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Robert Zemeckis to Direct Beowulf Movie
jangobongo writes "Robert Zemeckis, who directed the Polar Express and Back To The Future among many others, will helm a new remake of the epic tale of Beowulf. Sony Pictures is in discussions to distribute the picture. (This version is unrelated to another remake scheduled to be released in 2005 titled Beowulf & Grendel, which is currently in post-production.)" I have no idea which version will make for a better film, but this one has Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary writing the script for it as well.
Whatever language they decide for or against, the key to this movie is going to be in the settings and culture of the people. Anglo-Saxon art and ideas are very captivating, and if the directors use this well, they could make a very good movie. If they do not, we will probably end up with another ridiculous movie like Troy.
On a side note, Rohan from the Lord of the Rings books/movies is based on Anglo-Saxon culture. In fact, the Theoden character takes his name from a character in Beowulf, (Th)eoden. Tolkien resented the Norman invasion, and believed that it had destroyed Anglo-Saxon culture. I think that this is reflected in Rohan (Anglo-Saxon) and Gondor (post-Norman), and their roles in the books.
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Has everything. Feisty queen, wet husband, flawed hero with spectacular attributes (Cu Chulainn did an Incredible Hulk transformation 1500 years ago), setpiece personal combats, battles, and a few additional legends to provide subplots. And it's Culture with a capital C, and no charge for an option on the script. Of course in the past Hollywood has struggled with the Irish language, but after Alexander I have a solution: Play Cu Chulainn with a Greek accent.
Panurge has posted for the last time. Thanks for the positive moderations.
I just re-read the latest (and imho greatest) Beowulf translation by Seamus Heaney.
I don't care for the Heaney translation myself--it's not faithful to either the letter or the spirit of the original.
Just one example of how flat the whole thing feels to me: lines 499-501, where the Danish thane Unferth challenges Beowulf. Heaney not only mis-translates it, he misrepresents the whole scene. Unferth is described as "he aet fotum saet frean Scyldinga", literally, "he (who) sat at the feet of the lord of the Scyldings." That is, Unferth was the Danes' champion and sat in the place of honor. Heaney renders this "crouched at the feet..." which is not only incorrect but gives the wrong idea of Unferth's status. Unferth rags on Beowulf about his famous contest with Breca; the poet says he "onband beadu-rune", literally, "unbound a battle-rune." Heaney says he "spoke contrary words." Way to press the life out of it. Not only is that a boring phrase, it's incorrect. Unferth is not hostile to Beowulf. He's making him feel at home, by busting his balls a little like a drinking buddy would, and giving Beowulf a chance to boast about himself. Beowulf's answer makes that clear:
Hwaet thu worn fela wine min Unferth
beore druncen ymb Brecan spraece,
saegdest from his sithe. Soth ic talige..."
"Well, many things, my friend Unferth,
drunk with beer Of breca you have spoken,
talkd of his journeys. I'll tell you what happened..."
I recommend getting Howell Chickering's facing-page translation. Or, if you don't mind putting in a little effort that, believe me, will be well spent, get Klaeber's 3rd edition of the Cotton Vitellius manuscript and Sweet's Anglo-Saxon Primer. You'll be well rewarded.