Young students might not heed Alvy Singer’s advice in Annie Hall about not taking “any course where they make you read Beowulf” because Robert Zemeckis has delivered an exciting adventure epic that will likely draw some to the source; however, they better not rely on only seeing the movie before the big test because screenwriters Roger Avary and Neil Gaiman have altered the story a great deal.

Set in Denmark 507 A.D., the festivities of King Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins) and his subjects upset the monster Grendel (Crispin Glover). It storms into the celebration hall, literally tearing the place and the people apart. When challenged by the King, it pauses and then retreats. The King offers half his fortune to anyone who will kill Grendel. Beowulf (Ray Winstone) answers the call.

After regaling the people with a tale of fighting against massive sea serpents, he and his men prepare themselves. Being a man of great honor, he gets naked to fairly fight Grendel since the creature has no weapons. Grendel is drawn out and a great battle ensues with Beowulf triumphant. Grendel’s mother (Angelina Jolie), a water demon, seeks revenge for her loss. During the night, she kills all Beowulf’s men but leaves him alive, which seemed awfully convenient.

Beowulf goes to her lair and confronts her, but he ends up falling for her charms. She offers him power and glory. In exchange she wants a son to replace the one he took and the King’s chalice. She promises that as long as the chalice is in her possession, Beowulf will be safe. Beowulf returns with lies about defeating Grendel’s mother, but the King knows the truth. With no heirs, the King determines that Beowulf will be the new king, and then he proceeds to throw himself from castle.

Many years go by, and on the anniversary of Beowulf’s triumph over Grendel the King’s chalice reappears. Soon after, a dragon attacks, claiming it seeks its father. Beowulf tries to return the cup but it’s too late. The film closes with a great climax as Beowulf attempts to protect his people from the dragon.

Avary and Gaiman have made a number of alterations to Beowulf. While they do create a more cohesive whole out of the poem’s three major events in comparison, some of their choices completely alter the story. The most drastic is Beowulf’s character. In the poem, he is a hero in the classic tradition, but here he is a flawed man. For example, he kills Grendel’s mother. He doesn’t succumb to her charms and all that they offer. Fans of the poem may well be disappointed with the change, but the story does work as presented.