Beowulf Month: 1999 Film

My first exposure to Beowulf was the 1999 film of the same name starring Christopher Lambert. The movie takes place, not in 7th century Scandanavia, but rather, in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world that blends elements of fantasy and science fiction together.

The film opens with Beowulf (Christopher Lambert) breaking through a siege-line to save a girl (only to die seconds later) and enter the unnamed outpost so that he can stop the attacks of the evil creature Grendel.

What I Didn't Like

• King Hrothgar is portrayed as a weak leader and adulterer, whereas the Poem portrays him as a good strong king.
• 'Hrothgar' is pronounced with a silent 'H' instead of the wonderful guttural it contains.
• Beowulf is not a heroic man empowered by God, but rather a half-demon who's father is Ba'al.
• Beowulf's half-demon heritage apparently affords him two super-powers: 1. He is not as incompetent a fighter as those around him. 2. He can perform flips through the air! Multiple flips. Throughout the movie!
• Despite there being a whole host of supporting characters in the Poem, this film decided to invent a brand new cast of characters to support the story.
• The film is intrinsically derogatory to women. In their clothes (or lack there of). In their portrayal. And in their characterization.
• Grendel's mother is portrayed as a seductress who seduced Hrothgar which resulted in the birth of Grendel. While this is an interesting and unique idea, it sullies the moral framework of my favorite character.
• Much of the acting was terrible. Of particular shame was Grendel's Mother and "Roland" (whoever that is).
  

What I Liked

• The film was less than 90 minutes long.
• Heaven help me, but I really like Christopher Lambert. He was good in this.
• The setting of the story was phenomenal. While there were some misfires in the ancient weaponry (infused with futuristic features) the future-medieval setting was truly imaginative. I wish we could have learned more about this bizarre world.
• The Grendel monster was rather well done. The film-makers opted for a "less is more" approach and it really helped make Grendel appear terrifying!

I'm shocked that my first exposure to Beowulf didn't turn me away from the Poem altogether. (Although I remember reading the Poem the first time through and wondering when we were going to find out that Beowulf was sired by Ba'al.) This really was a film that had some phenomenal potential, but a host of misfires ruined it.

Rating: 2/5 (I Didn't Like It)

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