Beowulf -- with Neil Gaiman involved!

[CalliArcale]

About ten years ago, the first full-length movie adaptation of "Beowulf" was attempted. Now, "Beowulf" is generally regarded as the oldest piece of English literature, although this requires a fairly liberal definition of "English" and an oddly exclusive view of "oldest". <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> Still, it's widely taught. Thus, it was always rather surprising that nobody's made a movie of it. There was an animated adaptation of the book "Grendel", which tells the story from Grendel's perspective, but that's not quite the same thing. (And is only part of the story, since of course Grendel dies well before it's over.)<br /><br />So I was very excited when "Beowulf" was attempted in the 90s. I was a little worried when I heard they were reinventing it as a post-apocalyptic futuristic sci-fi thing, but hey, "Forbidden Planet" worked as a reinventing of "The Tempest", so why not? I was a little more worried when I heard that it would star Christopher Lambert. He's not a bad actor, really, but he's been in an awful lot of stinkburgers. And then the movie's predicted release date came and went. Then it was finally released. Direct to video. In Singapore only. Ouch! It's out on DVD now, but I haven't been able to bring myself to pick it up and watch it yet.....<br /><br />Anyway, it seems that a new attempt has been made. I found it when looking to see what Neil Gaiman's been up to lately. He wrote the screenplay, which is a HUGE mark in its favor. It's pretty star-studded, which may be a bad sign (some of those movies end up blowing their budget on the talent and end up having to seriously rush production), but I'm optimistic anyway. The pictures at the IMDB look very nice. A good Viking look. Robert Zemeckis is the director. It's definitely a big-budget shot at the classic story.<br /><br />Beowulf<br /><br />Next question: can they cope with retelling the story in a way that doesn <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

Dude, and it's gonna be in IMAX 3D. Wow. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[etavaunt]

Ah, finally some good movies in the line up. And RAY WINSTONE AS BEOWULF ! ! ! ! ! !. Say no more, say no more!.<br /><br />Did you ever see "The thirteenth warrior" with Mr Banderas?. That was a retelling of Beowulf and I thought a pretty handy one.<br /><br />The feats of strength were perfectly explicable!. He was the Great Ring-giver, and had the strength of ten men in each hand!.<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /><br /><br />I always thought of that as a poetic explaination of the fact that, in those days of uncertain laws, and warfare, he could throw the strength of ten men whom stood at his right hand, and ten men whom stood at his left hand, into any arm-wreastling that he wanted done. <br />Other men might have lawfully commanded an army, but the Great Ring-giver commanded something vaster, more human, didn't he?. HE had two hands worth of hearts, minds AND arms, happy to do his will as their own.<br /><br />Anyway, you know something, you are a one in a million person, your husband is as lucky a man that lives, and we are proud that you deign to moderate our squabbles. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />You are kind to dogs, like Dr Who, love to learn things, and I don't know what else virtuous, I think if you didn't exist, we would have to invent someone like you, to be our Captain here.<br /><br />(so there)<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[derekmcd]

You do realize it is an animation, right? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>

 

[a_lost_packet_]

The animation looks good though. May be interesting. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1">I put on my robe and wizard hat...</font> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

Hey, you've got a good point about the strength thing. That makes perfect sense!<br /><br />Now try to explain the hyperbole in the "Song of Roland", where the guy takes about two dozen pages to finally die, all the while slaughtering Moors (sometimes running through three at once with a single sword stroke). <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /><br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Did you ever see "The thirteenth warrior" with Mr Banderas?. That was a retelling of Beowulf and I thought a pretty handy one. <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Yes, I loved it. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> It's actually based on a book called "Eaters of the Dead," by Michael Crichton. Which itself was inspired (partly) by Beowulf. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />As for the rest of your post...<br /><br />Gosh. *blushes* You are very kind, EtAvaunt. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> This place is way too cool for me to ever want to leave. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[Aetius]

<i>Song Of Roland</i> is cool, though, in a Conan The Barbarian sort of way. Roland's magical sword Durendal could cut through solid rock, after all. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[jmilsom]

Link to aTrailer<br /><br />Yes. Indeed. This does look promising. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[etavaunt]

<img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />What I loved in 13th warrior, was the looks on his face when he was watching them chose the warriors. <br />"Look at these barbarians, all excited by the ceremony. What would possess them to jump up, hehehe, I would like to see them trick me into being such a chump".<br />*Witch woman says something. Everyone looks at him*<br /><br />And then the most amusing series of facial expressions.<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />I thought it was a very good story indeed.<br /><br />This trailer for Beowulf, really is something else. CGI has come such a long way, in the last few years, hasn't it?.

 

[CalliArcale]

I am hugely anticipating it. I have noticed that it will be available in IMAX 3D. There is an IMAX 3D theater near my home, so I might have to try for that one. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />I just hope I manage to see it in the theater. With the urchins, it's a challenge. My must-see movie list is pretty long, and unfortunately not many movies manage to get off the list. (This year I've seen Harry Potter and, um, well, that's the only one I've seen in an actual theater.) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[etavaunt]

My elder brother has two young kiddies, and a young wife. He had been used to living like a billionare, and being curtailed into a home has crimped his fuse somewhat.<br />A movie came out, and his wife and he wanted to see it, (Him , really really actually, her, so so) I said I would babysit the sleeping kiddies, it was only three hours all up, off they go.<br />As they walked into the show, thunder and lightning burst out. She sat there for ten minutes, and he knew what was going through her head "Do you want to go home?".<br /><br />Yep. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Even though the kids slept right through it, AND Tigger was there for them if they awoke, with minute instruction and miles of stuff for them, she couldn't be content.<br />I have not bothered to offer again.<br /><br />Perfectly understandable, but silly also. Biology, I guess.

 

[a_lost_packet_]

I had a friend of mine that would sometimes burst into tears when leaving her kids at home while under the care of a babysitter. It took years for her to be able to actually enjoy herself while away from her kids for even a short time. Even then, there was always hesitancy. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1">I put on my robe and wizard hat...</font> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Perfectly understandable, but silly also. Biology, I guess. <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Well, in my case is more of a pragmatic thing. My baby still won't go more than 2 hours between feedings, and I'm breastfeeding. I am reluctant to skip a feeding. My mom's got a good stockpile of my milk in her fridge and freezer, especially now that the baby's starting to eat solids, but I worry about not making enough milk when I'm using the pump at work.<br /><br />So once the baby is weaned, I will not have this problem. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[etavaunt]

Oh, I didn't mean bad silly, it was just that , even though she felt bad dragging him back, AND wasting my evening AND knew perfectly well she didn't have to worry, she had no choice but to do it.<br />She knew she was upsetting everyone, but her biologic logic over ruled her mental logic.<br /><br />The little bloke is still breast feeding, but he will take a bottle, which I had there. Actually, his dad and grandad give him steak lumps to chew on, which he ABSOLUTELY loves. His Nanna and his mum, however, get all grumpy about it. I have been told not to think the I could do it without getting a ckick in the nuts, but Grand-dad and Daddy just laugh the women off.<br /><br />(When they give it to him, he is in his high-chair, and someone with him the whole time. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> Really funny to see the little carnivore squeek and snatch at the lump of cow.)