We finally watched the “Beowulf” movie. It was bad in so many ways, I hardly know where to begin. First, I do not like that technique of blending real actors with computer animation. It makes for interesting special effects, but, at this stage of technology, the faces have static expressions with dead eyes. Thus, the technology gets rid of actual acting! Worse, the “Beowulf” movie tried to dramatize a great work of literature without the filmmakers having any idea what it means. (All they would have had to do is read J. R. R. Tolkien’s brilliant critical essay “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics.”) Even worse, the filmmakers thought they could tell a better story than the ancient bard, but all they did was fall into absurdity. (King Hrothgar is Grendel’s father? Beowulf and Grendel’s mother were the parents of the dragon? So the story is about heroes killing their children, without a trace of conflict or angst? It doesn’t make sense!) But worst of all, the filmmakers made a movie about an ancient time, making it void of its values, without any sense of honor, glory, magic, or mystery. Yes, it’s about barbarians, but we are far more barbarous than they were.
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