This all reminds me, I've been meaning to pick up Richard III with Ian McKellen, on DVD soon. I do love that version, mostly because he's so deliciously evil.
I'm a big girl. Just tell me.
Inara ,'Objects In Space'
Buffista Movies 6: lies and videotape
A place to talk about movies--old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.
Kathy A - Jul 27, 2007 9:40:13 am PDT #488 of 10000
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil
Fred Pete - Jul 27, 2007 9:44:57 am PDT #489 of 10000
Ann, that's a ferret.
I've enjoyed theatrical and movie versions of several Shakespeare plays over the years. Including the '30s moviie version of As You Like It starring Elisabeth Bergner and a young Laurence Olivier. The good versions are the most likely to treat the text as a play to be performed and not Shakespeare to be worshiped.
It also helps if you don't take things too seriously. One of my favorite versions was a Hamlet-as-'50s-TV-sitcom done at the Maryland Renaissance Faire one year. Gertrude stole the show by constantly announcing that she was going to "go into the kitchen and bake some cookies." Until she announced that she was going to "go into the kitchen and -- drink heavily."
Kathy A - Jul 27, 2007 9:48:57 am PDT #490 of 10000
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil
I like the Reduced Shakespeare Company's version of all the history plays Shakespeare did boiled down to a football game, with the crown as the football.
Toddson - Jul 27, 2007 9:52:34 am PDT #491 of 10000
Friends don't let friends read "Atlas Shrugged"
I saw McKellan doing Richard III live ... terrific! I also saw him doing a one-man show on Shakespeare, talking about performance he'd been in. I think the first live Sheakspeare I saw was in college, ca. 1971 - the Peter Brooke Dream ... which was wonderful.
Polter-Cow - Jul 27, 2007 9:54:44 am PDT #492 of 10000
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
I like the Reduced Shakespeare Company's version of all the history plays Shakespeare did boiled down to a football game, with the crown as the football.
"King Lear?? And he's disqualified for being fictional!"
I love the McKellen Richard III too. That's one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, since we spent five weeks on it in my Shakespeare on Film class.
Jessica - Jul 27, 2007 10:08:33 am PDT #493 of 10000
If I want to become a cloud of bats, does each bat need a separate vaccination?
One of my favorite versions was a Hamlet-as-'50s-TV-sitcom done at the Maryland Renaissance Faire one year.
I *love* that company! Leave it to Hamlet is one of their best ("Hello Mrs. Denmark, Hello Mr. Denmark..."). I also love their Henry V (pronounced, "Henry the Vee," natch).
Gris - Jul 27, 2007 10:31:35 am PDT #494 of 10000
Hey. New board.
Shakespeare in the Park is doing Midsummer Nights Dream this year. I'm seeing it, partly against my will - I've never enjoyed a comedy, on page, screen, or stage, and I've seen good performances. But I hope to be pleasantly surprised.
I saw Othello (at the Globe) and Macbeth (Royal Shakespeare Company, in Stratford-upon-Avon) during my trip. Both were excellent.
Sweeney Todd poster is cool.
Going to see the Hairspray movie tomorrow.
brenda m - Jul 27, 2007 10:55:51 am PDT #495 of 10000
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there
At Fringe a number of years back I saw a guy do a one man MacBeth populated entirely by Simpsons characters. It was pretty hysterical.
juliana - Jul 27, 2007 11:20:10 am PDT #496 of 10000
I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I miss them all tonight…
I think Branagh's Henry V is the hands-down best movie adaptation of that play. koffunlikehisHamletkoff
The best Dream I ever saw was the Fairbanks Shakespeare Festival, done outdoors and with absolutely no regard for period. When the mechanicals screeched up in a dusty-ass Suburban bellowing "I am Henry the Eighth, I am" and with rude slogans scrawled in the dust on the vehicle, I knew it would be fun.
Kathy A - Jul 27, 2007 11:29:33 am PDT #497 of 10000
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil
I've never read Henry V or seen any other adaptation other than Branagh's, but I really do love that movie. There are so many great moments in it--all of the various Henry/French Herald moments (especially after the battle), Brian Blessed chewing on those great lines about "the Paris balls" to the Dauphin at the French court, and Derek Jacobi as the Chorus throughout:
Oh, for a muse of fire
That wouldst ascend
The brightest heavens of invention.