Shakespeare

Hello All

Today's post is about films that are either adaptations of Shakespeare's plays or Shakespeare's plays were the inspiration behind the film or screenplay.

Shakespearean plays adapted for the screen are revived every five or so years and are a great way to get  younger generations to appreciate Shakespeare as a playwright. It appears that 2014 is going to see several of Shakespeare's plays brought back to life on the big screen and so I thought that I would use this post to look at certain versions that are worth viewing.

The Taming of the Shrew - this Franco Zeferelli adaptation of the play features Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Michael York. It is timeless and wonderful viewing. I have watched it many times and have enjoyed it each time.

 10 Things I Hate About You - on the topic of the Shrew, this film is a modern take on the above mentioned play. It too is worth a watch. Great performances all round. Very entertaining and a great way to demonstrate how timeless Shakespeare is.

Hamlet - there are a couple of versions of Hamlet that I think are worth viewing. The first is the Kenneth Branagh version just because of the cast and the sets are wonderful.

Hamlet - the Michael Almereyda adaptation of the play also has a fairly strong cast and is a modern version of the play. What I like about this version is that Ethan Hawke is the right age to play Hamlet. Most versions of the film cast Hamlet as a much older man that he would have been in the actual play. It isn't quite as good as the Kenneth Branagh version but I believe it is worth a watch.

Rosencrantz & Guildenstein Are Dead - This adaptation of the Tom Stoppard play is wonderful and definitely worth a watch. Tim Roth, Gary Oldman and Richard Dreyfess are fantastic in their roles and it is as good now as it was when it was first released. Those familiar with Hamlet will truly enjoy this film.

Romeo + Juliet - I have included the Baz Luhrmann adaptation on the list because I think Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes are well cast in this film. The modernisation has dated somewhat since its release in 1996 but it is still great viewing.

West Side Story - the American gangland take on Romeo and Juliet is classic viewing. The music is wonderful and the cast are great in this film.

Tromeo and Juliet - for those that are looking for a truly unique take on Shakespeare, this one is for you. It won't be for everyone but I enjoyed it.

Much Ado About Nothing - Again, I have chosen the Kenneth Branagh version of this Shakespearean comedy. It is really well done. The cast and the setting are wonderful. Definitely worth a watch.

Richard III - I have chosen the Lawrence Olivier version of this play as the one that I think is worth watching. It has been remade since but I think Lawrence did a wonderful job at capturing the complexity of Richard's character. It is definitely worth viewing.

Macbeth - this 1971 Polanski version of Macbeth is really quite violent and while the music is now a little dated, the performances and direction are wonderful. It is engaging viewing.

The Merchant of Venice - this adaptation of the play has a wonderful cast. Al Pacino is a great Shylock, Jeremy Irons and Joseph Fiennes are also great. The location is also wonderful. Makes for good viewing but it is quite long.

Othello - I like this Oliver Parker version for the performance of Laurence Fishburn. It really is his movie and is definitely worth watching.

Othello - this version is a modern adaptation that I believe works and is also worth watching.

That's it for today. Do you have a favourite version of a Shakespearean play that isn't listed above? If so, please mention it in the comments below.