Review: Beowulf, a credit to the genre

Robert Zemeckis has scored another hit, but make sure the kids stay home for this one.

Beowulf is quite possibly the best movie of its genre to hit theatres since The Return of the King in 2003.

In fact, Beowulf is the best version of the epic-poem ever put to film. Unlike other CGI-based movies, it doesn’t rely on its special effects to beef up a non-existent story. Instead, the CGI compliments the directing, editing and “acting” in this fantastic example of fantasy film making.

In the title role, Ray Winstone plays Beowulf, a Danish monster-slaying hero who answers King Hrothgar’s (Anthony Hopkins) call to defeat the horrific monster, Grendel. Dripping with honour and courage, young Beowulf arrives on the shores of Hrothgar’s kingdom with a company of his best warriors, including the token best friend, Wiglaf, played by none other than Brendan Gleeson.

Zemeckis doesn’t fall short as a director here. While it might be tempting to play God and make this movie look a lot flashier than it has to (Phantom Menace, anyone?), for the most part Zemeckis keeps the camera angles simple. The result is a computer-generated movie that looks, and feels, real.

Like any good fantasy movie though, detail is the key and Zemeckis pays attention to those that have come before him. The use of setting and atmosphere to make this piece truly fantastic is wonderful. From the mead hall, to Hrothgar’s snowy kingdom and Grendel’s cave, everything feels genuine. The monsters in the movie, including a fantastic looking golden dragon, are designed and used well. While there is almost little to no magic in this movie, it feels magical throughout.

The curse of all fantasy movies is that directors often take the word ‘fantasy’ too literally. Beowulf doesn’t fall victim here. Zemeckis takes his film seriously and it shows. The dialogue manages to do away with the campy olde-english speak that plagues many of its kind, and instead delivers crisp, clean and genuine sounding conversations.

While Beowulf may be a hit for fantasy enthusiasts, and adults looking for a good action adventure epic, it’s not for kids. A nearly naked demon mother, embellished cleavage, dirty talk and bare backsides are common finds in this epic.

While there isn’t any swearing, there’s no shortage of graphic violence. Even though it’s all computer generated, battle scenes where people are torn apart and blood is spilled feel real.

Beowulf may be able to hack and slash his way to the top spot at the box office, but there are a few pitfalls he’s going to have to dodge.

The first is length. Falling seven minutes short of the two-hour mark, Beowulf feels more like three in some places. Slow music scenes, conversation and mead hall celebrations feel too long, and surprisingly, some of the battle sequences carry on longer than they need to.

The second thing that’s bothersome is the overzealous chanting. At times, Ray Winstone sounds more like Gerard Butler from 300 than he does an eighth-century Danish warrior.

Lastly, Queen Wealthow (Robin Wright Penn) is a pretty useless character. She could have just as easily been cut from the movie altogether and it wouldn’t have made a difference at all. Her only saving grace is a conversation with another character atop one of the castle towers, and even the setting does more here than she does.

Overall, Beowulf is worth the ticket price. If you have the chance check out the 3-D version, you won’t be disappointed. While Beowulf may come up short in some places, for the most part its an excellent movie. Beowulf is an instant classic for any fantasy enthusiast, and ensures that it won’t be the last of its kind.

Four dragons out of five.

The Superfan: Are we so different?

What is the superfan?

Are fantasy addicts and sports addicts so different?

I’ve been to more midnight showings of fantasy and science fiction movies than I care to remember, but one thing has always stuck out in my mind: the fans. They remind me of the fans that attend hockey, football and soccer games all over the world.

A couple of years ago I went to the midnight screening of Revenge of the Sith with some friends. I had to see the final installment of the series at midnight.

When we got to the theatre there was the usual score of Obi-Wan’s, Anakin’s and Vader’s. About twenty minutes before the show started, a couple of local Jedi warriors decided to have a duel with a death-dealing Darth Vader who can only be described as “large and in charge.”

Plastic light sabers ablaze, sound effects and all, the battle began. At first, Vader was holding his own. But it was obvious after about a minute that his Coca-Cola and potato chip diet wasn’t going to cut it.

One Jedi swooped behind Vader and dealt him a punishing stabbing thrust to his back, while the other smacked him across his bulbous black helmet in front of an audience of three hundred.

