tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post7826415419734376570..comments2023-09-10T09:09:48.513+01:00Comments on Myerla's Movie Reviews.: Thursday Movie Picks: Shakespeare adapatationsMyerlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00772428029534463716noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-37346155039444331002017-02-20T22:34:04.474+00:002017-02-20T22:34:04.474+00:00Coriolanus is one I wasn't sure to see or not....Coriolanus is one I wasn't sure to see or not. I'm not familiar with the play and the story was about war so turned me off BUT the cast and reason behind Ralph Fiennes picking made me think twice.Katie Hoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01176992567322682222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-33978416652914304772017-02-18T16:53:19.877+00:002017-02-18T16:53:19.877+00:00It's Ran not Throne of Blood but both do work ...It's Ran not Throne of Blood but both do work here.Myerlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00772428029534463716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-18710217312014162412017-02-18T16:51:56.383+00:002017-02-18T16:51:56.383+00:00Should fix that, especially see Ran.Should fix that, especially see Ran.Myerlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00772428029534463716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-10108522353683121762017-02-18T16:51:29.160+00:002017-02-18T16:51:29.160+00:00Thanks for calling it the Scottish Play. Bad luck ...Thanks for calling it the Scottish Play. Bad luck to give it its proper title.Myerlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00772428029534463716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-50755914415993106532017-02-18T16:49:41.325+00:002017-02-18T16:49:41.325+00:00I've heard of Whedon's Much Ado about noth...I've heard of Whedon's Much Ado about nothing. It was actually picked this week by another blogger.Myerlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00772428029534463716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-34953022350034546042017-02-18T16:48:48.669+00:002017-02-18T16:48:48.669+00:00Yep. Both Ran and Throne of Blood are inpsired by ...Yep. Both Ran and Throne of Blood are inpsired by his works.Myerlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00772428029534463716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-29201821750669489972017-02-18T16:48:18.684+00:002017-02-18T16:48:18.684+00:00Yeah. I do like Ken Branagh. His Shakespeare adpat...Yeah. I do like Ken Branagh. His Shakespeare adpations are all pretty good.Myerlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00772428029534463716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-62298507917818609022017-02-18T16:47:41.011+00:002017-02-18T16:47:41.011+00:00Fair enough. Thanks for stopping by.Fair enough. Thanks for stopping by.Myerlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00772428029534463716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-2250739874465104642017-02-18T16:47:17.144+00:002017-02-18T16:47:17.144+00:00I do want to see Ran on a proper big screen.I do want to see Ran on a proper big screen.Myerlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00772428029534463716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-51958526543059867862017-02-18T16:46:52.732+00:002017-02-18T16:46:52.732+00:00I took an issue with a few of his plays when I was...I took an issue with a few of his plays when I was younger. Haha.Myerlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00772428029534463716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-25052203767061365302017-02-18T16:46:25.750+00:002017-02-18T16:46:25.750+00:00For sure. Not many adapations around for Coriolanu...For sure. Not many adapations around for Coriolanus.Myerlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00772428029534463716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-26282266053287851862017-02-18T05:52:05.479+00:002017-02-18T05:52:05.479+00:00I'm another who hasn't seen any of these. ...I'm another who hasn't seen any of these. I need to get on Throne of Blood, quick.Dellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-20410256541400688592017-02-17T21:13:46.886+00:002017-02-17T21:13:46.886+00:00I haven't seen any of them.I haven't seen any of them.Vitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11584515156221631378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-74844361656394989072017-02-17T04:59:00.079+00:002017-02-17T04:59:00.079+00:00The Olivier Henry V is a good one but I too prefer...The Olivier Henry V is a good one but I too prefer Branagh's take. Coriolanus was challenging and I can't say I liked it over much outside of Vanessa Redgrave but it was nice to see one of Shakespeare's lesser known works tackled. I shamefacedly have to admit that I've never seen a single one of Kurosawa's films! Bad me, must correct.<br /><br />There's such a depth and breath of films to choose from this week it was fun poking around for some unusual ones though the Branagh Hamlet was the first to occur to me.<br /><br />Hamlet (1996)-Kenneth Branagh adapted, directed and stars as the tortured Dane supported by a cast that is drawn from the cream of the British acting world with a few choice American stars pulled in for good measure. What makes this version stand out from the myriad others is Branagh’s decision to pull the play out of the dingy and poorly lit 14th century to the lush baroque 19th, resulting in deserved nominations for Art & Costume design, making it a far more vivid experience. That’s a great help since he has also chosen to present the entirety of the play’s nearly four hour run time. In a cast that includes Derek Jacobi, Julie Christie, Robin Williams, Gerard Depardieu and Judi Dench among so many others it’s difficult to choose any MVP’s aside from Branagh but Kate Winslet as Ophelia and Rufus Sewell as Fortinbras, the crown prince of Norway are memorable. It’s a challenging view but worthwhile.