For months now, a bunch of us here at Geeks of Doom have been chatting it up together about the highly anticipated Robert Zemeckis-directed feature film Beowulf, which hits IMAX 3D, digital, and conventional theaters everywhere tomorrow (with select showings tonight).

The performance-capture film has a script by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary based on the Old English poem and stars Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover, Alison Lohman, and Angelina Jolie.

While that cast and crew is quite impressive, it seems like most of us have some apprehension about the use of performance-capture technology to create the entire film. Here’s some of our thoughts:

Empress Eve
Neil Gaiman breathed new life into myths and legends in his novel American Gods. Now, he’s co-scripted the upcoming Beowulf big-screen adaptation and if anyone can tackle the Old English epic, it’s him (oh how others have failed). That alone is enough to get me to the theater for this week, but it’s the pioneering animation that will get me to an IMAX 3D screening. While I think performance capture is an amazing advancement is filmmaking, I’m not sure how well I’ll adapt to it.

Tony D, Hardcore Film Guy
The animation already has my money for a 35mm projection on Sunday morning, as does the new Cloverfield trailer. I sure as hell hope I can see it on IMAX too at the Tropicana next time I go to Atlantic City. The animation and big screen has fifteen bucks from me.

Dave3
First, I’ve always been in awe of the Beowulf poem. It’s proto-literature. It’s the literary black bluesman to the evolution of rock ‘n roll. Its very existence inspired ye olde ‘modern’ fantasy genre. Second, it’s been adapted in large part by Neil Gaiman. Gaiman is one of my very favorite modern fantasy storytellers. He has often cited Beowulf as an influence, so I trust his (and co-writer Avary’s) scripted translation to be as good an adaptation we’re likely to get in this day and age. Third, seriously cherry-picked cast. C’mon, Hopkins as a King, Jolie as an unbelievably ugly/hot witch/temptress, and Crispen Glover as a crazed monster… I dare you to disagree? Fourth, IMAX. Before my recent trip to D.C., IMAX 3D was never a very large blip on my radar. But while I was on vacation I got the chance to see two shows in IMAX digital 3D, and I have to say, I’m fuckin’ sold. My days of going to the local cinema, paying crazy prices, and slumming it with the rabble (yeah, yeah, salt of the earth), are DONE! When I go to the theater I’m gonna be paying through the nose anyway, so if it’s playing in an IMAX theater, I am sooo going there instead.

Smed
When I first read Beowulf in junior high school, I had a vivid vision of a movie adaptation of the story. I was always looking forward to a big screen adaptation, and have always been surprised that some studio hadn’t attempt it, even though it potentially could be costly. So I anticipate seeing this when it lands in a movie screen here in the Twin Cities. I hope the animation doesn’t get in the way of the true heart of the myth. We shall see!

Meegatron
My Transformers glow has almost completely dimmed and it’s about time for another epic. I’m hoping that Beowulf will not disappoint (a la Spider-Man 3). Right now it’s a 50-50 shot for me. Let’s hope the CGI looks better in the theater than how it looks in the trailer — some of the scenes leave me slightly nauseous.

Dr. Royce Clemens
I’m optimistic yet wary about Beowulf, which I’ll be watching in a regular theater with regular people, and regular popcorn. None of this IMAX hooseafudge. Remember the last time a director in his fifties facing impending irrelevance got a hefty sum of money to play with new toys? We got Jar-Jar Binks.

The EnviroGeek
I look forward to seeing Sir Anthony Hopkins as an animated King Hrothgar and I want to hear Beowulf say, “I am Beowulf.” Also, because no trees were harmed in the making of this film.

Bad Monkey
The tale of Beowulf has been told and re-told for generations, and has inspired numerous works throughout the ages. This very modern approach to such an important epic promises to be an IMAX-worthy event that I am anxious to experience. A naked (albeit fully-digital) Angelina Jolie doesn’t hurt either.

Cinema Junkie
I just want to see it. Neil Gaiman’s work is always impressive. American Gods is a masterpiece. Great cast and one of the greatest stories of all time should be worthwhile.

Desdemona
Yes, I will be going to see Beowulf because I love the epic poem and am on a search to see a movie based on it that is good, unlike the sad try with Christopher Lambert. With Neil Gaiman as one of the screenplay writers I have high hopes for this one believing he will stick close to the original poem without taking to many Hollywood turns. I am however fearful of the whole CGI aspect. I believe a few scenes with special CGI effects might be called for and work, but the entire movie in CGI seems a bit of overkill and seems more like a way to try and sell to the masses who care more about the visual instead of relying on a great storyline.

Disco Volante
Disco declined to participate in this movie roundup, stating “I can assure you that in my lifetime, I will never see that film.”