The LA Times has the first official look at Beowulf, the upcoming Robert Zemeckis-directed performance-capture film.

The article gives descriptions of key scenes from the film, as well as some commentary from co-screenwriter Neil Gaiman, and delves into some of the motion-capture filmmaking process.

Based on the Old English poem, the movie stars Ray Winstone as the title character, a warrior who slays the demon Grendel (Crispin Glover), then incurs the wrath of Grendel’s mother (Angelina Jolie). Anthony Hopkins, as the corrupt King Hrothgar, stars along with John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Allison Lohman, and Brendan Gleeson.

Beowulf will be in conventional and IMAX theaters on November 16, 2007.