<br /><br />Joe MacBeth (1955)-Updating the Scottish play to the criminal underworld of 1930’s America this violent take on the tale (it begins with the title character blowing away a crime boss then going directly to his own wedding) is an inventive twist on the material. Excellent work by Paul Douglas and Ruth Roman as the murderous mobster and his rapacious Lady M hold you rapt as the homicidal pair climb the ladder of success over an ever increasing pile of bodies.<br /><br />Kiss Me Kate (1953)-The Taming of the Shrew moved into the world of the modern theatre and musicalized by Cole Porter. Famous stage star Fred Graham (Howard Keel) tries to dissuade his equally famous ex-wife Lilli Vanessi (Kathryn Grayson) to postpone her upcoming marriage so she can co-star with him in a musical updating of The Taming of the Shrew. She agrees reluctantly since their relationship post-divorce is as combative as their married life so it’s not smooth going. Add in several flies in the ointment including second lead Lois Lane(!) (Ann Miller) and some mobsters who are mistakenly putting the squeeze on Frank for a debt Lois’s boyfriend owes and it’s a wacky time backstage. Onstage though there are some amazing dance numbers performed by four of the best dancers of the 50’s (Miller, Carol Haney, Bob Fosse and Bobby Van) and great music sung by all including “It’s Too Darn Hot!” and “From This Moment On”. One of the great musicals, originally shown in 3-D.joel65913https://www.blogger.com/profile/14526657073681774683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-39702891568469567332017-02-17T03:53:24.036+00:002017-02-17T03:53:24.036+00:00Interesting picks
One film adaptation I found pa...Interesting picks<br /> <br />One film adaptation I found particularly enjoyable (apologies for the American accents) was Joss Whedon’s 2012 “Much Ado about Nothing.” Just a way of winding down from the $200,000,000 budget Avengers (2012) that he directed, he and his friends shot “Much Ado about Nothing” in 12 days at home with handheld B&W cameras. The fully modern setting works perfectly if one just accepts the visuals that Don Pedro’s return from the war is a mafia war; if anything, the contrast of setting and dialogue better highlights how the relations of the sexes have changed and how they haven’t. The cast plainly had a lot of fun with it. Besides, for Whedon fans it’s entertaining to watch cast-members of “Dollhouse,” “Firefly,” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” recite Shakespeare. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAMsDP_DMHE<br />Richard Bellushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10108081864942272619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-69131147494297401572017-02-17T03:22:06.936+00:002017-02-17T03:22:06.936+00:00I also picked Coriolanus! Ever heard about the pla...I also picked Coriolanus! Ever heard about the play, but never actually read or seen any performance of it until I watched Coriolanus and instantly liked it. I think some Kurosawa's works are influenced by Shakespeare right?Paskalis Damarhttp://sinekdoks.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-41495689449702616922017-02-17T01:43:03.053+00:002017-02-17T01:43:03.053+00:00I haven't seen any of these but I like Kenneth...I haven't seen any of these but I like Kenneth Branagh and I love Ralph Fiennes so they sound quite good. I have to see Ran as well since there is nothing but great things about itBirgithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09439720285857050428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-52861629627251353482017-02-16T21:03:56.004+00:002017-02-16T21:03:56.004+00:00Myerla, I appreciated learning of these films but ...Myerla, I appreciated learning of these films but to be honest I probably won't see any of them. This just isn't for me. Please, no off with the head or anything. I really need it because...I look better with my head on my shoulders. :) Thanks for stopping in earlier!Cathy Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01056276734145310231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-16879501792257450352017-02-16T19:50:31.546+00:002017-02-16T19:50:31.546+00:00Fiennes's Coriolanus is SO GOOD. Vanessa Redgr...Fiennes's Coriolanus is SO GOOD. Vanessa Redgrave - GAH!<br /><br />I saw the restoration of Ran when it was touring rep houses and oh my Lord is it gorgeous.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11480863610135936930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-56978093377182217412017-02-16T16:31:52.586+00:002017-02-16T16:31:52.586+00:00I haven't seen your picks. Personally, I alway...I haven't seen your picks. Personally, I always liked reading Shakespeare's sonnets. The only play I ever took issue with was Romeo and Juliet.Brittani Burnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07975067259283007280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282345477542778584.post-76414503588772007632017-02-16T15:59:43.549+00:002017-02-16T15:59:43.549+00:00Actually, I know and love Coriolanus but I've ...Actually, I know and love Coriolanus but I've never seen the film you picked. I'll give it a try. Sonia Cercahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07313734872038610058noreply@blogger.com