http://blog.betz.org/entertainment/beowulf a journey through the very ordinary Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:17:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://blog.betz.org/entertainment/beowulf#comment-19 Review - Jumper | a journey through the very ordinary | betz.org Mon, 25 Feb 2008 02:30:55 +0000 http://blog.betz.org/entertainment/beowulf#comment-19 [...] movie was another one of those movies that sold me from the trailer. I think it was when I saw Beowulf that the trailer for Jumper came on and I got it in my head that I really wanted to see the movie. [...] […] movie was another one of those movies that sold me from the trailer. I think it was when I saw Beowulf that the trailer for Jumper came on and I got it in my head that I really wanted to see the movie. […]

]]> http://blog.betz.org/entertainment/beowulf#comment-14 sophie Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:36:39 +0000 http://blog.betz.org/entertainment/beowulf#comment-14 I agree with most of what you say. I have spent many years researching the Old English poem, and I was disappointed to find that the splendour and courtesy and polite language of the original had been almost completely lost, only to be replaced by vulgar speech and lustful conduct. Certainly, the animation was good, but there was hardly any storyline, and what was included was quite incomprehensible at some points. Granted, the writers had done some background research, and I thought this showed that they were at least serious in what they had undertaken to do. But the original poem is actually a historical account of the struggles between the different tribes and families of early Scandinavia. The monsters are actually a representation of real personages against whom 'Beowulf' was made, by the poet, to fight. There is no way that the audience of the original poem could have believed that the monsters were real or, indeed, terrifying. The poem is, quite simply, symbolic in its presentations. The poet used just the same dramatic techniques as our authors use today. Do we believe in werwolves? Does the fact that there is no such thing detract from our enjoyment of a story about men who undergo human-to-beast transformation? The poem is great literature. The audience of old was clever and refined, and accustomed to interpreting such devices as were used in presenting the story. None of this was apparent in the new Warner movie. It wasn't remotely scary, as far as I could see. In fact, I liked Christopher Lambert's version much better. At least it made some sense. And, to those who slated Angelina, I thought she quite stole the show. She and 'Wiglaf' were the only two characters who did not resort to speaking gibberish and acting like imbeciles. We are intelligent human beings. Do we need to be subjected to such rubbish? I agree with most of what you say. I have spent many years researching the Old English poem, and I was disappointed to find that the splendour and courtesy and polite language of the original had been almost completely lost, only to be replaced by vulgar speech and lustful conduct. Certainly, the animation was good, but there was hardly any storyline, and what was included was quite incomprehensible at some points. Granted, the writers had done some background research, and I thought this showed that they were at least serious in what they had undertaken to do. But the original poem is actually a historical account of the struggles between the different tribes and families of early Scandinavia. The monsters are actually a representation of real personages against whom ‘Beowulf’ was made, by the poet, to fight. There is no way that the audience of the original poem could have believed that the monsters were real or, indeed, terrifying. The poem is, quite simply, symbolic in its presentations. The poet used just the same dramatic techniques as our authors use today. Do we believe in werwolves? Does the fact that there is no such thing detract from our enjoyment of a story about men who undergo human-to-beast transformation? The poem is great literature. The audience of old was clever and refined, and accustomed to interpreting such devices as were used in presenting the story. None of this was apparent in the new Warner movie. It wasn’t remotely scary, as far as I could see. In fact, I liked Christopher Lambert’s version much better. At least it made some sense. And, to those who slated Angelina, I thought she quite stole the show. She and ‘Wiglaf’ were the only two characters who did not resort to speaking gibberish and acting like imbeciles. We are intelligent human beings. Do we need to be subjected to such rubbish?

]]> http://blog.betz.org/entertainment/beowulf#comment-9 kurtiigeek Wed, 05 Dec 2007 06:49:54 +0000 http://blog.betz.org/entertainment/beowulf#comment-9 I usually like movies done in CGI, not a big fan of 3D with the special glasses, but I had no desire to see this movie. And after reading the review, my decision is solidified. I usually like movies done in CGI, not a big fan of 3D with the special glasses, but I had no desire to see this movie. And after reading the review, my decision is solidified.

]]>