Vader was pissed.

He charged forward in his typical mechanized style, seizing the wiry Jedi with a pudgy hand, and started smacking him over the head with his light saber.

The Jedi managed to slip out of Vader’s grasp and rejoin his partner. Vader was about to charge the both of them when he realized three hundred people were laughing at him in unison.

Needless to say, with a whip of his cloak he disappeared into the cavernous hallways of the theatre, never to be seen again.

I won’t lie to you, I’m still laughing about this. But it brings up an interesting point, why are fantasy/sci-fi fans so crazy?

The immediate reaction I have to this question is that we’re a different breed. We take pride in our cult followings, and sub-genre lifestyles.

But I don’t think this is the right answer. In fact, I don’t think fantasy fans are any different than say…our traditional arch-rivals…sports fans.

You don’t have to be a genius to figure out that sports fans are nuttier than anyone else. First of all, they’re generally cheering for teams that they themselves have never played for.

Sports fans can be relegated to two categories: the location fan, and the roster fan.

The location fan roots for a specific team because they represent their city, or a city they have some sort of strange fondness for. Not unlike the fantasy fan that cheers for Hobbits because he or she is short.

The roster fan cheers for a team based on its players, this is not unlike a fantasy fan who cheers for a specific character instead of what he or she represents.

Sports fans are great because they get all dolled up in team jerseys with the names of players they’ve never met, and remember every number, stat and percentage for a particular player or team. These people are the Encylopedia Britannica of useless information.

I mean, who the hell cares what a player’s batting average was in 1993?

I don’t. But I do care about steel armor versus Mithril armor, and I know which one I’d choose if I were ever to go into battle against a cave troll.

The difference is negligible.

Sports fans and fantasy/sci-fi fans are two sides of the same crystal.

While it might be more socially acceptable to be a Canucks or Cowboys fan, it’s no different than being a Jedi or Sith fan.

So what’s my point?

Listen up sports fans: you are geeks.

The next time you’re wearing a jersey, tuning your cellphones to the latest draft news, or reciting some unnecessary dribble about a specific player’s plus/minus, remember that you’re the socially acceptable version of the geek.

So give all those Trekkies, Trekkers, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings fans out there a break.

5 tips for writing decent fantasy

I’m by no means a professional (can any writer say they are?), but I have picked up a few useful tricks over the last decade. Most of these are tips that I’ve picked up from other writers over the years, or from trial and error in my own writing. Try them out…

In no particular order…

1) Have a mythology - Before you start writing, create a brief mythology for your world. It doesn’t have to be a monolithic textbook that lists each and every culture, their origins and what they eat for breakfast every morning, but a brief mythology surrounding your characters and the plot can keep you focused so that you don’t lose sight of the story.

2) Show don’t tell - I know, you’ve heard this a thousand times. Hear it one more time - show don’t tell. This is especially important for fantasy and horror, both types of fiction are visually based. Not to mention the fact that when you create an entirely new world with things people have never heard of before, they have nothing to compare them with and that ruins their mental visualization of the story, which in turn makes it difficult to read. If you have a new species or character - for the love of God describe it.

3) Create laws for yourself - Okay, you’re a fantasy writer. You’re relishing in the new found glory of creating a world and controlling the lives of your characters - you are God. When the novelty wears off, and your story is a cluster of wildly fantastic moments, remember this tip: laws are important. I don’t care if you’re writing for Middle Earth, Earth, Krynn or Shannara - there has to be laws for the world that your story takes place in. If there’s no such thing as gravity in your world that’s fine, but make sure that applies to everything and that you’ve thought about all the implications that decision will have on your story. Be especially aware of this concerning magic.

4) Make it believable - Okay, so now you’ve got a mythology and some laws, and a pretty good grasp on describing things. Make sure your story is believable. Argue all you want, fantasy still has to have its foundations based in reality or else there’s no context in which readers can relate to the material. If your wizard or warrior is the most powerful living creature in your world, think about what would make that wizard or warrior the most powerful living creature in our world, if you can’t you have a problem.

