Beowulf!

[ilikegir33]

So does anyone else want to see this movie? It looks awesome. I'm gonna see it probably today.

[K. Ayato]

I saw it with my sister and one of her friends. I won't spoil it, but the movie is nothing like the epic poem it was supposedly based on. Very big disappointment.

[LadyRushia]

I
AM
BEOWULF

and

THIS
IS
SPARTA!

Hmm, which one is better?

I dunno, the movie looks pretty cool, but I've never read the poem, so yeah.

[~darkelfgirl~]

Yep. It is way different from the epic poem (I'm still reeling from the study guide). Like usual, hehe.

[K. Ayato]

Should you go see this movie, be forewarned in that it REALLY pushes the limits of the PG-13 rating in terms of violence and nudity. And the fact that it's CG doesn't make it any better. It's still that extreme in those terms.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

I wouldn't say it was pushing the limits of PG13 so much as the ratings board saw "Hmm, Cartoon" and decided that no cartoon should never NOT be for kids. But yes, this movie should be rated R, fair warning.

As for the interpretation, I rather liked it. They added some interesting themes and expanded on others. Is it the original saga? Nah, not really. I found it utterly enjoyable, though. It seemed to be written from the perspective of, "this is what really happened and then the story changed as it was told and retold."

[Maledicte]

I didn't mind the story so much. It's just the way that it was told I didn't like.

What's really irritating to me is that for such a vast 3D animated movie, the main action only took place in one of two areas. A dining hall and a cave.

[Technomancer]

I came across an interesting essay on the new movie:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/kamiya/2007/11/20/beowulf/

[ilikegir33]

Should you go see this movie, be forewarned in that it REALLY pushes the limits of the PG-13 rating in terms of violence and nudity. And the fact that it's CG doesn't make it any better. It's still that extreme in those terms.

Your advice is totally right. I saw it and it was AWESOME! It wasn't the violence that was bad, it was the nudity. Angelina Jolie. In nothing but liquid gold. That's just...weird.

[Tenshi no Ai]

Of course it has to be Angelina Jolie

Still, I figured it wouldn't quite be like the poem, but still wanna see it

[K. Ayato]

Don't forget those spiked heel things attached to her feet.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

Of course it has to be Angelina Jolie

Still, I figured it wouldn't quite be like the poem, but still wanna see it

Of course. She's the archetypal temptress that draws you away from your lady!

[Tenshi no Ai]

Of course. She's the archetypal temptress that draws you away from your lady!

Personally, with Grendal being a dragon like monster (from what I remember) I always thought of his mother to being some cranky, naggy dragon-thing^^

[Puguni]

Personally, with Grendal being a dragon like monster (from what I remember) I always thought of his mother to being some cranky, naggy dragon-thing^^

LOL, nice image. "Do your homework! Go to your room!"

I didn't see the movie, but I laughed when in the trailer Beowolf said, "I am Beowolf," because it felt like the, "This is Sparta," line from 300.

[Felix]

I. AM. BEOWULF!! XD

I just saw it tonight. It wasn't terrible, but I was kinda dissapointed, because it felt like it really tarnished the spirit of the poem. But all well, it was still pretty cool, except for the aformentioned nudity, which was quite shocking to say the least. The animation was quite gorgeous. Many times I forgot that it was even animated.

[KBMaster]

My english class might go to see that. It's doubtful, however, since my teacher learned of Angelina's Jolie's nekkedness.

I, personally, will not see it unless a.) I can go on a school field trip for a low price or b.) it's on TV and nothing better is on.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

LOL, nice image. "Do your homework! Go to your room!"

I didn't see the movie, but I laughed when in the trailer Beowolf said, "I am Beowolf," because it felt like the, "This is Sparta," line from 300.

They totally chopped that whole line wrong in the commercials. When it's in the context of what scene it's really the culmination of a really cool speech.

Actually I think Grendel was pretty close to how he was described in the saga. Granted I haven't read the dang thing since World Lit I four years ago, but still.
Dragon meant different things to them than it does to us. Or at least it wasn't restricted to what we think of as dragons. Also, she did change forms as I recall. They hinted at her being a big reptilian dragon thing in the first scenes she was in where you were only getting a reflection. She was only humanoid for her dealings with humans. The second son also transformed. Grendels problem was that he appeared to be stuck between the two forms.

[mitsuki lover]

From the poem it would appear that Grendel and his mother were unthinking beasts than anything else.I would rather believe that they were something like our Big Foot in appearance.
Yes they did steal from the Danes,but they had no sense of the value of what they had stolen.
Over all though the importance of Beowulf is about the title character's heroism and self sacrifice.
Note:The dragon is from the end of Beowulf's life when he kills a lizard that is terrorizing the kingdom.
Further Note:Beowulf was a Geat and not a Dane.

[Doubleshadow]

I was unhappy when I saw this. I loved Beowulf, and I knew this would be another utter perversion of literature in the name of a easy buck.
I think the 300 and Beowulf look a lot like another retro trip to the 80's that's been the cultural fad recently. It's a return to the mind-numbing, uber-machismo that was in so many 80's movies; Rambo, Conan, BeastMaster, Rock and Roll Nightmare (easily the most awesomely bad movie I've ever seen, and only watched the final fight scene, but that's what happens when a horror movie is made by the lead singer of a Canadian metal band).

[Danyasaur]

Personally, I grew up reading some Beowulf - one book in particular - and from everything that I've heard of this movie I find it a disgusting perversion of Beowulf's character. I don't think I ever want to see it, even if 'other' parts are good.

Another childhood memory smashed underneath the careless hand of Hollywood....

[mathgrant]

Coincidentally, this movie was brought up in our youth group. Nobody seemed to think high school kids needed to be seeing it. XD Unfortunately, they had to. The teachers had no clue about the sexual crap. x.x

[Etoh*the*Greato]

Not really any sexual content. Just... Innuendo and lots of goldpaint covered Angelina Jolie.

[Myoti]

As for the interpretation, I rather liked it. They added some interesting themes and expanded on others. Is it the original saga? Nah, not really. I found it utterly enjoyable, though. It seemed to be written from the perspective of, "this is what really happened and then the story changed as it was told and retold."

This is how I preferred looking at it, and in that mindset I thought the movie was great; unfortunately everyone else I know that went to see it (and apparently many people here) on stuck on disliking because it didn't "follow the story" or, as some said, "tarnished/perversed the meaning of the poem."

Correct if I'm wrong, but wasn't the original story changed numerous times (mostly by the church)? How exactly then would anyone know what the actual "meaning" of the story was (if any)?

Actually I think Grendel was pretty close to how he was described in the saga.

Grendel was never really flat-out described; someone in one of our High School Lit. classes did a project where he made basically a collage of "hideous things" around a dark form, stating it as Grendel to go along with how his appearance was never totally told to us.

But yes, Grendel still seemed pretty well-handled.