the animation. A Bugs Bunny 2-D cartoon made in 1943 shows a greater
>> range of acting that in "Beowulf."

>
> You're comparing a 1943 comedy to a 2007 drama, and I don't think
> that's fair. That's like comparing a Three Stooges film to Zhang
> Yimou's Raise the Red Lantern. Their intentions are totally
> different.
>
>
>

>> Take away its gimmicks and you take away the power of this film to
>> attract a word-of-mouth audience. In its two weeks of release
>> "Beowulf" has earned $56.4 million. It has a long way to go to become
>> profitable. In the parlance of the industry, I doubt this film has
>> legs.

>
> "Gimmicky" Polar Express made less than $55 million after two weeks of
> release, and it finished with more than $150 million at the box
> office. That was with The Incredibles being released simulatenously.
>
> More later, since my movie's about to start.
>
> Terrence Briggs, watcing 2D Beowulf tomorrow, but the 3D version's
> definitely recommended.
> Peace to you...