5) Plan ahead - Take notes, write notes and put your incredibly imaginative ideas on paper. Don’t rush into a story thinking you’ll write the next great epic about a lone warrior or struggling magician, without some forethought. One of the great trappings of fantasy is that its definition is so rooted in our culture with fairy tales, that many writers will steer their stories in that direction without consciously thinking about it. When you get an idea ask questions. Why is the knight alone? Why is the wizard struggling? These questions will help you think of answers, that will often times lead to a better story than the one you were originally thinking of. A bonus to this is that taking notes helps create a mythology, and that in turn helps to create laws that keep your story within certain guidelines.

Note: Fantasy is different than other genres, and that being said, it should be treated differently. It’s easy to get lost in the minutia of fantasy, because there are almost limitless possibilities that an author can investigate with their story. Stay focused, remember the details, and don’t forget to have fun!

Robert Jordan: in memory

 

Robert Jordan, renowned author, passed away on September 16 from complications due to cardiac amyloidosis. Best known for his mammoth Wheel of Time series, Jordan reinvented the fantasy genre when The Eye of the World was first published in 1990. Its epic scope, detailed characters and wondrous environments made it an instant classic among avid readers of the genre, and a testament to excellent writing.

Jordan’s novels breathed new life into the genre. He brought a seriousness and scope to fantasy that appealed to older audiences, and gave them something new to read.

Even at the end, Jordan never stopped writing. The 12th and final volume of his Wheel of Time series, A Memory of Light, remains unfinished. Whether or not this volume will ever be published remains to be seen; however, rumours are abound that Jordan dictated his final notes for the volume to those closest to him before he died, so that the volume could be published posthumously.

Jordan served two tours in Vietnam, was awarded several medals for his service, held a degree in physics, was a nuclear engineer and began writing in 1977. Although he is best known for his Wheel of Time series, Jordan also authored several books for the Conan franchise.

Jordan, who’s real name was James Oliver Rigney Jr., also wrote under the pseudonym Reagan O’neal. He was the author of more than twenty novels. He is survived by his wife and editor, Harriet Mcdougal.

He should be remembered for who he was, what he did and what he meant to the genre. Fantasy has suffered a great loss, but is better for the work he created while he was alive.

Manu Forti

Why Manu Forti?

In Latin, Manu Forti means “with a strong hand.” This is the Mckay clan slogan.

Fantasy: what’s the point?

I was in the fantasy section at the book store today, and it hit me just how many different fantasy authors and series’ there are out there. I was mesmerized by the amount of stories piled alphabetically within a few short book stacks, and for the first time in a long time I found several titles I was actually interested in picking up (I didn’t - thanks to school I have enough to read).

I’ve walked into the fantasy aisle at more book stores on more days than I care to remember, and two things have never changed. The first is the type of people you run into in that section. Most of them look entirely too intelligent to find fictional stories about wizards and dragons entertaining, and yet simultaneously there’s a certain quality of paranoia that each of them possess. It’s as though each of them are afraid they’ll be caught in the fantasy section, just as someone would be embarrassed to be discovered perusing pages in the erotica section.

The second is the feeling I get when I walk into the fantasy aisle - it feels like magic. For me, there’s a general euphoria that can only be likened to setting out on an adventure, that accompanies the fantasy section. (Insert geek comment here).

However, there’s a third thing that accompanies the fantasy section that is woven into the fabric of the genre itself - the connotation that is conjured in a person’s mind when they think ‘fantasy’.

The connotation generally goes something like this: Fantasy - dragons, wizards, knights - magic - adventure - dungeons and dragons - pasty faced geeks - Star Trek fans - no life - socially unacceptable.

Above and beyond that, there is a general feeling among the ‘higher-educated’ crowd that there is little point to fantasy.

As Peter Jackson famously said in his acceptance speech for Best Picture at the Oscars, Fantasy is the F word.

It’s true.

It’s been my experience that most people shun fantasy as nonsensical fairytales with little to no application in the real world, much less the technologically ruled modern world.

Who cares about honour and chivalry in a world ruled by banks and corporations?

This brings up an interesting argument.

Fantasy: what’s the point?

For me, there is a big point.

Fantasy serves to illuminate our species through the communication of universal ideas, morals, and scenarios.

In this way, fantasy is a medium for better understanding not only ourselves, but the human race.

Sure, the knight who battles the evil dragon to save the princess or the townsfolk isn’t a scenario you’re likely to encounter in the 21st century, but its themes are.

