Say WHAT?!
Aug. 6th, 2005 01:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ramblin_rosieWas just looking at the IMDb listing for Beowulf and Grendel, thinking it might be pretty good, when I came across this in the plot summary:
The monster, Grendel, is not a creature of mythic powers, but one of flesh and blood - immense flesh and raging blood, driven by a vengeance from being wronged, while Beowulf, a victorious soldier in his own right, has become increasingly troubled by the hero-myth rising up around his exploits. Beowulf's willingness to kill on behalf of Hrothgar wavers when it becomes clear that the King is more responsible for the troll's rampages than was first apparent. As a soldier, Beowulf is unaccustomed to hesitating. His relationship with the mesmerizing witch, Selma, creates deeper confusion. Swinging his sword at a great, stinking beast is no longer such a simple act.
And every medievalist yells, "WHAT?!"
[AND if you look at the credits list on the movie website, you'll find one identified as "Necrophile." That's wrong on SO many levels. Plus, Grendel has a father and a child, but no mother. Grah.]
This screenwriter obviously didn't read "The Monsters and the Critics" (and you should see what he has to say here about his approach to adapting the story). And given things Tolkien said about other movies in Letters, I can just imagine what his review would say--and precisely how sarcastic it would be. Shoot, I might write it for him if I'm forced to watch it for some reason.
Oy. PPCers, we may need a Beowulf division, and the first mission should be this movie (followed by all the 'Sues this Selma chick may inspire).
The monster, Grendel, is not a creature of mythic powers, but one of flesh and blood - immense flesh and raging blood, driven by a vengeance from being wronged, while Beowulf, a victorious soldier in his own right, has become increasingly troubled by the hero-myth rising up around his exploits. Beowulf's willingness to kill on behalf of Hrothgar wavers when it becomes clear that the King is more responsible for the troll's rampages than was first apparent. As a soldier, Beowulf is unaccustomed to hesitating. His relationship with the mesmerizing witch, Selma, creates deeper confusion. Swinging his sword at a great, stinking beast is no longer such a simple act.
And every medievalist yells, "WHAT?!"
[AND if you look at the credits list on the movie website, you'll find one identified as "Necrophile." That's wrong on SO many levels. Plus, Grendel has a father and a child, but no mother. Grah.]
This screenwriter obviously didn't read "The Monsters and the Critics" (and you should see what he has to say here about his approach to adapting the story). And given things Tolkien said about other movies in Letters, I can just imagine what his review would say--and precisely how sarcastic it would be. Shoot, I might write it for him if I'm forced to watch it for some reason.
Oy. PPCers, we may need a Beowulf division, and the first mission should be this movie (followed by all the 'Sues this Selma chick may inspire).
