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Patrick Kelly
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Posted: Fri 24 Sep, 2004 9:28 am Post subject: New Beowulf movie......... |
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It looks like we have a new Beowulf movie in the works. It would be great to see a quality production on this story.
http://www.beowulf-movie.com/
"In valor there is hope.".................. Tacitus
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Gabriel Stevens
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Posted: Fri 24 Sep, 2004 10:09 am Post subject: |
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You know I've only read parts of Beowulf, and that was a long time ago, but seeing the production design on this movie has gotten me interested in both the film and the story...
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Roger Hooper
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Posted: Fri 24 Sep, 2004 10:16 am Post subject: |
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Made in Iceland by Icelanders. It might turn out very well.
There is a discussion forum on that website where you can ask the director and writer questions. Perhaps some of us should engage them in a discussion about the weapons and armor they are using.
Besides the Anglo-Saxon Beowulf, wouldn't it be a great idea to try and turn some ot the Icelandic sagas into movies? Post LOTR, the studios might be more interested. Their literary style has such a "modern" ring and feel to them, that they are very accessible to us. Maybe Njal's Saga....
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Thomas Jason
Location: New Joisey Joined: 28 Jul 2004
Posts: 230
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Posted: Fri 24 Sep, 2004 10:39 am Post subject: |
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Looks great and from the storyboards it seems that they are making Grendel a sort of Neanderthal.
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Bill Grandy
myArmoury Team
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Posted: Fri 24 Sep, 2004 11:06 am Post subject: |
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The costume designs look like they've got some real potential here... (crossing fingers)
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Joe Fults
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Posted: Fri 24 Sep, 2004 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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Was all excited until I looked at the story boards.
Poor grendle the victem driven to revenge by the terrible Vikings.
Turning into a monster later.
I grow weary of the need to find an explaination or excuse for everything bad that happens. Can't a monster just be a monster anymore for the sake of being a monster anymore?
"The goal shouldn’t be to avoid being evil; it should be to actively do good." - Danah Boyd
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Alina Boyden
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Posted: Fri 24 Sep, 2004 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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Joe Fults wrote: | Was all excited until I looked at the story boards.
Poor grendle the victem driven to revenge by the terrible Vikings.
Turning into a monster later.
I grow weary of the need to find an explaination or excuse for everything bad that happens. Can't a monster just be a monster anymore for the sake of being a monster anymore? |
If you've read Beowulf in the original old english then you will know that he is not in fact, clearly a monster in the text. He is referred to in a number of ways, but due to the many double meanings in Anglo-Saxon english, the words could be interpreted as anything from beast to "unwanted houseguest." Grendel's motives are extremely important in many key passages of the poem, and the amount of emotion in those passages is tangible. The poem is rich in double meanings and really makes the reader think. Calling Grendel a monster is a gross oversimplification of a complex Anglo-Saxon character.
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Geoff Wood
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Posted: Fri 24 Sep, 2004 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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Alina Boyden wrote: | Calling Grendel a monster is a gross oversimplification of a complex Anglo-Saxon character. |
Doesn't do to mix your Latin with Anglo-Saxon
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Gary Grzybek
Location: Stillwater N.J. Joined: 25 Aug 2003
Posts: 559
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Posted: Fri 24 Sep, 2004 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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I only pray that the story stays somewhat on track.
It would also be nice to see some authentic clothing and weapons.
Well, it looks like there might be hope for this one
Gary Grzybek
ARMA Northern N.J.
www.armastudy.org
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Patrik Erik Lars Lindblom
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Joe Fults
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Posted: Fri 24 Sep, 2004 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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Alina Boyden wrote: | Joe Fults wrote: | Was all excited until I looked at the story boards.
Poor grendle the victem driven to revenge by the terrible Vikings.
Turning into a monster later.
I grow weary of the need to find an explaination or excuse for everything bad that happens. Can't a monster just be a monster anymore for the sake of being a monster anymore? |
If you've read Beowulf in the original old english then you will know that he is not in fact, clearly a monster in the text. He is referred to in a number of ways, but due to the many double meanings in Anglo-Saxon english, the words could be interpreted as anything from beast to "unwanted houseguest." Grendel's motives are extremely important in many key passages of the poem, and the amount of emotion in those passages is tangible. The poem is rich in double meanings and really makes the reader think. Calling Grendel a monster is a gross oversimplification of a complex Anglo-Saxon character. |
Old English...nope...not sure I ever have read Old English. At least not effectively. Frankly last time I read the poem I mainly notices what a pain in the rump it was to read.
Double meanings do not mean he is something other than a monster any more than they mean he is a monster.
This, like any interpretation, is a function of the time in which is is interpreted instead of the time in which it was created. If you take the time to look at the story boards and believe its true to the poem, then you will likely enjoy the movie. They are not true to the story I remember, which admittedly may or may not be true to the original poem. Thus I did not like what I saw.
"The goal shouldn’t be to avoid being evil; it should be to actively do good." - Danah Boyd
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Joel Chesser
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Posted: Fri 24 Sep, 2004 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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Hurray! I can't wait, this is one of my favorite stories. I have been waiting for another vikingish film to be made, though I guess Beowulf is anglosaxon isn't it? Oh well close enough for me! When does it come out?
..." The person who dosen't have a sword should sell his coat and buy one."
- Luke 22:36
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Alina Boyden
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Posted: Sat 25 Sep, 2004 12:58 am Post subject: |
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Joe Fults wrote: |
Old English...nope...not sure I ever have read Old English. At least not effectively. Frankly last time I read the poem I mainly notices what a pain in the rump it was to read.
