I couldn't figure out how to make a new topic, so I chose one of the many modern Shakespeare adaptations. I think that the movie O is a perfect example of how stories are reborn to fit the current time. The re-telling of Othello in O places the two male characters as rival basketball players instead of men in the army. The structure of the story is similar, with a female character at the center of the plot. The purpose of re-telling the story this way seems to be to use a classic tale of revenge in a way that will interest a younger audience.The themes of Othello stay the same,with race, honesty, and pride at forefont of the story,but the setting is very different. Here's a link to a scene from the movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxIrDxj_B6w
Adding to the topic of modern day adaptations of Shakespeare...although there have been many one of my favorites is the more obvious adaptations the 1996 version of Romeo and Juliet. Starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Claire Danes. This adaptation is brilliant in that it is set in modern day Verona Beach while still using the original dialogue of Shakespeare's work. The usage of the new age paired with the old age using the hip costuming of the 90's while still using the original tone and dialogue of the original Romeo and Juliet creates a very avant garde film style. A more classic adaptation of the Romeo and Juliet story is the 1950's West Side story. Both are great if you haven't seen them you should check them out! Here's a clip of the 96' version when Romeo and Juliet first meet happens around the 3 minute mark. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y9Vd4tGPi0&feature=related
I thought of some adaptations for the Shakespeare's Hamlet. In the story of Hamlet, a prince is betrayed by his uncle, who killed his father and takes the throne. In the movie gladiator, Maximus was suppose to become the next emperor of Rome, but the evil son of the current emperor orders Maximus' execution. Maximus has to flee, and he joins and gladiator marathon to seek his revenge on the evil son. Lion King is similar to hamlet. Everyone knows the story of Lion KIng and the perfect parallels to Hamlet.
I'm a big Akira Kurosawa dork, so I thought I'd post the trailer for Throne of Blood, his take on Macbeth.I think that part of what makes this particular adaptation so interesting is seeing the ways in which Macbeth's medieval Scotland is transfered to feudal Japan; that is, we get to see how the core themes and structures of the original(as per Kurosawa) would look and function when framed by a different period/culture. I wish I could find the a clip of Toshiro Mifune's Macbeth character meeting the witch (there's just one in this version) as its one of the creepiest things I've ever seen...
I've definitely always been partial to the Romeo + Juliet 90s version, but one cool adaptation I saw last quarter for a class was Ran by Akira Kurasawa. It was his take on King Lear and I definitely have to say it was pretty amazing. But going back on Romeo and Juliet, Olivia Hussey is a far better Juliet than Claire Danes.
I'd like to post my idea of a Shakespeare adaptation as a stretch of sorts. In essence, I want to make the case that the new movie Hot Tub Time Machine is an obscure adaptation of Love's Labours Lost. The movie is about a group of men who have removed themselves and taken vows to study, and during this removal instead fall in love with women, forsaking their vows and eventually giving in to their love, only to be left behind because they are not yet mature enough. In the movie, we similarly follow a group of men who remove themselves from their society to the 1980's to relive their experiences. Along the way, they are held back by the obtuse idea that their actions may affect time if they don't relive them exactly, and thus are trapped in a similar "oath". Despite this, they once again fall in love, and are found to be too immature in many cases to make their love work out. (in the 1980's, at least). However, in a situation similar to the later play Loves Labours Won, (not by Shakespeare but still relevant) the time in between is passed in the best of circumstances as requested, and all turns out for the best.