What about man vs. nature? Man vs. the beast? Fighting the good fight? Facing insurmountable odds by yourself, knowing that the most likely outcome is death?

These are themes that are just as important today as they were any other day in the course of our species.

Themes of courage, honour, and sacrifice are still common today.

The citizen who signs up for the military to fight for their country knows that danger is a real possibility.

Police officers, firemen, paramedics, doctors, etc. all deal with these themes in their lives, it’s just that the presentation of these ideas is more acceptable in our society than the knight fighting the dragon.

The knight - the warrior

The dragon - the beast

Warrior vs. beast is a theme common to cultures all over the world.

So I ask again.

Fantasy: what’s the point?

Fantasy is important because it serves to illuminate and communicate the things that make us human, through a simple and archetypical medium.

Translation - It shows us who we are in terms we can understand.

And, if nothing else, fantasy is just a good time.

Lokhaven: the origin and creation of a world.

It’s time for a change in patterns. Most fiction writers have no shortage of ideas or images that, at one time or another, they believe would make a good story. I’m no exception. Everyday new ideas come to me. They come at the strangest times, in the shower, in the car, walking to and from classes, even standing in line at the post office (these ideas have a noticeable cross-theme of murder and insanity). The point is, ideas are everywhere and I’ve come to the realization that there should be a place for these ideas.

This is the place.

However, many ideas I have will never get the click of the ‘publish’ icon. The reason for this is simple: a lot of these ideas suck. This page will focus on ideas centered around Lokhaven, and fantasy in general.

What is Lokhaven?

A little background.

When I was twelve it occurred to me that no matter how cool action figures were, they just didn’t jive in social circles anymore. The problem was that action figures had always been my creative outlet. I never played any instruments. I wasn’t involved in organized sports. I quit swimming lessons, hated school, and the limited time I spent with my friends was focused around creating a general miasma of chaos in our neighborhood.

With that once oh-so-grand creative outlet tossed into a box and donated to the next door neighbours, I needed a new outlet to express the ideas, images, and stories that filled my twelve-year-old head. The obvious solution, at least to me, was to write these ideas down.

So at the ripe old age of 12 I began writing my first novel. It was titled Infinite, and more closely represented a hodge-podge of video games, movies, and comic books I’d seen than any real ideas of my own.

At 14 with approximately 450 pages, single spaced I might add, Infinite was complete. By that time I had grand delusions that it was merely the first installment in a massive Star Wars/Lord of the Rings type saga.

As proud as I was of my accomplishment, Infinite sucked worse than the Phantom Menace and I knew it.

It didn’t stop me though (no one ever said I was a bright lad), and I continued to write with the fervour of a magician who’s learned a new trick.

Too make a long story short, countless revisions, edits, rewrites, and nearly a decade later I’m still working on the same story. Although this latest version in almost no way sounds or feels like any of its predecessors, I can’t in good conscience ignore its origins.

So here we are. October of 2007 - the fall writing season as I’ve come to think of it - and I’m still writing.

This blog will consist of notes, ideas, comments, and samples of my work as it’s created. There is a massive body of notes and knowledge that need to be downloaded from ragged old scrap brooks, and my imagination to make any real sense of what I’m trying to create.

First and foremost - Lokhaven is a fantasy world created by me. I’m not sure where the name came from, but I like to think it’s an amalgamation of two ideas. First, the Lock, and second the Haven. The Lock is the gateway to the Haven. The Haven is the world only a reader knows — the place you go when you disappear deep inside a story. Hopefully, this blog will be the Key to the Lock that opens the Haven.

In essence, this will be a site for world-building, as I like to call it. World-building is a favourite past time for many fantasy authors - J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert Jordan, Terry Brooks - to name a few.

Different posts will have different things. One post may focus entirely on the greater mythology surrounding Lokhaven. Another may focus on the physical geography of a certain region of Lokhaven. Others will deal with cultures, people, characters, architecture, dialects, and even magic.

I hope to have samples of chapters, scenes, and even maps of the world to provide a better grasp of Lokhaven.

It is my belief, that understanding the world we write about is essential to the quality of the writing, just as I believe that understanding our world is essential to leading a better life.

