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?
Are you interested in productions or adaptations? Everyone’s recommending great productions but adapting Shakespeare (ripping Shakespeare off) is an industry in itself. My personal favourite adaptation is 10 Things I Hate About You. But to be honest is really on the back of some truly great performances not the retelling of Taming of the Shrew.
I liked “O”(2001) more than most High School dramas.
How would you rate Romeo+Juliet(1996), production, rip off, or homage?
Romeo+Juliet is an amazing production. One of my favourites. If you look at the script is one of the most true to Shakespeare’s. And so beautiful.
I enjoy it too, well acted, cleverly filmed, but they did change the ending which seems a bit presumptuous.
I’m interested in both!
Then check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ran_(film)
Some of my favourite adaptations of Shakespeare and what they adapted:
Lion King - Hamlet
O - Othello
My Own Private Idaho - One of the Henrys I forget which one
10 Things I hate about You - 12th Night
West Side Story - Romeo and Juliet
And yeah don’t miss out on Ran
10 Things I Hate About You was an adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew.
You might be thinking of She’s the Man?
And My Own Private Idaho was, I think, a multi-source adaptation of Henry IV, Henry IV 2: Die Henrier, and Live V or Die Henry.