Movies of Shakespeare Plays
 

My Daughter (8yo) has recently become interested in Shakespeare plays - in part because David Tenant (also known as the 10th Doctor in Doctor Who) is soon to be seen playing Hamlet in the RSC production of the play in Stratford and London.

Anyway - on to the point.

What films of the Bards plays do you like?

I am after your recommendations of films made from the plays - not "inspired by", so don't mention West Side Story etc - I like them, but that's not what we're after at present.

My own favourites are:

Richard III with Ian McKellen

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Much Ado About Nothing with Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson

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Romeo & Juliet with Leonardo DiCaprio

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While temporarily inaccurate, I found my favorite version of Hamlet to be the one with Kenneth Branagh.

EDIT: It will be interesting to see Tennant play in Hamlet... And I just might go to this actually.

Romeo and Juliet from "The Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare" BBC series has Alan Rickman as Tybalt. He's quite young, but when you hear his voice you'll recognize him right away as Professor Snape.

I had to watch the Zeffirelli version in High School... it was enjoyable.

I did like the Baz Luhrmann version (one with DiCaprio) because the style pulled it off so well.

Other than that... I try to see what I can of Shakespeare. I prefer the plays more than the movies.

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"The Taming of the Shrew" directed by Zeffirelli. During the making Burton and Taylor were having their own marital problems, which added to their performances.

The Branaugh Much Ado is stylish and lovely, and was made back when he and Thompson had great chemistry together. These days not so much, but back then, absolutely.

Michael Hoffman's Midsummer Night's Dream from 1999 is just delicious. Stanly M-Fing Tucci as Puck is BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT casting. Also Rupert Everett as Oberon, Michelle Pfeiffer as Titania. Kevin M-Fing Kline as Bottom!! Christian Bale as Demetrius--I didn't realize that until I looked on IMDB! Also Calista Flockhart does passable work as Helena. But Tucci steals the show--as Puck should.

Titus (1999)

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Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990)

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And last, but not least:

Strange Brew (1983)

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If you've not bought tickets already, you're looking at a tout, I think - it sold out at Stratford in minutes, and London tickets were going fast last time I looked.

Damn. I can only hope that my luck in this continent has not yet run out.

Branagh's Henry V is the best movie ever made of a Shakespeare play. It is complete and utter genius in every moment.

Loved his Hamlet and Much Ado also, but neither was as simply perfect as Henry V.

Did Branagh have an obsession over classic literature like a healthy human would or was it a phase to gain attention of a different audience?


Indifferent of the answer, I am now IMDB'ing him to find out all the fun works he did of classic literature.

Branagh's Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing are probably two of my favorites. I also really liked Luhrman's Romeo+Juliet--it came out the year I read it for school. I've had to watch a lot of movie adaptations of Shakespeare films over the course of completing my degree in English. Another one I really liked was the BBC's Taming of the Shrew with John Cleese as Petruchio. Very funny. Titus was definitely very different, but I enjoyed it.

Branagh STARTED as a stage actor playing Shakespeare in the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) and so this is not seeking a new audience, it's paying off the old traditional audience.

I forgot: The Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino as Shylock was fun. Jeremy Irons, Joseph Fiennes. Made in 2004.

The Merchant of Venice is so fun

Branagh's Henry V was awesome - much to do with Derek Jacobi's enthusiastic chorus role.

does "Scotland, PA" count as a Shakespeare play/movie. Its a direct interpretation of Macbeth set in the 70's. I've always appreciated it.

Love's Labour's Lost is a great musical adaptation that is often overlooked that even I would have not known about had it not been for my theater teacher two years ago. Directed and starring the ever-egotistical Branagh, of course, and featuring Matthew Lillard and Alicia Silverstone of all people.

The movie's a bit too literal at times (think Across the Universe in this regard) and the previously mentioned ego is on display, as Branagh plays a student. Note, this film was made in 2000. Do the math. Other than that, great film, very fun.

If you want over-the-top interpretation, check out Prosper's Books.

For great cinematography and atmosphere, watch Peter Brook's King Lear.

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead was on IFC Today, I watched a few minutes of it and had a few chuckles. I'll have to watch it from the beginning sometime..

I dunno that Hamlet sold out at Stratford in minutes. There were tickets available for at least a month, because that's how long it took onodrim and I to decide to get them. I wish we had bought, say, 10...then we could have sold the rest and paid for our trip there! :p

Anyway, those of you who mentioned that you might go see it, where are you located?

As for Shakespeare movies, Titus is the big winner for me. Love that movie. Also, I know you didn't want Shakespeare "inspired" films, but Akira Kurosawa's Ran is such a great adaptation of King Lear that I'd be remiss not to mention it.

I think I'd still consider Ran as being an adaptation, just with a Japanese twist. It stills follows the same basic story with a few little tiny changes here and there to fit the time and place.