Double meanings do not mean he is something other than a monster any more than they mean he is a monster.
This, like any interpretation, is a function of the time in which is is interpreted instead of the time in which it was created. If you take the time to look at the story boards and believe its true to the poem, then you will likely enjoy the movie. They are not true to the story I remember, which admittedly may or may not be true to the original poem. Thus I did not like what I saw. |
While it is true that interpretations are a function of the times, the poem left the question of whether Grendel was or was not a monster open ended. To think that this was merely a function of carelessness on the part of the author(s) is imho underestimating him(them). The fact that Grendel displayed super-human qualities did not make him less human. Beowulf was super-human as well and nobody considers him to be a monster in reading the story. Though I agree there was certainly something monstrous about the character Grendel.
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Patrik Erik Lars Lindblom
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Posted: Sat 25 Sep, 2004 6:50 am Post subject: |
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most of the stuff comes from Valentine Armouries of Calgary
http://www.varmouries.com/media/beowulf.html
If you want to look at some swords in movie action so do this,
and remember dont take any pictures there
and putt up somewhere, ok
click on Geatland link and use
USERNAME: Tonyfan
PASSWORD: Hondschioh
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Joe Fults
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Posted: Sun 26 Sep, 2004 12:37 am Post subject: |
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It is not the quality that in my opinion begs the question.
It is the application.
Regardless of motivation.
"The goal shouldn’t be to avoid being evil; it should be to actively do good." - Danah Boyd
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David McElrea
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Posted: Sun 26 Sep, 2004 4:11 am Post subject: |
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Like others here, it has been a long time since I last read Beowulf (fifteen years or so, anyway). With regards to Grendel's identity as "monster", I would agree with Alina that I recall a certain amount of pathos surrounding Grendel, particularly as touching on his mother's grief. Yet, ironically, the monstrosity of Grendel is seen most clearly in his mother, I think-- which is to say, while there may be more than one level to the character, he is still clearly a "monster", no? Physically he is described so, he dwells under the waters of a lake (or sea?), he is described as being descended from Cain and twisted by the devil, and so on. In like manner, his mother is twisted, although we can almost feel sympathy for her-- her situation is almost similar to the devil in Milton-- an abomination whom, because of the author's approach alone, could almost elicit some sympathy.
Just some thoughts
David
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Perry L. Goss
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Posted: Mon 27 Sep, 2004 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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Ya, I like de ponies! Fjords, ya!
Can't wait to see Heorot Hall either! Now that would be almost as good as the weapons/action! Mighty oaken timbers framed, tenoned and pegged, mighty spans of well seasoned wood bound in iron! Stoke the fires under the honey and the beer kettles wench!
"Drag out the meade benches"! "Beowulf" by Magnus Manusson circa 1987. It is required reading in our house at least once a year on a dark, cold, somber winter's eve!!! Best by firelight, ya!
Might inspire me for the latest timber framing project down on the Jack's Fork river!!!! Throw in a few copperheads by torch light and...........
Wonder how much longer after Pitt's new movie this will be?
My boys have 13th warrior memorized!
Scottish: Ballentine, Black, Cameron, Chisholm, Cunningham, Crawford, Grant, Jaffray, MacFarlane, MacGillivray, MacKay-Reay/Strathnaver, Munro, Robertson, Sinclair, Wallace
Irish/Welsh: Bodkin, Mendenhall, Hackworth
Swiss: Goss von Rothenfluh, Naff von Zurich und Solland von Appenzel
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Jeanry Chandler
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Joined: 07 Feb 2004
Posts: 62
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Posted: Mon 27 Sep, 2004 9:11 pm Post subject: Who grendel was |
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Alina Boyden wrote: | [
If you've read Beowulf in the original old english then you will know that he is not in fact, clearly a monster in the text. He is referred to in a number of ways, but due to the many double meanings in Anglo-Saxon english, the words could be interpreted as anything from beast to "unwanted houseguest." Grendel's motives are extremely important in many key passages of the poem, and the amount of emotion in those passages is tangible. The poem is rich in double meanings and really makes the reader think. Calling Grendel a monster is a gross oversimplification of a complex Anglo-Saxon character. |
I read an interesting theory on vikinganswerlady.com that grendel could have been an exiled berzerker...
JR
"A strong people do not ned a strong leader."
Emiliano Zapata
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Michael L Smith
Location: Mt. Pocono, PA Joined: 24 Aug 2003
Posts: 40
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Posted: Wed 29 Sep, 2004 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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(If you've read Beowulf in the original old english then you will know that he is not in fact, clearly a monster in the text.)
Contrary to this statement, it is quite obvious from the poem that Grendel is a monster. True, no one word in the text identifies Grendel as something translateable as "monster," but his physical description leaves no doubt as to his true nature. It takes four warriors to carry his head, he is incapable of being injured by man-made weapons, he has claws instead of hands, and he is descended from Cain as are giants, ogres, orcs, and other "gentle" souls.
Then there is his pyschological make-up. He eats people, he pays no wergild, attacks his victims while they're sleeping, and, most disturbing of all, he is a fatherless creature ie cannot be identified as somebody's son. To the Anglo-Saxon mind, this makes Grendel monstrous indeed.
In translating the Old English text, words cannot be taken out of context. Grendel is clearly a "bold demon out of darkness," "a cruel spirit," and not merely somebody's "unwanted houseguest" although this last phrase is an example of classic Anglo-Saxon use of ironic understatement describing someone who has broken into your house, killed your retainers, and wrecked all your furniture.
Regards
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Patrik Erik Lars Lindblom
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