I’ve somehow avoided experiencing any of Shakespeare’s work outside of Hamlet, Julius Caesar, and Romeo and Juliet. I prefer to see plays acted out rather then just reading them so I’m looking for the best film versions of his work to experience.
My personal favorite is Franco Zeffirelli’s Hamlet, I watch it all the time and absolutely love it. I love how accurate it is to the play, as well as the costuming and set design feeling so real mixed with the gravitas and drama of the play.
Please share your favorites and tell me a little about why?
Tromeo and Juliet (1996)
There is a version of Macbeth from 1979 with Ian McKellen and Judy Dench. It’s not really a movie but a recording from the Royal Shakespeare Company. It uses minimal sets and just the actors standing in a circle. My wife is a huge Shakespeare fan, but I had no real interest in watching it outside of making her happy. But it was amazing. The acting was absolutely incredible. I’ve never seen anything else like it.
The version of Richard III staring Ian McKellen is great. The opening scene is a chilling depiction of facism.
Although I can’t stand him as a person, Roman Polanski made an excellent film out of Macbeth.
The Lion King for Hamlet
Better than Strange Brew?
It’s a re-imagining and not a film of the play, but Scotland, PA is a very good dark comedy about Joe “Mac” McBeth taking over a fast food restaurant through less than ethical means. Christopher Walken appears as McDuff, an investigator looking into the goings on.
Resan till Melonia, which is a cartoon adaptation of The Tempest. In it, two evil capitalists happen upon the island Melonia, untainted by their greed. The inhabitants of Melonia travel to the capitalist society to save Melonia and all the children the capitalists have enslaved. You know, normal childrens’ cartoons :-)
I enjoyed Brannagh’s much ado about nothing. I rather enjoyed Mel Gibson Hamlet. Both seem very fresh and contemporary to me
Branagh’s Henry V
Joss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing - it’s just a bit of fun, much like the play.
