Thursday, November 29, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Beowulf- thumbs DOWN!
This was a horrible, horrible movie. I hated it, every minute. The pseudo animation was distracting and inconsistent. Sometimes it would be good, sometimes it would be bad and look cartoon-y or choppy. The characters had no facial expressions, just eyebrows that would jump around their faces.
Worst, however, by far, was the "point" of the movie. I have no idea how the writers/directors managed to keep the same basic plot points, but completely reverse every motive, reason, and theme.
The original story was a Norse oral tradition, written down by a Christian monk. It's a hero myth. It's supposed to illustrate the values of the society, demonstrate how a "good" person should behave- kings, women, countrymen and heroes. In this movie, however, nothing of the sort is established. He didn't have confidence and faith in God/gods, he was a braggart who often failed in his claims. His men didn't leave him when they lost faith in him, but instead were slaughtered while he slept. He wasn't a humble man, simply stating truths which happened to be valorous deeds- he was a liar, and failed to resist temptation. Hrothgar's queen wasn't a noble, generous and gentle woman- she was a cowardly harridan, refusing her lord's bed- both of them. Hrothgar himself wasn't a a good and kind king, but a "shamed," cowardly drunken lecher. I would have been willing to allow the director of this modern version to imply that values have changed, and that THIS Beowulf demonstrates "modern" values, and is a hero we would look up to today. But he's not.
On nearly every single point, this movie made Beowulf out to be a loser, a sham, a con artist, instead of the shining and glorious hero he was. The society's values were not demonstrated at all. A golden drinking horn became a treasured object, instead of the swords and weaponry of the poem. Oddly, the weapons DID fail Beowulf, as they did in the poem, but this lack was not made up by his faith in God and his supremely noble character- instead, he just plain failed. Even his "bare hands" fight didn't come out right- it was never revealed that the reason Beowulf could overcome Grendel in this manner was because of the enchanted bracelet, which prevented steel from harming the monster. In fact, in the movie, Beowulf did not rip out Grendel's arm with the sheer strength of his grip, but had to get leverage on it with a chain, a door, and the help of one of his men!
I fail to understand the point of this movie. What is the director trying to tell me? It's not that morals have changed all that much and that a "modern" Beowulf would behave differently- he doesn't live up to modern ideals, either. It is supposed to be a commentary on modern society? That we value gold, not heroic deeds, in contrast to what we claim to value? I'd buy that if it ever actually got clarified, but it didn't, and such condemnations are normally satires, which this was not. I thought maybe it was trying to be told from the monsters' point of view, but that's not quite it either. All it does is paint Beowulf as a flawed, tragic figure- no hero at all. And I simply fail to see why that is significant or important to audiences. As an excuse to blow stuff up and have pretty special effects? Sure, if the effects were actually all that great looking. They weren't. All I could figure out was it was a nice way to make Angelina Jolie look naked. Whoopdie freakin do.
There's nothing wrong with the original, epic poem. It's a classic for a reason. That story is WORTH getting out to entertain, enrich, and enlighten, worth showing people how our ancestors viewed the ultimate meaning of life. The poem has endured for nearly 12 centuries. It horrifies me to think that millions of people will associate this Beowulf with the heroic Geat of the Viking era.
Worst, however, by far, was the "point" of the movie. I have no idea how the writers/directors managed to keep the same basic plot points, but completely reverse every motive, reason, and theme.
The original story was a Norse oral tradition, written down by a Christian monk. It's a hero myth. It's supposed to illustrate the values of the society, demonstrate how a "good" person should behave- kings, women, countrymen and heroes. In this movie, however, nothing of the sort is established. He didn't have confidence and faith in God/gods, he was a braggart who often failed in his claims. His men didn't leave him when they lost faith in him, but instead were slaughtered while he slept. He wasn't a humble man, simply stating truths which happened to be valorous deeds- he was a liar, and failed to resist temptation. Hrothgar's queen wasn't a noble, generous and gentle woman- she was a cowardly harridan, refusing her lord's bed- both of them. Hrothgar himself wasn't a a good and kind king, but a "shamed," cowardly drunken lecher. I would have been willing to allow the director of this modern version to imply that values have changed, and that THIS Beowulf demonstrates "modern" values, and is a hero we would look up to today. But he's not.
On nearly every single point, this movie made Beowulf out to be a loser, a sham, a con artist, instead of the shining and glorious hero he was. The society's values were not demonstrated at all. A golden drinking horn became a treasured object, instead of the swords and weaponry of the poem. Oddly, the weapons DID fail Beowulf, as they did in the poem, but this lack was not made up by his faith in God and his supremely noble character- instead, he just plain failed. Even his "bare hands" fight didn't come out right- it was never revealed that the reason Beowulf could overcome Grendel in this manner was because of the enchanted bracelet, which prevented steel from harming the monster. In fact, in the movie, Beowulf did not rip out Grendel's arm with the sheer strength of his grip, but had to get leverage on it with a chain, a door, and the help of one of his men!
