Joyswag: Beowulf game & Old English poem

Robert Zemeckis's new flick Beowulf opens nationwide tomorrow. It's a hero tale that re-imagines the PG-13 rating with big doses of foul language, gruesome violence and virtual nudity -- we hear Jolie really pops in Imax 3D and Digital 3D. Unfortunately, the kiddies won't be able to prance into their local law-abiding retailers and purchase the companion game since it's been slapped with an M-rating. But for those adults out there jonesing to slay more dragons or test the limits of their sexual will power (yep, it's a featured minigame) we've got three copies of Beowulf (Xbox 360) to give away and ... a poem.
Who knew? The Beowulf movie is actually inspired by a painfully long poem written in "Old English" -- and here we thought O.E. was a filthy tasting beverage sought by underage teens at corner stores and pizza joints. Apparently, it's also an early form of our language that doesn't quite make sense. Anyway, we'll toss in the literature as well, just in case your 'Box is in the shop or something. And, since we know you're not gonna read the poem either way, we're adding the movie soundtrack to the giveaway too and, for one grand prize winner, a Beowulf toy, comic, and picture book (a bundle we like to call 'My First Grendel').
To enter, post one comment between now and Saturday at 5pm ET telling us which version of Beowulf you will base your 50-page thesis on -- due Monday! (Note: multiple comments, if activated, will disqualify entrant; entrants must be 18 or older and US residents.) (Another note: there isn't actually a thesis due.) Three winners will be selected at random.
Official rules await.
Complete breakdown of prizes:
Grand Prize (one winner)
- Beowulf Xbox 360 game (Ubisoft)
- Beowulf epic poem (Harper Collins Books)
- Beowulf toy (McFarland Toys)
- Beowulf comic book (IDW)
- The Art of Beowulf (Chronicle Books)
- Beowulf soundtrack (WBR)
- Beowulf Xbox 360 game (Ubisoft)
- Beowulf epic poem (Harper Collins Books)
- Beowulf soundtrack (WBR)











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
gonk @ Nov 15th 2007 5:05PM
how do you activate a comment? because according to the rules i could have multiple comments but only activate 1
i'm activating this 1 and won't post any more :)
i just saw the game in best buy but I don't recall a demo being on xlive, i wonder if it's any good
Sederien @ Nov 17th 2007 9:12AM
It may not be any good, but if you play your cards right (as I hope to be doing with this comment), you might find out sooner than later.
(The picture book would obviously be the best version for a thesis. You could easily debate the merit of children's pictures not containing near enough violence and gore to accurately portray the epic that is Beowulf.)
NATO_Duke @ Nov 15th 2007 5:06PM
Due "Monaday" - oh noes!
I will base it on the 2007 Xbox 360 Beowulf work as re-translated by Ubisoft.
Intentless @ Nov 15th 2007 5:06PM
This is an Epic story and up untill I saw clips of the movie I was going to more or less boycott it because the story was so great I thought it would be destroyed but the movie actually has some promise...
antilucid @ Nov 15th 2007 5:07PM
I would choose the movie since its based off of a screenplay written by Neil Gaiman, a master story teller of fables and folklore.
0ldb0y @ Nov 15th 2007 5:07PM
Didn't have much interest in the movie/game initially, but the constant marketing has me curious...
holyice7 @ Nov 15th 2007 6:17PM
I think this movie will do pretty good, since it has an installed fanbase of EVERYBODY.
Really, who didn't have to read this in high school?
bigd7387 @ Nov 15th 2007 5:11PM
Didn't care about it much at first but the more I've seen from the movie version it does look like something to see.
Will @ Nov 15th 2007 5:15PM
pick me to interact with a virtual jolie.
Kephale @ Nov 17th 2007 10:00PM
Definitely the game - who wants to be stuck with a fixed story to write about?
Lone Starr @ Nov 15th 2007 5:14PM
I shall base my thesis off of the differences between the versions.
Ben @ Nov 15th 2007 5:16PM
My thesis shall analyze the difficulties of modern day youth attempting to decipher the old english version.
Eric @ Nov 16th 2007 6:00PM
I didn't have any problem with it... most of my class didn't... though it is a college-level English class.
captainzoli @ Nov 15th 2007 5:16PM
I'll base it on the poem.
Eddy @ Nov 15th 2007 5:16PM
Beowulf is a great epic story.
Silent Xenocide @ Nov 15th 2007 5:16PM
Game
L @ Nov 15th 2007 5:18PM
I've already read the poem many years ago, and it isn't "painfully long". Not only that, but the language which you speak of is Old English, which I speak a little of: What way gardania in yardagum, theodcyninga thrym yeefrenon, ootha othalingus ellen fremedon! ...I so deserve to win.
Jeff @ Nov 15th 2007 6:13PM
Wow. I wish I was skilled enough to tell you that old english is made of win-- in old english.
ThornedVenom @ Nov 15th 2007 7:03PM
WTF my cup of tea is floating.... DAMN YOU HARRY POTTER!
timeofyourlife @ Nov 16th 2007 6:32AM
eald Englisc biþ sigora macode
Old Enlish is made of win
(Actaully the words literally read "Old English is (of) win made")
And they told me it would never be useful
Ignatius @ Nov 15th 2007 5:18PM
I'll base it on the poem, but I'll only write a few words, turn it in for half credit.
