Fridae

The must-watch movie of the week is the spectacular animated epic Beowulf, which takes you to the mythical world of Viking warriors and monsters battling it out to a bitter, bloody end. With an Oscar-winning cast and an Oscar-winning director, Beowulf is one of the best fantasy features since The Lord of the Rings.

Based on a classic poem, it tells the spellbinding tale of a Viking warrior Beowulf (Ray Winstone) who rescues King Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins) and his queen (Robin Wright Penn) from a giant monster called Grendel (Crispin Glover). After Beowulf succeeds in wounding Grendel, the monster goes crying to its mother (Angelina Jolie) who begins to plots her revenge...

Directed by Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump), Beowulf uses a state-of-the-art animation technique called photo-realism which renders digitally-drawn characters in extreme life-like fashion. As a result, you see famous actors like Angelina Jolie and Anthony Hopkins in their hyper-realistic cartoon forms � acting, moving and emoting as if they were the human actors themselves.

The battle sequences, especially the finale, simply have to be seen. Director Robert and screenwriters Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary up the sex factor by having Beowulf battle the monster completely in the nude. And believe us, the sight of a buff cartoon running, jumping and thrusting his sword will warm the loins of many a gay man. Meanwhile, seeing nude Angelina Jolie in high heels may also do the same for the girls.

Folks, don't miss it.