Beowulf-Robert Zemeckis's Interpretation

Beowulf:-Fact or Fiction
Robert Zemeckis’s production of Beowulf,admittedly is visually stunning piece of cinematography,largely attributed to some innovative and ground-breaking special effects that he first used in ‘Polar Express’.Certainly when you first see it; the propulsive action and special effects grab your attention,but that is where it all ends.The story of Beowulf’s heroic deeds is flimsy and shallow dressed up in glorious 3-d techno graphics and fed to the unsuspecting public as a true story. In this new interpretation of an archaic Danish Anglo-Saxon poem Robert Zemeckis fails miserably to interpret his personality in an soulful way-his heroic deeds are full of contradictions and lack any definition.
I never actually read this poem at school-I was made to read Chaucer but I made a point of checking up on a few facts before I wrote this. Anyway to get back to Beowulf the screenplay has been written by Neil Garmain(Stardust) and Roger Avary(Pulp Fiction, Silent Hill),and they do really good job in modernizing certain aspects of this classic story. But the fact remains that Garmain,Avary and Zemeckis loose it all some-where along the line. They seem to be unable to portray Beowulf either as a hero or a villain-he seems to be a mish mash of both. Basically in my opinion there are too many flaws in Zemeckis’s interpretation of the poem and left me very unedified when I left the cinema. Beowulf is portrayed in a very negative light-he is the kind of human being who is a liar, dishonest, a cheat and a blaggard.Plus he is an egomaniac as he expects people to applaud him when does something exceptional. I think that Zemeckis was over confident when he chose to infuse this 6th century poem with an aura of heightened sexuality, bawdy humour and drunken revelery.
I suppose if you have read this far down then I might as well tell you the story. Briefly, taking into account all the unsubtle changes made by the screenwriters it goes as follows; King Hrothgar’s and his long suffering teenage wife Wealthrow are attacked by a demon called Grande-he brutally dismembers and devours most of the King’s men but spares the weak-willed monarch. Here comes the twist in the tale-Grendel is also Hrothgar’s son conceived after his brief liaison with Grendel’s mother who is a half fish demon and can disguise herself as a beautiful siren. In order to rid his kingdom of Grendel Hothead calls for a hero to save them and that is how Beowulf enter’s the story.
Beowulf and his Geatsmen arrive on the Danish shores determined to get rid of this demon. Handsome and courageous and ever boastful Beowulf strips down for an almighty head on clash with the equally partially dressed but much less photogenic Grendel in Hrothgar’s great hall.The fight sequence is brilliant and impressive with its acrobatic choreography and Beowulf wins this battle and kills the demon.
Having disposed of Grendel Beowulf incurs the wrath of Grendel’s mother who will want to avenge her son’s death. Beowulf sets out to destroy her in her cavernous liar.The mother is played by Angelina Joliet in a full on seductress mode; this reptilian goddess makes a truly show-stopping entrance –her nude smeared body stalking into the picture frame in stiletto heels.
In the most significant departure from the original text Beowulf makes a deadly pact with her and spares her life in return for Hrothgar’s kingdom. As purist and a scholar I actually disagree with this 21st century twist but it conveniently connects the film’s first half with all that takes place in the second half decades later.
I don’t doubt that the film makers tried their best to realize this dream of an adult fantasy epic-but the whole picture is seeps sexuality when its not concerned with ripping out limbs and disemboweling people. Also the fact that for any tale of heroism to work people have to actually like the hero but in this modern interpretation Beowulf is not that kind of a guy he dos not appeal to the cinema going audiences.
Finally incentivised by extra money from the 3-D coffers the giant screen format maximizes the film’s dramatic assaultive drive.If you are going to watch it then go to a 3-D Imax advancement cinema for the full benefits of the technical side. Much of the film is shot in torch lit interiors in the frozen Nordic Landscape, the fiery blue storb effect for Grendel’s first attack are especially striking. They will make you leave the cinema shouting I am Beowulf !