I am Beowulf! He shouts. He should have followed it with, “and I’ve been completely rewritten.” For several years, we’ve treated ourselves to a family movie on Thanksgiving (as our extended family celebrates on Friday) before our traditional Tofurky feast. In preparation for our chosen film, I got out the copy of Beowulf we had around the house, I’m thinking I’d not read it before. (The lovely Belladonna has a review and an excellent article linked and read March Hare's thoughts too)
It was lovely to read and I was ready. Now, admittedly, I’m a wimp when it comes to blood and gore, but I spent a large part of the movie with my face covered, but the visuals were stunning, and 3D has sure advanced recently. (since I’ve not seen 300, this was the first time with that technology).
I became concerned when I realized they’d just insinuated something, then sat slack jawed as Beowulf failed to complete his second task from the story, and was pretty numb by the “twist” at the end. As the credits rolled, I turned to Eddie and said, “That was worse than rewriting the end of “The Scarlet Letter.”
However, it’s always a joy to see a movie with my crew, and we ate well and enjoyed our family visit on Friday, and had a lovely meal with the Mousethiefs on Saturday (thanks again!) It’s cold here, we may even get snow.
(photo credit)
posted by Mimi @ 11/26/2007 03:47:00 PM
11 Comments
11 Comments:
Mimi, we are debating whether or not to see this movie or wait till it comes out on DVD. Thanks for your post.
BTW,how'd your tofurky turn out?
Very good, thanks! I find them quite yummy and my Dh is an amazing cook.
Although, I have to admit, I was touched when Ds was asked what his favorite part of the meal was, and he said it was a tie between my Dh's homemade pumpkin pie, and my homemade rolls.
Yikes, are you saying they changed the story?? I hate when they do that.
I'm squeamish, so this movie is NOT for me. But I might be up for a reread. Got a good translation you can recommend?
I have not gone to the movies since the Return of the King (well, there WAS Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy - but I walked out of that one so it doesn't count. The BBC tv version was so much better).
Anyway, I was indeed tempted by Beowulf but the reports of violence steered me away - and it sounded like they really did rewrite the story anyway.
I would be interested in a translation recommendation as well.
My sister went for her Turkey movie night to this one too and said she spent a lot of the time watching and saying WHA?!!!
I've never read it and have no intention of seeing it because I'm not a fan of the cartoony look but I am sure the kid will want to rent it at some point.
Beowulf was always my husband's favorite OE epic. In fact, he chose "beowulf" as his user ID for his email address. Our daughter found an excellent translation that is probably, and unfortunately, out of print. However, if you can find an old bookstore (do they still exist?), or know someone who searches for rare or out of print books, here's the information on the book:
Kennedy, Charles W. _Beowulf The Oldest English Epic_. Oxford University Press, New York, 1940. Fourth Printing 1950.
"Lo, we have listened to many a lay...."
Thank you for the suggestion, my local library has it! This version was published in 1978:
Beowulf, the oldest English epic translated into alliterative verse with a critical introduction by Charles W. Kennedy.
by Kennedy, Charles W. (Charles William), 1882-1969./Beowulf.
Thanks!
Suzanne - thank you for the recommendation, and Catherine, I'm so glad your library has it.
The version we have around is by Burton Raffel, but I've also seen one by one of my favorite Irish Poets, Seamus Haney, but not read it.
I wasn't planning on seeing this - I knew they'd change it. It's as if the producers can't understand that if a story has been around 1000 years it might just be good enough the way it is. I went to see 'Troy' a couple of years ago and cringed most of the way through it for the same reason.
I'm having a hard time figuring out whether to go see this or not. There was another movie of the story in 2005 called "Beowulf and Grendel" and it was supremely awful, even managed to be boring. Let alone thrashing the original story as if it needed that subtle Hollywood touch (managed to get a "love interest" angle in there, if you can call it that.) Things like that leave such a bad aftertaste! But maybe I'll rent this one when it comes out on DVD.
(Blogspot isn't letting me sing in, but this is Grace :-) )
"The BBC tv version was so much better"
Isn't that true about almost everything?
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