I think it’s time to admit the truth. I am the author of Beowulf. Not the film, of
course, I’m sure the intellectual property is all sewn up—but the ninth-century
poem is, so far as I know, still officially listed as by ‘Anonymous’. Well, having
seen Paramount’s new blockbuster I am ready to stand forward, admit to being
the Beowulf poet and fearlessly accept my cut of the royalties.
Beowulf is a film that makes all of its viewers part of the action. Seen in 3D on
the London IMAX screen it is an immersive experience. Not only does it leave you
convinced that you would indeed sell your soul for one night with Angelina Jolie
and her forty foot breasts, but you feel that you have also lived the tale. If you
didn’t write the poem (and you didn’t, because I thought of it first), you feel you
could have.
course, I’m sure the intellectual property is all sewn up—but the ninth-century
poem is, so far as I know, still officially listed as by ‘Anonymous’. Well, having
seen Paramount’s new blockbuster I am ready to stand forward, admit to being
the Beowulf poet and fearlessly accept my cut of the royalties.
Beowulf is a film that makes all of its viewers part of the action. Seen in 3D on
the London IMAX screen it is an immersive experience. Not only does it leave you
convinced that you would indeed sell your soul for one night with Angelina Jolie
and her forty foot breasts, but you feel that you have also lived the tale. If you
didn’t write the poem (and you didn’t, because I thought of it first), you feel you
could have.
Beowulf: I'll have your lizard head on a spike
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
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| Marc Sidwell is not joking |
The star of the show is Angelina Jolie, a very seductive monster. Dripping gold
and murmuring in the singsong cadences of Old English, she is a match for the
greatest of heroes, as played (in a new CGI body) by Ray Winstone. Winstone
treads his hero’s journey with gusto, from a youth in love with his own power to
an ageing king, ultimately realising the cost of his pride and accepting the need
for a Christlike sacrifice to redeem his own weakness.
Beowulf marks a turning point. Not only is a new narrative technology coming of
age in this motion-capture/green screen presentation, but at the same time a
major studio has bothered to take up a classic literary epic and do it justice.
After the emptiness of King Kong, here is a meditation on the glory and the
limits of heroism and – dare I say it? – of the Christianity that arrives to enrich a
bankrupt ethos. Hollywood can be loud, violent, sexy and smart all at once—and
Beowulf proves it. Now give me my royalty cheques.
© lizardmagazine.com, 2007
ALSO SEE
and murmuring in the singsong cadences of Old English, she is a match for the
greatest of heroes, as played (in a new CGI body) by Ray Winstone. Winstone
treads his hero’s journey with gusto, from a youth in love with his own power to
an ageing king, ultimately realising the cost of his pride and accepting the need
for a Christlike sacrifice to redeem his own weakness.
Beowulf marks a turning point. Not only is a new narrative technology coming of
age in this motion-capture/green screen presentation, but at the same time a
major studio has bothered to take up a classic literary epic and do it justice.
After the emptiness of King Kong, here is a meditation on the glory and the
limits of heroism and – dare I say it? – of the Christianity that arrives to enrich a
bankrupt ethos. Hollywood can be loud, violent, sexy and smart all at once—and
Beowulf proves it. Now give me my royalty cheques.
© lizardmagazine.com, 2007
ALSO SEE
My soul for my royalties