In The Great White North Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I know I've seen threads on particular versions of the plays, but couldn't find it. Could anyone recommend your FAVORITE versions of: Romeo and Juliet Taming of the Shrew Hamlet Merchant of Venice The Tempest And any others 14 and 17 year old girls would be likely to enjoy. (By favorite, I don't necessarily mean truest to the text, but nothing veering off towards Monty Python. The version that will have them liking Shakespeare.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8filltheheart Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 My 12 yod loved Patrick Stewart's Hamlet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I thought that the Al Pacino/Jeremy Irons Merchant of Venice was very good. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greensa Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Since I'm also interested...:bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpedIntoTheDeepEndFirst Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I know I've seen threads on particular versions of the plays, but couldn't find it. Could anyone recommend your FAVORITE versions of: Romeo and Juliet Taming of the Shrew Hamlet Merchant of Venice The Tempest And any others 14 and 17 year old girls would be likely to enjoy. (By favorite, I don't necessarily mean truest to the text, but nothing veering off towards Monty Python. The version that will have them liking Shakespeare.) Taming of the Shrew--have there been films made other than the one with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton? Hamlet--I think I would go with either (or both) David Tennant/Patrick Stewart or Kenneth Branagh Much Ado About Nothing-Kenneth Branagh/Emma Thompson I have a few others on my list to see but haven't watched them yet... Midsummer Nights' Dream with Kevin Kline As You Like It directed by Kenneth Branagh you might also check out the documentary In Search of Shakespeare with Michael Wood-long but fascinating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Romeo and Juliet : Obviously not directly the play, but our DSs LOVED West Side Story, based on R&J. Great music and choreography. Taming of the Shrew The 1980 BBC staged for TV version starring John Cleese. It is the only version I've seen in which I felt Petrucchio genuinely loved Katherine and did all that he did out of wanting to see her blossom. Which is the only way the very end in which she willingly submits to his authority because she trusts he has her best good at heart makes sense. Hamlet NOT the Kenneth Branaugh version. ACK! It's all about HIM... on and on and on, the camera spins around him endlessly... Merchant of Venice The fairly recent Al Pachino version was riveting, poignant, packed with real emotion. NOTE: One brief scene in which prostitutes (in the background) are walking around with their dress tops just BELOW what dress tops normally cover. ug... why do they do that... Macbeth Kurasawa's Throne of Blood is a great 1950s B&W samurai adaptation of Macbeth. Much Ado About Nothing Okay, yes, the Kenneth Branaugh and Emma Thompson version. Wonderful! Our DSs saw this when around age 13-14yo and had no problems understanding it; they loved it! Skip the unnecessary shot of bare bums as everyone is running around getting ready in the short, added intro scene BEFORE the actual play starts. And try and get to a live stage production locally if you can! Our DSs loved the local high school version of Midsummer Night's Dream. They thought it was fun and funny -- plus they enjoyed seeing several friends in it. In addition to local high schools, see if the local community college or university theater dept. is putting on a Shakespeare play this year. Or if a local or nearby theater group, or traveling group will be doing a version. Enjoy! Warmest regards, Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kangato3 Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 My 15-yr old dd and I enjoyed Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet. Be forewarned that there is one scene with nudity. I chose to skip the 6 minute scene (1:34-1:40). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LidiyaDawn Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 I remember really liking the updated Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo Dicaprio ..it's all the original dialogue but it's a modern day setting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LidiyaDawn Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 - I found the trailer. haha - do you ever catch yourself thinking that something was "just a few years ago"….and then realizing that "a few" is kinda stretching it? I was 19 when this came out… I'm 34. YIKES. :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanah Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Without a doubt - Mel Gibson's Hamlet. Ok, ok, he's a nutcase, but he speaks Shakespeare fluently! :001_smile: Also very well done is his mother's role played by Glen Close and Ophelia played by a very young Helena Bonham Carter and Ophelia's father played by Ian Holm. One of my favorites movies hands down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MicheleinMN Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 :lurk5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Well I think the best way to like Shakespeare is to have a clue what's going on so you don't feel lost. If you haven't had them read abridged versions, you might do that first. There are really good basic retellings by Lamb, Nesbit, etc. that are good. The picture book versions by Bruce Coville are ASTOUNDING. And once they've done those, they might enjoy the comic book versions with parallel text from Oxford which you can buy through VP. I know those resources look young for their ages, but they'll do the job. When you're actually ready to watch the plays, you can look at your library for the Ambrose productions. You can also watch them online for $4 each. They're WONDERFUL, really wonderful. The acting is great, sets are great, and you can actually follow the plot with them and have a clue what's going on. The way they're divided by scenes, it's easy to watch them and discuss in the breaks with free guides from http://my.hrw.com/nsmedia/novelwise_ms_te_version/find/byauthor.htm# At least that is what has worked out well for us. It has surprised me how accessible the Bard really is to dd. I figured she'd get flummoxed with all the language. I think it's the prep work we did that got her comfortable knowing the plots, knowing where it was going. Also we started with the comedies (Merchant of Venice, Midsummer Night's Dream, etc.). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Ro Hamlet NOT the Kenneth Branaugh version. ACK! It's all about HIM... on and on and on, the camera spins around him endlessly... Oh, no! We loved this one! :001_huh: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I don't know of any movies that really compare to being at a good, live performance, but we loved the CBC serial "Slings and Arrows", a play-within-the-play concerning one Shakespeare play in each of three seasons: Hamlet, the scottish play, and Lear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karenciavo Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 (edited) Taming of the Shrew The 1980 BBC staged for TV version starring John Cleese. It is the only version I've seen in which I felt Petrucchio genuinely loved Katherine and did all that he did out of wanting to see her blossom. Which is the only way the very end in which she willingly submits to his authority because she trusts he has her best good at heart makes sense. :iagree: Hamlet NOT the Kenneth Branaugh version. ACK! It's all about HIM... on and on and on, the camera spins around him endlessly... This version is different that's for sure, but I like it. Visually beautiful and Branagh and Winslet are very good. I like the complete cast. Edited September 12, 2011 by Karenciavo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onaclairadeluna Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/hamlet/watch-the-film/980/ Great performances has 3 Shakespeare plays/movies online. My family all enjoyed this one just recently. How can you go wrong with The Doctor and Jen Luc on the same stage. (Geek family) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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