I have learnt to treat every film based to any degree on Viking mythology carefully and with extra caution. With that in mind, I sat one beautiful evening, cuddling my loving wife, to watch the film “Beowulf”. What a charming title. The makers of this film used the newest (in 2007) achievements from the field of computer animation.

To tell the truth, I did not know exactly, what to expect from that production. Yet, I was hoping to see some good cinema that would treat the historical reality of the Anglo-Saxon poem, forming the basis of the Beowulf myth, as seriously as possible.

Luckily, it turned out that this particular film is worth recommending to anyone fed up with the Vikings wearing helmets of medieval knights or fighting with fearsome axes with handles covered with soft, white fur… Not to mention the shields, whose size suggests they were previously used by hobbits.

Let us begin, however, with more mundane matters. That is, with the quality of animation in “Beowulf”. If I were to express my opinion on that matter honestly, using only one word, some may feel offended by an unnecessary vulgarism. As such, I will use a longer, but equally appropriate, expression. It’s great! The characters sometimes look so true, so realistic, that one may forget, that he or she is actually watching an animated film. In the scenes in which we admire – and this is a very proper word – the mother of the main villain, Grendel, the graphic designers reach absolute mastery.

However, it must be emphasized that the above paragraph describes matters absolutely basic for modern people, who are well-oriented in the technological innovations and computer gibberish. I am, most definitely, not one of them. For me, a simple warrior and a minstrel endowed with rich imagination, the basic matter is the way the historical reality is presented: the way the Vikings use their weapons, their clothing or the imitation of the particular Scandinavian spirit of the period.

In this sense, the film did not fail me. Witty dialogues bring about the Viking culture, one of brave, battle-hardened warriors and skilled sailors. Words of secondary characters brought smile to my face more than once. Beowulf’s retainers are here in the lead. Wiglaf’s slanders required much creativity from the writers, as they sound very convincing to the ears of spectators and could easily be used by men who inhabited Scandinavia hundreds of years ago. The main protagonist of this story also speaks in an appropriate way. His strong, pompous even, voice adds to the image of a hero, strengthening the majesty and pride of a warrior.

Please allow me, since we are touching war topics here, to plunge into description of battles and verification of the weapons that appear in the film. Well, I must admit that this is probably the most bloody vision of Beowulf’s fights that has so far been presented on screen. Blood is spilled in litres, and swords, axes and spears seem crimson in colour during the fighting. Beowulf’s fighting style could best be described using words from a song from Disney’s Hercules: “Point him at a monster”. The above-mentioned weapons have been presented very realistically, with much attention paid to the details. Also armours and helmets worn by the mighty Scandinavians deserve a word of praise when it comes to faithfulness to historical originals.

And finally, something that is always present throughout the entire film and that I want to focus on now. The Viking culture has been portrayed faithfully, in a way that makes my, very sensitive in this matter, pagan heart leap with joy. Apart from the already mentioned dialogues, we can admire ancient customs, such as a warrior’s burial. The pride and loftiness of the Danes, and the Goths that come to their aid, is omnipresent.

The scenery, created with great attention to details, completes the picture. Wonderful cliffs, sea depths, dragon cave or the workings of human hands – their sight causes due respect and awe for ancient Scandinavians. The buildings shown in the film could easily have been transported back from these ancient times by means of a time machine. Even Beowulf’s ship surprises with artistry of its creation. Sometimes even you get the impression that it is a real drakkar, made especially for the film.

Looking at the screen I myself wanted to steal a boat from the beach in Rewa, don my armour and my helmet, fiercely grab the handle of my sword, cover myself with my shield, brought from afar, and hunt sea serpents. Who knows what the result would be?

I recommend this film to everyone who has had enough of trashy Viking productions and wants to live an extraordinary adventure, seasoned with the smell of seawater and taste of hundreds of goblets of mead!

Remember one thing:

Kamil „Tyrsson” Gołębowski
Translation by: Agata „PaniPonura” Staszewska
Revision by: Paulina Maria „Lorelay” Szymborska-Karcz

* Hávamál and Counsel to Guests
The Elder or Poetic Edda,
edited and translated by Olive Bray
(London: Printed for the Viking Club, 1908),
pp. 61-111.

Original title: Beowulf
Polish title: Beowulf
Director: Robert Zemeckis.
Script: Roger Avary, Neil Gaiman.
Producers: Roger Avary, Martin Shafer, Roger Roberts, Neil Gaiman, Steve Bing, Jack Rapke, Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis.
Music: Alan Silvestri.
Shots: Robert Presley.
Editing: Jeremiah O'Driscoll, Arthur Schmidt.
Decorations: Doug Chiang,Norman Newberry, Greg Papalia.
Costumes: Gabriella Pescucci.
Sound: William B. Kaplan,Tom Johnson, Dennis Leonard, Zach Martin, Clint Smith, Dennis S. Sands, Ronald G. Roumas.
Length: 1 h 53 min.

Cast:

Beowulf – Ray Winstone
King Hrothgar – Anthony Hopkins
Grendel’s Mother – Angelina Jolie
Unferth – John Malkovich
Wiglaf – Brendan Gleeson
Grendel – Crispin Glover

And rest.