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Modern Shakespear Adaptations

  • 27-04-2008 11:01am
    #1
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭


    I decided to post this here and not in Theater as I am asking about the movie adaptations; Baz Luhrmann's Romeo&Juliet, Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, Michael Radford's Merchant of Venice, and Julie Taymor's Titus. There's probably a lot more but these are the ones I can think of now. What do people think of these?

    I've always felt that these movies always have show-stopping performances and unbelievably memorable scenes. A list of my favourites are: Titus (great performance by Alan Cumming here), Merchant of Venice and so forth.


Comments

  • #2
    johnny_ultimate
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 30,020 CMod ✭✭✭✭johnny_ultimate


    I think Lurhmann's adaptation of Romeo & Juliet is fantastic - never generally a fan of his films, but I think that one really just nails it: it stays faithful to the dialogue, but cleverly updates the story in a hyper-stylised way. It looks great, but it stays through to the timeless story and I think thats where it really works. Whereas something like O simply upgrades the story to a modern high school setting, Romeo + Juliet is the story accurately revisited: just in the 90s. And the two main actors are wonderful: best role DeCaprio ever got (maybe the Aviator too) and Claire Danes is beautiful and believable as Juliet.

    Oh, and we can't forget Ran either, which is easily one of the greatest films ever made. Akira Kurosawa's version of King Lear, it is the most epic, beautifully shot film I have ever seen. Never liked King Lear as had to sit through its absurdly drawn out acts so many times for the LC: but Kurosawa makes it his own, and the extended running time never feels dull. Thats how you should re-appropriate Shakespeare.


  • #3
    Rhyme
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,561 ✭✭✭Rhyme


    '10 Things I Hate About You' is an adaption of the Taming of the Shrew and 'O' with Josh Hartnett is an adaption of 'Othello'.

    Never seen 'O' but i've heard the word 'tripe' thrown around. I liked '10 Things I Hate About You' though, had some enjoyable pieces.


  • #4
    Pigman II
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,921 ✭✭✭✭Pigman II


    I will also highly recommend "Hamlet" and "10 Things".

    Another unusual one is Brannagh's adaptation of "Love's Labour's Lost" which is interspersed with the music of Cole Porter. It really is refreshingly different and underrated imho.


  • #5
    TerrorFirmer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,930 ✭✭✭✭TerrorFirmer


    I thought 'O' was surprisingly good...


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