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Posted this on my G+, felt like sharing with all y'all.

The following post is about Shakespeare and cinema, so if you suck are not interested in those things, quit reading now.

I am a harsh critic of the modern takes on Romeo & Juliet and Hamlet, which both used actors without the talent or appreciation for Shakespeare, attaching Pretty Boy and rising star, a pre-Titanic Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo in the former, and better-actor-but-out-of-his-depth-dies-in-most-of-
his-movies Ethan Hawke as Hamlet in the latter. The movies were both supported by one or two good actors, notably Peter Postlethwaite as Father Laurence and, surprisingly, Bill Murray takes a good turn as Polonius in Hamlet; but these few good roles could not stave off the numerous actors who weren't well cast, and were used to put a more attractive face on Shakespeare.

I guess this is what you'd argue was the goal: to broaden the appeal and get more young people interested in classic works, but I hated everything about these approaches. The substitutions of guns & drugs in lieu of swordplay and poisonings seemed awkward, especially in Romeo where I recall a special closeup on an assault rifle which was branded "LONGSWORD" down the barrel to account for the line "Pass me my longsword!" In Hamlet I was especially annoyed by Denmark and Norway being shown as competing corporations in establishing shots.

Aside from the bad acting, which is truly poisonous to Shakespearean plays which almost entirely revolve around the character dramas (Hamlet is often said to be too complicated to properly convey all the facets of; a prominent Shakespearean critic whose name momentarily eludes me often notes that King Lear is meant to be read and not performed for the King cannot be portrayed on stage), all this necessary movement to account for curious turns of phrase that no longer make sense in our modern world and lame awkwardly forced scenarios like the corporate competition soured me to them, although obviously I sat through them both (Hamlet twice!).

I bring all this up because they're making another one.

Coriolanus, the trailer for which I've included below, is being released at the end of this year, and based off of this trailer, I have to say... I'm intrigued.

Ralph Fiennes, an accomplished actor, will play the lead in this (in addition to directing) and was one of the Royal Shakespeare Company's top stars. Brian Cox, one of my absolute favourite actors, is also an accomplished Shakespearean actor (also spending years with RSC and played Burgundy to Laurence Olivier's Lear in the film adaptation), also stars. But!

There must always be a but. Gerard Butler, I am skeptical of. To my knowledge, and quick research, he hasn't a background in Shakespeare, although his first stage role was in a production of Coriolanus. Nonetheless, I am given to feel he has been brought in because of his increasing appeal in the United States, with his success in the God-awful Phantom of the Opera adaptation, This-Is-Sparta-kick-you-in-the-gut Leonidas and his turns in the romantic comedies PS I Love You and The Ugly Truth (a movie about which I could rant for an hour or so, but let's move on). I'm under the impression that Law Abiding Citizen was a failure, and thank goodness, though I'm sure starring alongside Jamie Foxx didn't hurt his career this side of the pond.

However, the quality of acting shown in the trailer is quite good from all parties, even Butler's delivery of the hate-filled 'If ever again I meet him, he is mine or I am his' is powerful.

I've never read Coriolanus, and though I know the plot, I can't tell you how many times they use the word 'sword', although I can tell you how many times they use the words 'assault rifle', 'TV', 'bad PR' and 'pundit'. I am hopeful that Fiennes has the directorial skill, not to mention faith in the audience, to avoid stupid tricks like emblazoning his weapons with nicknames like 'LONGSWORD' and panning the camera along them, Snatch style (which uses that particular close-up hilariously and well, I will note). I assume that as part of our suspension of disbelief, it will be accepted that Rome is still a powerful nation in this alternate modern reality, and thereby sidestep any need for corporate takeovers to replace bloody military battles.

I think that I shall remain hopeful that if anyone is going to ever pull this off, it's Ralph Fiennes, and now.

(Also this is a great excuse, being that I've never read Coriolanus, to put my recent acquisition of the Norton Shakespeare Anthology to good use.)

What did you think about "O"?

I was going to ask a similar question, except for mine was going to be about Titus.

I never saw "O", I sort of lump it in with She's the Man (which was based on Twelfth Night) and... I forget the other one. I think there's a third Shakespeare update where they don't use the original text and update it for a high school audience. I really hated She's the Man, although maybe it was a bad sample?

Titus... I really enjoyed it, although more for the super strange and surreal feeling it has than as a Shakespearean adaptation, but yeah, I would definitely say I liked it.
Added at: 12:45
Oh, Ten Things I Hate About You. I didn't mind this one... I really love the plays, though, so the appeal for me is to see the text acted out. But Ten Things was not terrible, I don't remember it too clearly, but I didn't sour toward it, at least. I think it just lacked that spirit that I get from hearing the original lines performed well.

How about the 90's Midsummer's Night Dream, with Kevin Kline? That's one adaptation I actually dig quite a bit.

I did not even know that existed until now. Maybe I'll watch it tonight, as my plans have literally just fallen through.

C'mon, the Leo R&J was awesome...

Sure, i wouldn't give it any awards, but it was fun.

