In the new film version, Beowulf is neither simply a pre-Christian pagan nor a proto-Christian eminent pagan. Christianity plays an explicit and confused role in the film, seemingly brought in to act as a counterpoint to Beowulf’s embodiment of the pagan heroic virtues. At one point, Beowulf seems to be reading directly from a text like Nietzche’s The Anti-Christ. In contrast to Beowulf’s heroic humanism, the hero would agree with Nietzsche: “Under Christianity the instincts of the subjugated and the oppressed come to the fore: it is only those who are at the bottom who seek their salvation in it.”
If the attempt to bring Christianity explicitly into the Beowulf tale was an attempt by Hollywood to cater to the newly invigorated evangelical demographic, it fails at the same level of ineptitude as Howard Dean’s attempt to woo Christian voters in his 2004 election run (when asked what his favorite New Testament book was, Dean responded, “Job”).
Besides injecting this curiously modern anti-Christian element into the story, the people responsible for translating the epic poem into a screenplay modify the plot of the story greatly. Without giving away any spoilers to those who insist on seeing the film in spite of my warnings, I’ll only say that the Beowulf epic is conflated with a dynamic from another great hero saga, that of King Arthur and his demise at the hands of his bastard son Mordred.
If you are looking for a modern work recasting the Beowulf epic in a new way that is actually interesting and compelling, check out John Gardner’s novel Grendel, which tells the tale from the monster’s perspective in a quirky twist of existentialist angst. Unless you go to the film solely for the special effects or have absolutely no appreciation for the narrative legacy of the epic, avoid this Beowulf film.
Article comments
1 - duane
Good review, Jordan. Well done.
2 - Rohan Venkat
Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary did not set out to simply adapt the epic to the big screen. A lot more was at play both in their original script and the re -write seven years later.
I suggest you look up Gaiman's blog or read a review that actually considers why the story departs from the 'accepted' version of the epic today, like this one
3 - Andy Marsh
I just saw this movie with my daughter and your review has me confused. The only reference to christainity I heard or saw in the movie was in one of the earliest scenes when the king is asked if they should pray to Christ and he answers no!
There may be a cross or two in the movie, but I missed all the reference to Christianity that you talk about in the review. But I guess someone that studies religion like you must, being a student in historical theology, that you can find religion in just about anything...
Maybe I'm just lucky that I'm not as familiar with the original story as you are, but I think you're looking way to deep to find christain references in this movie.
I enjoyed it very much, the animation was outstanding! There were times in the movie that the characters looked incredibly real. I will say that CGI still seems to have issues creating lips, they never seem to get them right.
4 - Jon Sobel
Thanks for reminding me about Grendel, which I now want to re-read.
And thanks for reinforcing my decision not to see this film (i.e. for seeing it so I don't have to!). The Beowulf legend is too stuck in my brain to see it changed around so much. It's too bad it couldn't have been done like Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings, which stayed true to a great story while using the best of modern moviemaking magic.
5 - Triniman
Have you seen the 2005 or 2006 version that was a Canadian-Norweigan co-production? It's pretty good but with lower production values than most mainstream films.
6 - bibbyroo
it sounds to me like you are just being a bit snobbish. i was unfamilar with the original beowulf story when i went in to see it, and i walked out loving it! they may have changed a couple things, which adds up to a couple references made early on in the film. in order for me to understand your disgust for this film, i feel that you need to better explain the changes that you feel it destroys the original story. what changed so drastically from the epic that made this so intolerable?
i personally have never read the story before but am now interested due to the movie, but i find it interesting that you say i must "have absolutely no appreciation for the narrative legacy of the epic" if i enjoyed this film.