Favorite Shakespeare Adaptation?

[Timothy Hunter]

I'm currently on a hot streak of watching cinematic adaptations of Shakespeare plays. Last night I watched Orson Welle's Othello which was excellent as well as the 2001 modern retelling of Othello which was also stellar.

[Timothy Hunter]

I'm currently on a hot streak of watching cinematic adaptations of Shakespeare plays. Last night I watched Orson Welle's Othello which was excellent as well as the 2001 modern retelling of Othello which was also stellar.

[Thezmage]

1996's Twelfth Night with Ben Kingsley as Feste the Fool

[the illustrious mr. kenway]

My favorite Indian Film director is Vishal Bhardwaj. He did a trilogy of Shakespeare adaptations.

[the illustrious mr. kenway]

My favorite Indian Film director is Vishal Bhardwaj. He did a trilogy of Shakespeare adaptations.

[Jim Kelly]

I was a big fan of the Kenneth Branagh directed HAMLET (1996) when it was out in theatres--going to see it a few times. The reason was because this adaptation left in a lot of scenes from the play that would normally be left out. So one got more of Shakespeare's play. And it was a very good looking movie on the big screen. Other movies might have better acting or some cool insight into the text, but this would be my go-to movie for getting into Shakespeare. Of course, I only saw it on the big screen--I imagine it loses something if you only see it at home on a small screen.

[useridgoeshere]

10 Things I Hate About You

[Kieran_Frost]

Shakespeare is such a hard one to do on film, and get all elements right. I think Kenneth Branagh is definitely the best director of Shakespeare's language on film, by filming using soliloquies and monologues as one take, to really give the medium over to the words. But probably the best overall director of Shakespeare (in terms of bringing the visuals and language and world that Shakespeare wrote about) on film is Franco Zeffirelli. THAT SAID...

Kieran's "Top 5" Shakespeare Films
1. Henry V (1989)
2. Throne of Blood (1957)
3. Romeo & Juliet (1968)
4. the Merchant of Venice (2004)
5. Chimes at Midnight (1965)

FUN FACT: Baron Laurence Olivier is the only person who has successfully directed himself into an acting Oscar, for Hamlet (1950)

I'm currently on a hot streak of watching cinematic adaptations of Shakespeare plays. Last night I watched Orson Welle's Othello which was excellent as well as the 2001 modern retelling of Othello which was also stellar.

Oh, may I ask, how was... Welles as Othello? Was it... distracting? Or actually not that bothersome?

[Kirby101]

Forbidden Planet.

[thwhtGuardian]

I'm a big fan of Richard Loncraine's 1995 adaptation of Richard III starring Sir Ian McKellen, and I love Julie Taymor's 1999 Titus which is one of my favorite plays by Shakespeare.

[BeastieRunner]

Julius Caesar 1953
10 Things I Hate About You
As You Like It
King Lear 1971 (the Magee/Scofield one)
Throne of Blood
Richard the Third 1955
Romeo + Juliet
Twelfth Night
Much Ado About Nothing
Titus 1999
Ophelia

Not sure if Ophelia is in my top 10 it is just the most recent one.

The late 80s and 90s had an impressive run of decent to great Shakespeare takes.

[Timothy Hunter]

Oh, may I ask, how was... Welles as Othello? Was it... distracting? Or actually not that bothersome?

He gives a great performance, but he makes an unconvincing black guy.

[Nods]

A Midsummers Night Dream (1935)
10 Things I hate about you (1999)
The Lion King (1994)
Ran (1985)
Macbeth (1971)
Othello (1951)
Julius Caesar (1953)
West Side Story (1961)
Titus (1999)
Richard III (1955)

[Scott Taylor]

Forbidden Planet is actually a really good adaptation of the Tempest, as has been said.

Laurence Olivier's Hamlet is a classic and I enjoy it.

[numberthirty]

While they ain't exactly the golden children?

Strange Brew

Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead

Let The Devil Wear Black

My Own Private Idaho