Who’s responsible? Robert Zemeckis (director), Ray Winstone (Beowulf), Anthony Hopkins (Hrothgar), John Malkovich (Unferth), Angelina Jolie (Grendel’s Mother)

When can we see it? November 16, 2007

What’s it about? The original English epic presented in cutting-edge, motion-capture computer animation. Beowulf fights monsters, dragons, and Angelina Jolie?!

What looks good? The character animation looks impressive, especially compared to the doll-eyed zombie children on view in The Polar Express. The designs look convincingly Anglo-Saxon, the cinematography looks rich, subtle, and distinctively un-cartoony, and Grendel (who will speak all his lines in Old English) looks like one nasty son of a bitch.

What looks bad? Angelina Jolie plays Grendel’s Mother, which suggests they’re taking considerable liberties with the source material. Computers still can’t simulate fire convincingly, or water, or horses, or . . .

Worth seeing? All signs point to “Yes.”

Worth GOING to see? Yes. You can’t get 3-D IMAX in your living room. (Yet.)

Where can I see the trailer? HERE

Who’s responsible? Bryan Singer (director), Brandon Routh (Superman), Kevin Spacey (Lex Luthor), Kate Bosworth (Lois Lane)

When can we see it? June 30, 2006

What’s it about? Returning after a mysterious absence of several years, Superman finds that Lois Lane now has a son and a new boyfriend and that Lex Luthor now has new plans for world domination and superhero annihilation.

What looks good? They seem to have nailed just the right tone for the material: take it seriously but keep it fun. Kevin Spacey does more acting with a nuance of tone in his voice than most actors can do with a whole career. The effects look superb.

What looks bad? Brandon Routh seems a bit wooden in the title role. And since when is Superman’s cape made out of rubber?

Worth seeing? All signs point to “Yes.”

Worth GOING to see? It damn well better be.

Where can I see the trailer? Here