College sucks.
smartguy1600 @ Nov 15th 2007 5:20PM
My thesis will be based on Jolie's visual...*clears throat* rendering.
Deck @ Nov 15th 2007 5:18PM
It shall be based on the poem!
Fish @ Nov 15th 2007 5:18PM
Beowulf can go to Hell. That's what he gets for messin up my meadhall. (can't believe I remembered that).
Old Skool poem for me.
joho @ Nov 15th 2007 6:24PM
mmm... my thesis would have to revolve around the amount of honey they poured over mo-cap jolie to get the ratings board to allow them pg-13
kg @ Nov 15th 2007 5:21PM
Favorite version of Beowolf is told from the perspective of the monster in "Grendel."
Joe @ Nov 15th 2007 5:20PM
That one... with the words... and Angelina Jolie. and Godot.
Chris @ Nov 15th 2007 5:20PM
Professor,
I will base my thesis on the 1999 futuristic version of Beowulf starring Christopher Lambert!
A true cinema classic!
Satt @ Nov 15th 2007 5:21PM
My thesis shall chronicle the journey of Beowulf. The Beowulf of the movie.
Eamon @ Nov 15th 2007 5:20PM
YO HERES MY POEM ABOUT BEOWULF
INTERIOR CROCODILE ALLIGATOR
I DRIVE A CHEVROLET MOVIE THEATER
BEOWULF RULES
jake11 @ Nov 16th 2007 12:19AM
can you please give the grand prize to Eamon?
robert @ Nov 15th 2007 5:22PM
having to write a 50 page thesis, i would definitely go to the greatest translation of the poem ever recorded to film for inspiration...
http://www.amazon.com/Beowulf-Christopher-Lambert/dp/B00004Y631/ref=pd_bbs_9?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1195164604&sr=8-9
that's right, the 1999 "Road Warrior" style movie starring the Highlander himself, Christopher Lambert.
combine an old english poem with a post apocalyptic future, toss in the Highlander and some bad cheesy metal music... can't get any more epic than that.
Alex @ Nov 15th 2007 5:22PM
poem ftw
SuedeGopher @ Nov 15th 2007 5:23PM
I'm thinking my thesis will be on Grendel as thinly veiled extended metaphor for mother-in-laws.
zuburi @ Nov 15th 2007 5:23PM
I'll base mine off the movie, since poems are for old people and the gays.
DasBoba @ Nov 15th 2007 5:23PM
I will base it on the poem.
Riley @ Nov 15th 2007 5:24PM
The abridged poem from my 7th grade English textbook.
lbrislai @ Nov 15th 2007 5:25PM
I'd base it on the movie, the CG, according to the press, is supposed to be groundbreaking and the beginning of a new era. I'd be a great thing to research
rob @ Nov 15th 2007 5:26PM
entire thesis will be based on cg guy screaming "I am Beowulf"
donna d @ Nov 15th 2007 5:29PM
The movie.
Everyone knows movie-licensed games are terrible and I wouldn't risk my thesis on it.
I might throw in some random quotes from the poem though, just to spruce things up with quoted intelligence that makes me look better through association.
rookiejr @ Nov 15th 2007 5:28PM
Please enjoy my essay on the themes of heroism and monstrosity and how they compare/contrast with one another:
...Know what, I doubt people would take the time to read all four pages of that...
I shall leave thee with a quote instead:
“Order my troop to construct a barrow on a headland on the coast, after my pyre has cooled… so that in coming times crews under sail will call it Beowulf’s Barrow…” (2802-2807).
That good ol' Dane was so modest...
David @ Nov 15th 2007 5:28PM
Which translation, I wonder?
I'll be using Frederick Rebsamen's 2004 version. I tried to memorize for some old English busking, but only managed to get a couple of pages down. It's a great poem, with lots of interesting surprises. For example, one of the compliments given to Beowulf by the author is "drunk, he slew no hearth companions". What a nice guy! Even when he was drunk, he didn't kill his friends. Class act, that Beowulf. Definitely _not_ a drunken murderer.
Scott Solak @ Nov 15th 2007 5:28PM
Ye Old Poem!
Debikul @ Nov 15th 2007 5:30PM
I shall base my thesis off both of them for no reason at all. And that is that.
jax sedrin @ Nov 15th 2007 5:30PM
My thesis will be about how the cinematography choices (or lack thereof) made by the director and his crew communicate the style and atmosphere of the poem.
Sadly, that's pretty close to a topic of a paper I actually wrote for my Literature and Film class about a year ago.
K.Hess @ Nov 15th 2007 5:31PM
Beowulf the poem is pretty awesome... if you're into epic poetry.
Joe @ Nov 15th 2007 5:35PM
I'll probably base it off the movie... considering I'd only base it off the game if I win.
Mario @ Nov 15th 2007 5:31PM
This is awesome. Hopefully both the game and the movie will rule
SID SPACE @ Nov 15th 2007 5:32PM
I still can't tell if this movie will actually be any good. I really haven't seen all that much about it to know for sure. I mean, the cast is made up of a lot of big names, but so was Ocean's 12. :\
Anyway, my thesis will be on the poem.
Josh @ Nov 15th 2007 5:33PM
Heres my comment