Sometimes it's easier than others to write an objective review. We admit that, faced with a host of CGI monsters and dragons generic enough to have appeared in many another fantasy drama, it's difficult. The problem is that, devoid of an affinity to beasts of this sort, the fantasy tropes, or - to put it unkindly - the similarities between all the stories, render it difficult to tell them apart.
So is this good fantasy or bad fantasy? Well it's more enjoyable froth, if you like fantasy. One thing it isn't is 'Beowulf', as in the early Middle-English poem/story. As is currently common, it takes the classic as some very basic source material and weaves a new bunch of episodes around it. One thing it is, therefore, is similar to most other tales. Old warrior is waning, so young(ish) warrior prepares to assume power and undertakes a journey, but there are rivals to his claim etc. etc. It's at 7pm, so the younger kids should be in bed and the adults not yet on the sofa. We'd suggest it's not going to convert any dragon-haters, but should please dragon-lovers well enough.
Just have to say that Joanne Whalley looks great (and not mucked about with surgically, praise be). If nothing else, fantasy does at least have strong roles for mature actresses that don't require them to look either underage or like someone's great-grandmother.
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