There have been many Shakespeare adaptations, but one of the more cheesy ones is a scene from the film Billy Madison starring Adam Sandler. His character Billy undergoes a triathlon against one of hi father's co-workers in an attempt to prove his knowledge and responsibility to take over his father's company. He re-creates his own version of Hamlet while acting out to his best ability the actual dialogue of the play. It is a pretty short scene, but it just displays how much Shakespeare is referenced in present day films, as well as old one, and probably will forever. Even my little cousin who is 9, watched this with me and knew it was Shakespeare it made me happy haha. I can't exactly remember when I first learned about Shakespeare, but it seems like even at a young age or not much knowledge of him at all he remains iconic. Here is a clip from the film during the scene i discussed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdTnlnJjSqE
I couldn't figure out how to make a new topic, so I chose one of the many modern Shakespeare adaptations. I think that the movie O is a perfect example of how stories are reborn to fit the current time. The re-telling of Othello in O places the two male characters as rival basketball players instead of men in the army. The structure of the story is similar, with a female character at the center of the plot. The purpose of re-telling the story this way seems to be to use a classic tale of revenge in a way that will interest a younger audience.The themes of Othello stay the same,with race, honesty, and pride at forefont of the story,but the setting is very different. Here's a link to a scene from the movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxIrDxj_B6w
ReplyDeleteAdding to the topic of modern day adaptations of Shakespeare...although there have been many one of my favorites is the more obvious adaptations the 1996 version of Romeo and Juliet. Starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Claire Danes. This adaptation is brilliant in that it is set in modern day Verona Beach while still using the original dialogue of Shakespeare's work. The usage of the new age paired with the old age using the hip costuming of the 90's while still using the original tone and dialogue of the original Romeo and Juliet creates a very avant garde film style. A more classic adaptation of the Romeo and Juliet story is the 1950's West Side story. Both are great if you haven't seen them you should check them out! Here's a clip of the 96' version when Romeo and Juliet first meet happens around the 3 minute mark.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y9Vd4tGPi0&feature=related
I thought of some adaptations for the Shakespeare's Hamlet. In the story of Hamlet, a prince is betrayed by his uncle, who killed his father and takes the throne. In the movie gladiator, Maximus was suppose to become the next emperor of Rome, but the evil son of the current emperor orders Maximus' execution. Maximus has to flee, and he joins and gladiator marathon to seek his revenge on the evil son. Lion King is similar to hamlet. Everyone knows the story of Lion KIng and the perfect parallels to Hamlet.
ReplyDeleteI'm a big Akira Kurosawa dork, so I thought I'd post the trailer for Throne of Blood, his take on Macbeth.I think that part of what makes this particular adaptation so interesting is seeing the ways in which Macbeth's medieval Scotland is transfered to feudal Japan; that is, we get to see how the core themes and structures of the original(as per Kurosawa) would look and function when framed by a different period/culture. I wish I could find the a clip of Toshiro Mifune's Macbeth character meeting the witch (there's just one in this version) as its one of the creepiest things I've ever seen...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-72oaAS9hc
And by "its," I mean "it's."
ReplyDeleteI've definitely always been partial to the Romeo + Juliet 90s version, but one cool adaptation I saw last quarter for a class was Ran by Akira Kurasawa. It was his take on King Lear and I definitely have to say it was pretty amazing. But going back on Romeo and Juliet, Olivia Hussey is a far better Juliet than Claire Danes.
ReplyDelete1968 version balcony scene (starts @ 3:15):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=uVxdQ0vQhDw&feature=related
1996 version balcony scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=XLWPg3SCYH4&feature=related
I'd like to post my idea of a Shakespeare adaptation as a stretch of sorts. In essence, I want to make the case that the new movie Hot Tub Time Machine is an obscure adaptation of Love's Labours Lost. The movie is about a group of men who have removed themselves and taken vows to study, and during this removal instead fall in love with women, forsaking their vows and eventually giving in to their love, only to be left behind because they are not yet mature enough. In the movie, we similarly follow a group of men who remove themselves from their society to the 1980's to relive their experiences. Along the way, they are held back by the obtuse idea that their actions may affect time if they don't relive them exactly, and thus are trapped in a similar "oath". Despite this, they once again fall in love, and are found to be too immature in many cases to make their love work out. (in the 1980's, at least). However, in a situation similar to the later play Loves Labours Won, (not by Shakespeare but still relevant) the time in between is passed in the best of circumstances as requested, and all turns out for the best.
ReplyDelete-Jeremy Helgeson
There have been many Shakespeare adaptations, but one of the more cheesy ones is a scene from the film Billy Madison starring Adam Sandler. His character Billy undergoes a triathlon against one of hi father's co-workers in an attempt to prove his knowledge and responsibility to take over his father's company. He re-creates his own version of Hamlet while acting out to his best ability the actual dialogue of the play. It is a pretty short scene, but it just displays how much Shakespeare is referenced in present day films, as well as old one, and probably will forever. Even my little cousin who is 9, watched this with me and knew it was Shakespeare it made me happy haha. I can't exactly remember when I first learned about Shakespeare, but it seems like even at a young age or not much knowledge of him at all he remains iconic. Here is a clip from the film during the scene i discussed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdTnlnJjSqE
ReplyDeleteabove comment by Nicole Zeichick
ReplyDelete