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And I myself will be wearing pink taffeta as chenille would not go with my complexion.

Giles ,'Touched'

Buffista Movies 7: Brides for 7 Samurai

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.

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Kathy A - Jul 14, 2010 8:29:30 am PDT #9809 of 30000

We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil

Several years ago, a local theatre did a gender-neutral concert-style production of 1776 which had a female John Adams and a male Abigail which got rave reviews. If I had heard about the production before the last week it was running, I would have made sure to have seen it.

Sean K - Jul 14, 2010 8:30:43 am PDT #9810 of 30000

You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty

I've seen multiple productions of Taming of the Shrew that made Kate and Petruccio likable and sympathetic, so it's very possible, even within Shakespeare's original text.

Jessica - Jul 14, 2010 8:36:04 am PDT #9811 of 30000

And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset

I've seen multiple productions of Taming of the Shrew that made Kate and Petruccio likable and sympathetic, so it's very possible, even within Shakespeare's original text

It's not making them likable that's the problem, it's getting away from the message that good women are doormats.

Frankenbuddha - Jul 14, 2010 8:36:23 am PDT #9812 of 30000

"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"

Jonathan Miller did a Taming for the BBC with John Cleese as Petruchio. I really liked that version. I can't remember who Kate was off the top of my head though. Cleese was quite good, as he generally is in serious roles.

P.M. Marc - Jul 14, 2010 8:38:45 am PDT #9813 of 30000

So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear

I liked the atypical-for-Meg Ryan Addicted to Love. Bitterness helps.

That movie was awesome.

Creepy stalker rom-com for the win!

I think more romantic comedies need guns and stuff blowing up. Or the unlikely pairing of creepy stalkers. You know. Mix it up a little, people! Otherwise it's all blah-blah-blah, whatevercakes.

Vonnie K - Jul 14, 2010 8:40:04 am PDT #9814 of 30000

Kiss me, my girl, before I'm sick.

it's getting away from the message that good women are doormats.

Yeah. The speech Petruchio makes Katherina perform near the end is pretty vile. I can't recall how the BBC remake version dealt with that, actually.

javachik - Jul 14, 2010 8:40:30 am PDT #9815 of 30000

Our wings are not tired.

it's getting away from the message that good women are doormats.

Yeah, Kate was no doormat in the all-women production we saw.

DavidS - Jul 14, 2010 8:42:40 am PDT #9816 of 30000

"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

it's getting away from the message that good women are doormats.

To me this is the difference between the text and the subtext. Kate is not a doormat. That is not how you think of her or remember her.

I often feel like conventional endings which tie things up in neat audience pleasing packages are seen as "the message" but the rest of the text and subtext subvert that message. Kate is memorable and likeable because she's a shrew. And Shakespeare obviously doesn't think she is a shrew. And to me her compliance at the end doesn't mean she's a doormat but rather that she's discovered sex and somebody worthy of her. She's happy; she didn't get a lobotomy.

Steph L. - Jul 14, 2010 8:47:57 am PDT #9817 of 30000

this mess was yours / now your mess is mine

I think more romantic comedies need guns and stuff blowing up.