I fail to understand the point of this movie. What is the director trying to tell me? It's not that morals have changed all that much and that a "modern" Beowulf would behave differently- he doesn't live up to modern ideals, either. It is supposed to be a commentary on modern society? That we value gold, not heroic deeds, in contrast to what we claim to value? I'd buy that if it ever actually got clarified, but it didn't, and such condemnations are normally satires, which this was not. I thought maybe it was trying to be told from the monsters' point of view, but that's not quite it either. All it does is paint Beowulf as a flawed, tragic figure- no hero at all. And I simply fail to see why that is significant or important to audiences. As an excuse to blow stuff up and have pretty special effects? Sure, if the effects were actually all that great looking. They weren't. All I could figure out was it was a nice way to make Angelina Jolie look naked. Whoopdie freakin do.
There's nothing wrong with the original, epic poem. It's a classic for a reason. That story is WORTH getting out to entertain, enrich, and enlighten, worth showing people how our ancestors viewed the ultimate meaning of life. The poem has endured for nearly 12 centuries. It horrifies me to think that millions of people will associate this Beowulf with the heroic Geat of the Viking era.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Life list-updated and imporved
My mother recently called to ask me for my Christmas list. Trying to tell myself I'm not a greedy little kid for making out a list, particularly since it was requested, I thought about what I might like. In the end, I did my best but also admitted that I really do like whatever they pick out for me, since my family tends to have much better taste than I do.
It sort of became a philosophical question, the more I thought about it. What DO I want? Not just for Christmas, but for my life? And then, what did I want to accomplish?
After sending off the email which basically listed my clothing sizes, favorite stores, colors, and scents, I pulled out my old "Things to do before I die" list, to see how I'm doing and what's changed. I think it's time to update it, going to put down the checked off stuff first:
XX Learn to knit (Did this! And found I really, really love it)
XX Sit front row center at a concert (Did this, by accident! Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
X Own home (Sort of did this. Had a condo, sold it.)
XX Go back to school (Did this! Bachelor's degree)
X Fall in love (Obviously, I should have added "forever" as a descriptor. Still, beggars can't be choosers, and I'm glad I had the experience.)
X Publish a book (Again, I should have been more specific. Will add "novel" and "in paperback" in a different entry.
Get lasic for eyes
Achieve high school weight
Learn to play the fiddle
Places to visit:
XX Las Vegas
Australia
Smithsonian
Grand Canyon
Paris
London
Find waterfall with a cave under it
Publish a paperback (or Hardback) novel
Go scuba diving
Get "Master" certification in crochet and knitting from Crochet and Knitting Guilds.
Broker World Peace
Own yarn shop (frankly, I think world peace is more likely)
In trying to compile, amend, and update this list, it's become pretty clear that I've been pretty lucky. I've been able to do pretty much everything I'd like to do, and the rest of it really isn't that far out of reach. Maybe I'll never win the lottery or anything, and I don't think anyone could do everything they want to do, but I've done a lot of things I never thought I'd do, stuff I didn't even know I wanted to do. I've learned how to make soap and candles, and brew my own mead, wine, and alcohol. I'm learning how to bellydance, and I've earned an Award of Arms in the SCA. I get to go camping several times a year. I have wonderful friends. My family is fantastic, loving and supportive.
I'd like to think this epiphany means I'll be a happy, content person, grateful for my many blessings, and I shall now live happily ever after.
Ya, right.
It sort of became a philosophical question, the more I thought about it. What DO I want? Not just for Christmas, but for my life? And then, what did I want to accomplish?
After sending off the email which basically listed my clothing sizes, favorite stores, colors, and scents, I pulled out my old "Things to do before I die" list, to see how I'm doing and what's changed. I think it's time to update it, going to put down the checked off stuff first:
XX Learn to knit (Did this! And found I really, really love it)
XX Sit front row center at a concert (Did this, by accident! Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
X Own home (Sort of did this. Had a condo, sold it.)
XX Go back to school (Did this! Bachelor's degree)
X Fall in love (Obviously, I should have added "forever" as a descriptor. Still, beggars can't be choosers, and I'm glad I had the experience.)
X Publish a book (Again, I should have been more specific. Will add "novel" and "in paperback" in a different entry.
Get lasic for eyes
Achieve high school weight
Learn to play the fiddle
Places to visit:
XX Las Vegas
Australia
Smithsonian
Grand Canyon
Paris
London
Find waterfall with a cave under it
Publish a paperback (or Hardback) novel
Go scuba diving
Get "Master" certification in crochet and knitting from Crochet and Knitting Guilds.
Broker World Peace
Own yarn shop (frankly, I think world peace is more likely)
In trying to compile, amend, and update this list, it's become pretty clear that I've been pretty lucky. I've been able to do pretty much everything I'd like to do, and the rest of it really isn't that far out of reach. Maybe I'll never win the lottery or anything, and I don't think anyone could do everything they want to do, but I've done a lot of things I never thought I'd do, stuff I didn't even know I wanted to do. I've learned how to make soap and candles, and brew my own mead, wine, and alcohol. I'm learning how to bellydance, and I've earned an Award of Arms in the SCA. I get to go camping several times a year. I have wonderful friends. My family is fantastic, loving and supportive.
I'd like to think this epiphany means I'll be a happy, content person, grateful for my many blessings, and I shall now live happily ever after.
Ya, right.
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