[redpoll]

>>>>There is a lot of parody and silly humor sewn into this movie based on the epic poem they force you to read in high school. <<<<<

Wait a second here! I teach “Beowulf” to high school sophomores, using the version from Dr. David Breeden down at the University of Texas (and available online). Students like it, and most of the boys in class absolutely love it. For boys, especially, it’s a great story with a lot of crude violence, and, surprisingly, some moral lessons about arrogance and virtue. Certainly it’s no PC epic. (Or to put it in the words of a 15-year-old guy: “I’m really tired of reading that the monster and the hero have to be friends, and the hero is some Amazon girl.”)

The movie sounds like someone finally understands “Beowulf” is supposed to be a ripping yarn. I’m going to get a big bag of popcorn and enjoy myself.

[Biggirl]

As posted, had taken a course in community college the required this book be read and it is no easy read. It is suposed to be the one of the oldest books/poems in western civ, among the first during the early middle ages or dark ages. It was one of 3 books that I had to have taking Western Civ History 1. The other two books were “Giddermesh”, an epic ancient Mespotanien book, and “1066”.

[Hyzenthlay]

I read Beowulf in my senior year of high school, and absolutely loved it. The rest of the class didn’t share my enthusiasm for it, except one girl who brought in the bilingual translation by Seamus Heaney instead of reading the cheap classroom version we had. I loved that one even more, and now own a copy. It even turned out to be the required version for my medieval history class. The TA even read us parts of the poem in the original Old English, and it sounded like Elvish... it was the one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard.

[Callahan]

Just got back from the IMAX 3D version. It’s definitely worth leaving the comfort of your home theater for. The animation/mo-cap is amazingly detailed and realistic, allowing for some truly insane scenes. Their Grendel may be the most rivetingly disgusting creature ever put to film. Definitely a leap beyond Final Fantasy and the Polar Express. I’d say its the future of movies outside the home. Was annoyed by the anti-Christian spin, but then what do you expect from Hollywood. This movie proves that nothing is “unfilmable” anymore. I wish they would do a Marvel Comics “Avengers” movie using this technology.

[urtax$@work]

Dr. David Breeden down at the University of Texas (and available online).

link location please...