Blargh, 'fun' is definitely not a word I would choose to describe how I felt about it. No, I really couldn't stand it, I'm afraid. If it really did bring some people to enjoy Shakespeare who otherwise wouldn't, I am gladdened, but it is a film I will forever eschew. I just couldn't enjoy it! Too much annoyed me, felt poor or even condescending. Agh! Even thinking about it makes me furrow my brow!

Charlie Don't Surf said:

What did you think about "O"?

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So bad...so so bad. i've done my best to repress all memories relating to that piece of crap.

Chad Sexington said:

Blargh, 'fun' is definitely not a word I would choose to describe how I felt about it. No, I really couldn't stand it, I'm afraid. If it really did bring some people to enjoy Shakespeare who otherwise wouldn't, I am gladdened, but it is a film I will forever eschew. I just couldn't enjoy it! Too much annoyed me, felt poor or even condescending. Agh! Even thinking about it makes me furrow my brow!

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Well i'm sorry that you have no soul... but don't worry, i hear you can be a productive member of society anyway...

Also, guy from Lost as Mercutio was great...

Although i do have to make the disclaimer that it's been a while since i saw it... maybe the acting was worse then i remember, but the idea itself was great...

No, Chad's right. Especially at the broadsword part. I remembering seeing it in theaters with my girlfriend at the time, not long after we had finished reading the book in English, and CRINGING when the gun had fucking BROADSWORD emblazoned along the side of it. Like we wouldn't understand the metaphor if they didn't spell it the fuck out. It was a pretty ridiculous movie.

And Titus is probably my favorite big screen adaptation of Shakespeare work ever, which is why I asked what Chad thought of it. I absolutely adore the surrealism of it all.

Frankie Williamson said:

No, Chad's right. Especially at the broadsword part. I remembering seeing it in theaters with my girlfriend at the time, not long after we had finished reading the book in English, and CRINGING when the gun had fucking BROADSWORD emblazoned along the side of it. Like we wouldn't understand the metaphor if they didn't spell it the fuck out. It was a pretty ridiculous movie.

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It's Shakespeare with gangsters and Hawaiian shirts... methink thoust miss't the point (old timey spelling not guaranteed to be accurate).

The ridiculousness made it fun...

reading the book

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Did you read a synopsis or something? Because a play and a book tend to be different things...

No, they often sell the play in book form. It's often how people read it. It's still written as a play. It just looks like a book. Fuck do you latch on to the most God damn semantic shit.

How's about the Kevin Branagh filmatizations? Any opinions thereof?

Personally I still love Much Ado About Nothing, even though I also think Hamlet proved groanworthy moments with Billy Crystal as one of the gravediggers and that awful mustachio'd monster that was Robin Williams in 19th c. garb.

I love most of Branagh's adaptations if only because they exist, which sounds silly, but I really think he does a wonderful job directing, and I'm pleased someone puts in the time and effort for Shakespeare nowadays. I didn't mention them because they're not 'modern updates'. They use the original period (except his full-text Hamlet which was in the, I might be off, Victorian era, I believe) with the text so they don't have to use silly gimmicks like corporate takeovers. Branagh does a good job directing Shakespeare, and yes, his Much Ado About Nothing was great. Michael Keaton's Dogberry is just hilarious! Could've done without Keanue Reeves, never have been a fan of his, though.

I like his full-text Hamlet too, but there are moments that aren't... great. But you know, when you've got four hours to kill, why not? I've yet to see his As You Like It from a few years back...

Chad Sexington said:

I've yet to see his As You Like It from a few years back...

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You ain't missed much, Sexi ol' boy. It's set in the thirties, and the end credits show the characters going through WWII in their various ways. To me, it's the weakest of Branagh's Shakespeare adaptations. And Hamlet is more Napoleonic than Victorian, if you ask me. Those hats for soldiers and such...

I haven't seen it myself yet, but the recent Tempest movie looked promising. I believe it was from the same director as Titus as well.

Oddbot said:

I haven't seen it myself yet, but the recent Tempest movie looked promising. I believe it was from the same director as Titus as well.

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You mean the one where Prospero was turned into a woman? Did that come out already?

I'll watch my Shakespeare in the theatre and my interpretations at the movies, just the ways I like it. A good theatre company can do wonders with even the most insufferable Shakespeare. (Looking at you Antony and Cleopatra)

Frankie Williamson said:

No, they often sell the play in book form. It's often how people read it. It's still written as a play. It just looks like a book. Fuck do you latch on to the most God damn semantic shit.

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Hey, if you're gonna dismiss something as being too pedestrian for you then you'd better get it right when referring to reading the original... the accepted for is "I read the play!", what it was written on be damned.

Man, looking down on the peasants used to require effort once... and at least one expensive wig.

Now, apparently, all it requires is a broadband connection.

I thought it required enjoying shitty art exhibitions and overpaid people in leotards with no surnames?

God, this "Culture Capital of Europe 2011" here in Turku has made me bitter...

North_Ranger said:

I thought it required enjoying shitty art exhibitions and overpaid people in leotards with no surnames?

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No wigs, no inbreeding... bah, dilettantes.