What's the best adaptation of Beowulf?

[Ralif Redhammer]

Best Beowulf movie is still The 13th Warrior by my book.

My go-to translations are Seamus Heaney's and Maria Dahvana Headley’s. Heaney's is the stronger as for as poetry goes, but Headley's is muscular and enchanting. It modernizes the language while still maintaining those ancient rhythms.

 

[Dioltach]

My two favourite versions are the Klaeber and Benjamin Bagby. Or at least when I want to be a snob about it. Otherwise I enjoyed The 13th Warrior and the version with Angelina Jolie and Gerard Butler.

Can we all agree, though, that the Christopher Lambert version is the worst?

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

My two favourite versions are the Klaeber and Benjamin Bagby.

Benjamin Bagby's performance is pretty darn cool. I had the chance to see him perform it in person, and it was magical.

 

[Dioltach]

Benjamin Bagby's performance is pretty darn cool. I had the chance to see him perform it in person, and it was magical.

Me too. At the time I was studying Beowulf in the original Old English at uni, so that made it extra cool.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I've seen Beowulf performed in Saxon style by Julian Glover (General Veers).