I’m not making any attempt to become the next Shakespeare, Dickens, Tolkien, or King. In fact, I just want to write because I can’t in good conscience play with action figures anymore. I want to tell a good story. I want it to be entertaining, easy to read, and universal. Beyond those simple aspirations I have no grander goals, save to one day make a career out of it.

Constructive comments and suggestions are welcome.

So begins the origin and creation of Lokhaven…

Working Title: Fantasy

Prologue

20th of Darkeve
1457 Current Era
Night

Midnight atop the Iron Mountains was silent. A bitter wind wailed through the cavernous mountain hollows. A lone figured trudged through the thick banks of snow, passing amongst the snowy peaks and crags that carved into the sky like knives. Robed in black, the figure held his head aloft as though embracing the biting wind. For more than half a century the man had wandered the mountain passes, and become as much a part of the harsh and unforgiving realm as the wolves that trailed behind him.

There were no paths or roads to follow in the Deep of the mountains, where the touch of man was scarce. Men did not climb into these passes. They were cursed places where ancient creatures dwelt in frozen caves, their twisted shadows spilled across the snow, unnatural voices piercing the muted night.

To enter the Deep was exile. To forget the world that lay beyond the mountains, to lose hope. The robed man knew this. He knew the lines of peaks and crags that stretched from each horizon as sure as he knew the sword strapped at his side. When the ground rumbled with avalanches he knew from which ice field they came. He knew the places where the snow never ceased to fall, where caves bore into the mountainside like stoney labyrinths.

He continued along the ridge plunging through the snowdrifts at a steady pace, ignoring the wolves that closed in behind him. Ahead, the ridge wrapped behind a sharp peak and opened into a narrow valley. Cliffs like walls bordered the valley giving it a distinct U shape. The wind quickened choking the air with a thick froth of icy flakes. His pace did not slow or falter.

Behind, the cunning wolves divided in half closing in along the cliffsides. The blizzard came down like a hammer and the air grew white as solid ice. The wolves leapt down the cliffs like agile cats, racing towards the shrouded figure. Within strides of their prey the wind lifted from the valley clearing the air. The figure turned his head. His ears pricked at the subtle sound of paws scraping across the snow.

He spun around to face them his black gauntlet resting on the pommel of his sword. The wolves caught his empty gaze and slid to a halt. Beneath his hood they could see the empty holes where eyes should have been.

Alone.

A deep whisper escaped the mouth of the wolf nearest to him.

Tortured.

The same whisper came from a second wolf.

When will you return?

The pack spoke at once possessed by the bedeviled voice.

You can’t hide forever. Come back. Escape this prison you have created. The world was not meant for you without me. We are as one. We exist to serve.

He quietly watched the wolves, waiting for them to move. Without notice the closest wolf leapt through the air first, its teeth bared like savage daggers ready to rip into his flesh. He gripped the handle of his sword ripping it from its scabbard with a metallic schwinn. The deadly silver blade glimmered for a second before cutting through the frozen air decapitating the first wolf. It’s lifeless torso slid to a halt at his feet.

The first cut melted into the second as he flipped the sword around gripping the weapon with both hands. He thrust it in the opposite direction down the open throat of the second wolf. The weight of the lifeless corpse slowed him, but only for a moment as he wrenched the weapon free. A third wolf catapulted towards him but the blade was already flashing through the air. He spun around to meet the remaining two wolves. They paced nervously eyeing the corpses that lay piled around his feet.

He rushed forward to meet them. The wolves were petrified by the carnal onslaught of the silver bladed sword. It lashed through the air like a whip dismembering the closest wolf. He spun again laying the final cut on the back of the remaining wolf severing its body in half, its ribcage falling open to spill its bloody contents onto the snow. A muddled whimper escaped its last breath.

Soon brother, Soon…

He stood over the mess of body parts watching the steam rise in waves from the hot blooded mammals. He tucked the wicked silver blade back in its leather sheath as he had done a thousand times before. A frozen gust of wind blew the sleeve of his heavy robe back, revealing an arm that held no flesh only gray bone wrapped with taut black veins.

He lowered his arm allowing the sleeve to fall over his gauntlet. The wind lifted cutting across the mountain peaks with a coarse scream. Flurries of snow drifted down to bury the wolves in an icy coffin. He plunged forward into the wind neither quickened nor slowed by the Deep of the mountains. A place where secrets were kept and memories forgotten.