'To be or not to be'
'Friends, romans, countrymen,'
'If music be the food of love, play on,'
I think it's fair to say we've all heard at least one Shakespeare quote throughout our lives. Even if we've never read his plays, we can probably guess our way through the plot of Romeo&Juliet and perhaps even Hamlet.
And while that's good, I'm sure we can do much better. It's really a shame that many people today are too frightened to take on the Bard, they miss out on so many wonderful stories. And it is fear, I believe, that keeps us away from reading or seeing Shakespeare. He's always been associated with smart people, seems very high-culture. If you tell someone you know Shakespeare, they'll likely go 'ooh' and nod their heads in approval, which makes many people just stay away from him, ironically. He seems too complicated and besides, who wants to deal with that old language?
I know, you'll never get it in a million years.
Except you will. Because all this fear of Shakespeare is baseless. There's nothing to be afraid of there, you know? All those fancy sounding words? They're just words, nothing terrible about them. And I don't know why Shakespeare is associated with being posh because he was never meant for that. Shakespeare used to write for the common man, for you and me. Those were the people who went to see his plays and he wrote in such a way that it wouldn't be complicated for people to enjoy themselves at one of his shows. So put aside your fear and try to get into Shakespeare.
I know this can be hard and I've always believed Shakespeare is meant to be seen not read, so I figured I'd recommend you some Shakespeare adaptations that might make it easier for you to discover him.
1. Romeo+Juliet
I think this one tops every list and with good reason. The 1996 Baz Luhrmann adaptation takes the classic story of starcrossed lovers and sets it against a more modern background, with guns instead of swords. What's fascinating about this adaptation is that it retains the original language, which is much easier to follow in this setting. It's a very interesting mix of new and old, and together with the great acting and lovely soundtrack, it gives the classic Romeo and Juliet a fresh appeal. And besides, a young Leonardo DiCaprio is certainly nothing to sneeze at. All in all, it's a great, fun movie. It's easy to follow and well-paced, keeping your attention throughout.
2. 10 Things I Hate about You
Now, this is another must, although it is aimed at a teenage audience (much like Romeo+Juliet), it can be enjoyed at any age. And the acting is just delightful, featuring a young Joseph Gordon Levitt as well as a terrific performance from the much-regretted Heath Ledger.
This one is a modern take on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Basically a story about an overbearing father who will not allow his popular daughter to date until her unpopular sister also gets a boyfriend. Well not exactly, but basically that.
Unlike R+J, this doesn't retain the original lines, but it is a nice little introduction to at least the basic plot line in The Taming of the Shrew.
3. My Own Private Idaho
This one is my own private favorite, as it features terrific performances from such greats as Keanu Reeves and the much-missed River Pheonix. I think this is perhaps the most unconventional adaptation I've yet seen. Gus Van Zant takes Shakespeare's trilogy of Henry IV, parts 1 and 2, and Henry V and blends them into one huge story (which it is, basically) turning young Prince Hal (soon to be Henry V) into a hustler on the streets of Portland, Oregon. The plays, as well as the movie, tell the story of a rebellious youth who goes and does crazy things, living a dangerous life before he must come into his father's fortune and take on a life of responsibility.
It's an excellent story about the meaning of life, about love and loss, about friendship and duty. Keanu Reeves is a remarkable Scott (aka Prince Hal), who flirts with danger only to turn his back on all his low-life friends when the time comes and take his place in society. But perhaps the most heartbreaking story in the film is not that of Scott himself, but of his best friend, Mike (River Phoenix). Throughout, we're taken on a journey of self-worth – is Mike's life less valuable because he is a hustler?
A truly terrific movie and given that several lines are lifted straight out of Shakespeare, a solid introduction to the Bard.
We've talked about modern adaptations, but what about more loyal to the true text versions? If you want to go old school, fear not, there are many wonderful movies or recorded plays that are worth your time.
4. Macbeth
There have been countless adaptations of the Scottish play ( did you know that actors thought it bad luck to say 'Macbeth'? And they used to refer to it as the Scottish play), my personal favorite is the 2015 version featuring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard as the murderous king and queen. This one is true to Shakespeare's text and setting, taking the viewer on a 16th century journey, just like Shakespeare used to do in the theater. It has great acting, good engaging action, pretty much everything needed for a compelling movie.
5. Julius Caesar
Ah, a classic, finally. For this one, we leave the modern days and go back all the way to 1953, to the epic version of Julius Caesar featuring the masterful Marlon Brando as Mark Anthony (worth seeing for him alone), John Gielgud as Cassio as well as many other terrific actors. While this one may be slightly harder to enjoy, particularly for younger audiences, it's nevertheless worthwhile, both for the glimpse into history as well as for the truly great writing (and acting!).
6. Hamlet
I promise I won't keep you long back “in the olden times” but I also wanted to mention this version of Hamlet, from 1964, featuring another fantastic actor, Richard Burton (at the time, so deliciously young). Again, faithfully following the play, it's a great view, both for the acting and the story-line, Hamlet being one of Shakespeare's definite masterpieces. It might be a bit tricky to find a recording, given that it wasn't a movie as such, but a Broadway play, but trust me, it's well worth the effort.
7. King Lear
Back to modern times. King Lear is difficult to recommend, simply because there are so many incredible adaptations of it (the Derek Jacobi 1999 version is again terrific and while I haven't seen it yet, I've beard the more recent Anthony Hopkins one is phenomenal as well). But the one I'll recommend is the 2008 play-for-television featuring Sir Ian McKellen who does a superb old king. It's a truly sad and haunting play and it might well leave you in tears as you witness the tragedy of the old king spiraling into madness (so aptly portrayed by McKellen).
8. The Hollow Crown
This is another favorite of mine, being what introduced me to Shakespeare. The BBC series The Hollow Crown has two parts, the first four-episode one follows Shakespeare tetralogy, if you will, of Richard II, Henry IV part 1&2 and Henry V. I know, I've mentioned them before, but this one is far more faithful to the original text and it features some outstanding performances from greats such as Jeremy Irons in the role of old Henry IV, Ben Whishaw as Richard II and Tom Hiddleston as Henry V.
The second season of Hollow Crown follows the plays Henry VI and Richard III (coming as a historical continuation to the first season). This one stars another talented British actor, Benedict Cumberbatch as Richard III. Great adaptations and a captivating introduction to the wonderful world of Shakespeare.
Of course, there are many more lovely adaptations that are worth seeing. I'd love to hear about your favorite in the comments!
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