Pegasus Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 I'd love to hear some recommendations for movies and/or vidoes of stageplays to go along with DDs study of Shakespeare. I would like both true to the original and also ones that are based on his plays but are more modern or a twist to the story. Here are the plays that she will be studying: Romeo and Juliet Julius Caesar Hamlet Macbeth King Lear Twelfth Night As You Like It A Midsummer Night's Dream Merchant of Venice Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted January 5, 2013 Author Share Posted January 5, 2013 I just found the following in another thread. These were recommended by Lori D. (Thanks, Lori!) I welcome additional recommendations. For viewing: - Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare) -- VERY good; alert: streetwalkers in the background of one scene have dresses with necklines below the breast level - Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare) -- VERY good; alert: opening sequence (which can be skipped with no loss of lines at all), has a quick shot of bare bums as people are racing around getting ready Also consider a "spin-off" or related movie once you read/view the original: - West Side Story (Romeo & Juliet) -- New York 1950s gangs Broadway musical - 10 Things I Hate About You (Taming of the Shrew) -- modern high school comedy - Throne of Blood (Macbeth) -- Samurai version Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted January 5, 2013 Author Share Posted January 5, 2013 I found a few more in previous threads. I'll keep adding what I find here. It may be helpful to someone else to have them all compiled into one thread. I apologize if I miss crediting any of the Hive. I know that Regentrude and jhschool made some of the following recommendations. Hamlet with David Tennant Much Ado about Nothing with David Tennant Midsummer Night's Dream with Stanley Tucci Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo di Caprio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingiguana Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 A little further out than just the plays: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Slings and Arrows http://www.amazon.co...n/dp/B000XUF6BU There's also Kiss Me Kate. You can watch the David Tennant Hamlet online: http://video.pbs.org/video/1473795626/ Kenneth Branagh also did one. We watched it. It was fairly good. But I seem to recall it was 4 hours long. That took us all week. Branagh also did a Henry V that people think is great, although we never really got into it (his Much Ado about Nothing was really good, though.) And a short but interesting read: http://www.naturalhi...08-09_pick.html "Shakespeare in the Bush", in which an anthropologist learns the real meaning of Hamlet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebastian (a lady) Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I'd love to hear some recommendations for movies and/or vidoes of stageplays to go along with DDs study of Shakespeare. I would like both true to the original and also ones that are based on his plays but are more modern or a twist to the story. Here are the plays that she will be studying: Romeo and Juliet Julius Caesar Hamlet Macbeth King Lear Twelfth Night As You Like It A Midsummer Night's Dream Merchant of Venice Thanks! There is a good King Lear adaptation with Patrick Stewart set in Texas. I think the title is King of Texas. It uses Shakespearian language in an old west setting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpedIntoTheDeepEndFirst Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Not any of the plays but I quite enjoyed Michael Wood's In Search of Shakespeare. Part biography part analysis of his works it is an interesting look at some of the theories about a man about whom we know so little. (Available on Netflix disc and instant play as a 4 part series.) I found Richard III with Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart's Macbeth fascinating re-settings. There is also another Hamlet with Mel Gibson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I'd love to hear some recommendations for movies and/or vidoes of stageplays to go along with DDs study of Shakespeare. I would like both true to the original and also ones that are based on his plays but are more modern or a twist to the story. Here are the plays that she will be studying: Romeo and Juliet Leonardo DeCaprio's version Hamlet Kenneth Branaugh one and David Tennant one Macbeth Hated the Patrick Stewart one, don't have a better suggestion Twelfth Night Kenneth Branagh one As You Like It Kenneth Branagh one A Midsummer Night's Dream Kenneth Branagh one Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 The BBC Classics version of Midsummer Night's Dream is the only one worth watching that I have discovered so far! What anyone sees in the Branagh version is something I am incapable of understanding. :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenmama2 Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Kiss Me Kate is quite approachable as a musical spin off from Taming of the Shrew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmermom3 Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 We have generally started with the BBC versions of the plays because they come closest to how my children envision the works after reading them. I find that the more experience my students have with a work, the more they are willing to deviate from the traditional play. Romeo and Juliet - We prefer this version to the DiCaprio one. Caution for nudity. Julius Caesar - This is the only version we have seen and it sparked a long discussion about what we expect from Shakespearean theater-trained actors versus film actors. Hamlet - we have seen both the BBC version with Sir Derek Jacobi and Kenneth Branagh's. We all love the BBC version hands-down, but have not seen David Tenant yet. Macbeth - The Royal Shakespearean Company's production of Macbeth is stripped down graphically, which may bother some students, but then the whole focus is on the superb acting of Sir Ian McKellan and Dame Judi Dench. This is my favorite version, but my kids prefer the BBC one. King Lear - we have seen the Orson Welles version and are looking for a better one Twelfth Night As You Like It A Midsummer Night's Dream Merchant of Venice- The BBC version is one of our favorite Shakespeare films. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Excellent! Thank you for all the ideas and suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I haven't seen Leonardo diCaprio's Romeo and Juliet, but I *loved* the 1968 one with Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmermom3 Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Not any of the plays but I quite enjoyed Michael Wood's In Search of Shakespeare. Part biography part analysis of his works it is an interesting look at some of the theories about a man about whom we know so little. (Available on Netflix disc and instant play as a 4 part series.) I found Richard III with Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart's Macbeth fascinating re-settings. There is also another Hamlet with Mel Gibson. My oldest son and I watched Patrick Stewart's Macbeth this afternoon. My son's take was "good, but very intense." It would not be my first choice if a student has never seen a production of the play or is sensitive to gore, but I would agree that the re-setting is fascinating and this version is well worth watching especially for Stewart's performance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmermom3 Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 I haven't seen Leonardo diCaprio's Romeo and Juliet, but I *loved* the 1968 one with Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey. Ellie, I agree. There is a freshness to it that makes the young love and emotional intensity so believable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lang Syne Boardie Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Great thread! Thanks to all. Wish I knew where to find "thread tools" so I could subscribe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 I watched the BBC Shakespeare Retold versions of Midsummer Night's Dream and Much Ado About Nothing today. The former was enjoyable, the latter made me forget I don't even like the story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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