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Posts: 55 · Joined: Oct 22, 2007 Location: Spinners End Posts: 55

Being an English major, I have read Beowulf many times, and was very excited to see the movie. Well I was kinda sorta excited because I was positive that Hollywood would screw it up somehow. After seeing the movie, I could not believe how ridiculous the changes were. In my English class, we compiled a list highlighting the major differences. (In no particular order)

1. Weird sexuality between Grendel and his mother.
2. Weird sexuality between Beowulf and his men (you know, the naked part with Wiglaf where the camera angle cleverly covers up “little Beowulf”)
3. Weird sexuality between Beowulf and the Queen (the crush in the beginning). Beowulf never had any love interest, but Hollywood has a rule that every movie has to have at least one love affair in it.
4. Portrayal of Hrothgar (really, a drunken suicidal fool. He does not kill himself nor was a drunk)
5. Making Grendel "emo" and the fact that he shows remorse and weakness
6. "I AM BEOWULF!" (at least 500 times)
7. The overuse of Christian imagery. The poet is religious, but he clearly mentions that all characters are pagan. (fending off the beast with a cross, the Queen wearing a cross necklace towards the end of the film, the mention of praying to Jesus in the beginning before Grendel’s 1st attacks)
8. Hrothgar is Grendels father, are you serious???
9. Beowulf is the dragon's father, are you even more serious??? Beowulf killed Grendel’s Mother
10. Beowulf apologizes to Unferth!!! (never gonna happen, EVER!)

I did think it was a cool movie with the excellent animation, but as far as following the book goes…well it didn’t.
Anyone have anything to add
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Posts: 16796 · Posted: November 26, 2007 7:04 pm Post subject:

I havne't seen the movie but I've seen trailers and I'm like ummm....why is grendel's mummy the "tarn hag" sexing up Beowulf? but 8 and 9..ummmm wtf? so I'm taking it its not worth seeing? haha.
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Posts: 10258 · Joined: Aug 1, 2007 Location: Sharon, PA Posts: 10258

I was raelly excited about this movie, but now I don't think that I want to see it. Beowul was great the way it was, and it would have translated to a movie well IMO. By the way, did you guys know that Beowuls can be found in the historical section of the bookstore, instead of in the historical fictions section. I found this interesting, considering that Beowulf isn't fact, but actually a work of fiction.
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Posts: 55 · Joined: Oct 22, 2007 Location: Spinners End Posts: 55

^^^
The historical section, I wonder who decided on that.
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Posts: 74 · Joined: Nov 23, 2007 Location: Rohnert Park, CA Posts: 74

Some things could've been changed to be more historical. I agree that I enjoyed the literature more than the film. I agree, the strange relationship between Grendel and his mother could've been cleaned up a bit...

Posts: 8561 · Posted: December 4, 2007 4:09 pm Post subject:

I think if you haven't read the poem, the movie is very good, but if you have you're like

Wow...this kinda sucks

That was my reaction....but I love the poem
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Posts: 2901 · Posted: July 19, 2008 12:17 pm Post subject:

yeah, i think the movie is cool (just watched it with my friends this morning) but i was surprised when i read the poem coz it seemed different. i felt a bit disturbed about the movie's making beowulf the dad of the dragon and in the end beowulf killed his own kid. eww... Confused

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Posts: 3319 · Joined: Mar 3, 2008 Posts: 3319

I've read the poem before. I thought the differences were extremely big. I thought the poem and the movie were very different from each other, they changed some stuff up. But in the end it was a good movie though.
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Posts: 137 · Joined: Jul 15, 2008 Posts: 137

I read the story for a class. I couldn't bring myself to go and see the movie, considering the previews for it. I knew it was going to be awful the moment I saw that Angelina Jolie was in it. She's a wonderful actress, but she most definitely isn't a demon.
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Posts: 16796 · Posted: July 22, 2008 1:47 am Post subject:

^haha I felt the same thing. I Felt like I was going mad when I knew she would be all sexy in it.
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