We're baack!

[wiseheart]

Since yesterday, actually, but still dead on our feet. Stockholm was beautiful - stay tuned for picspam-heavy travel report soon - and meeting Dís was great. I hope I'll get the chance to meet more of my online friends, at least those who live in Europe, because sorry, overseas folks, there's not power on this planet that would get me on a plane for *that* long. Two hours were bad enough.

On the plane, I half-finished reading the novelization of that stupid Beowulf movie starring Ray Winstone. It's surprisingly good, considering that it's based on such a shitty movie. Caitlín R. Kiernan uses huge parts of Nordic mythology to spin a frightening and yet amazing tale; the only sorry parts are where she was forced to use the idiotic dialogue of the movie. Still, it's an interesting read, I highly recommand it (unlike the movie).

Dís tried to hunt down for me the version recced by ithilwen, but we had no luck, so far. Well, perhaps later. I'd so love to compare it with the Ray Winstone movie and the wonderfully anachronistic one, starring Christopher Lambert.

By the way, reading the book I realized that "The 13th Warrior" is actually a rip-off of the Beowulf legend - down to certain names, even, because Beowulf/Buliwyf, now how obvious can one be. Despite this, "The 13th Warrior" is a wonderful movie, while the Ray Winstone one is utter crap. And not just because of the method it was made. It would have been utter crap as a real movie, too.

Okay, off to catch up with everything I missed in the last five days. More Stockholm stuff coming up during the week.

Comments

[lissas-elves.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear your enjoyed your holiday and that you got home safe and sound.

>>I realized that "The 13th Warrior" is actually a rip-off of the Beowulf legend <<

Yes it is - I was thinking of it while reading your post, but then you mentioned it yourself. Great movie!!! I haven't even bothered with the Beowulf one; the trailers were quite enough to convince me to stay away.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I re-watched it today to decide whether it was really that bad - and it was. You should read the book, though. It's really great.

[lissas-elves.livejournal.com]

Hmmm ... I'll think about it, since you recommend it. What's the name of the book again - Beowulff Revisited? j/k

These days I mainly read fanfic, but the other day I ordered Mary Renault's greek books since they've been mentioned a lot lately and I've only read four of them. But don't know when I'll find time to´read.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

It's simply titled Beowulf, actually. It's not very thick, either, but worth reading, IMO.

[the-wild-iris.livejournal.com]

Welcome back! Glad you had such a good time.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Meeting Internet friends in the flesh is always fun. But Stockholm is beautiful on its own anyway.

[mistry89.livejournal.com]

Glad you had a lovely time, love to see the photos (and don't mention travel time to "overseas", I think I'd win!)
Saw 13th Warrior, but not Beowulf.
Welcome back!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

You mean you're scared of flying, too?

Watching that particular Beowulf movie isn't worth the pain, but you should read the book, it's wonderful. Have you seen the Christopher Lambert version? I know many people hate it, but I find it very good... even if a bit strange.

[mistry89.livejournal.com]

No, it's a comment on how long it takes to fly to another country from here (and swimming is the only other option)!
Haven't seen the CL version, he is strange all on his own, but I might give that a shot.
Cheers :)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Oh, I see. Well, swimming over won't be an option, as we have no access to the sea...

And yep, CL is a bit strange, but I like him nonetheless. The Beowulf movie is really funny... very realistically 6th century on one side and hilariously anachronistic on the other side (like black, bespectacled weapons master and so on). Many people detest it but I love it. I'm a strange one myself, I guess.

[cirdan-havens.livejournal.com]

Yup, but an amusing rip. I liked the guy they chose for Buliwyf, esp since he dwarfed Antonio Banderas. :p

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Heh! Buliwyf rocks! *points at icon*
I hate Antonio Banderas like the plague, but I must admit that in "The 13th Warrior" he was much better than in anything else I saw him.

[cirdan-havens.livejournal.com]

Well, as an Antonio Banderas hater, then you prob liked the fact that he was more peripheral to the story.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Well, he was unimportant enough as Tom Hanks' boyfriend in "Philadelphia" (or whatever was the title of that movie, I only saw it in German), but I still found him horrible. I actually liked him as Ahmed. Go figure.

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Welcome back! I'm glad you had a good trip and a chance to visit our friend Dis!

Have I ever mentioned that I've met a man who claims descent from the original "Beowulf"? His family history tells a far less exotic account, but it's pretty cool.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Considering that the "original" Beowulf probably never existed, it is fun. *g*

Now I must go to Denmark to see more Viking stuff, I think. Perhaps I should visit Lissa next...

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, Denmark! I was there in college and again on my own years later and truly loved it. Hmmm... maybe when we both have the wealth we deserve, we could meet up there and go walking and clambering around the old castles and outdoor archaeological museums!

As for Beowulf, the story is quite plausible: a mad sow and her offspring needed to be killed, so they called upon the best hunter in the region (ancestor of guy I know - they actually can trace their family back to that time and region). He and his brother traveled to the area, found her den, waited for mom and son to return and offed them. My acquaintance said they've never quite figured out why the story got turned into such a big myth.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Oh, I see. It's funny what it turned out in the end, isn't it?

As for Denmark... yeah, it would be nice. You'd spare yourself a good chunk of the way, and I could, theoretically at least, get up there by train... and we could both visit Lissa, the poor woman who still doesn't know whose acquaintance she has made. ;))

[nerwen-calaelen.livejournal.com]

Welcome back. I'm glad you had fun and survived the flights.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Actually, I didn't panic as much as two years ago when visiting England. Perhaps even numbers are luckier?