Shakespeare Movies

During my summer of teen angst, I checked out the complete works of Shakespeare. It was a fabulous book with the left and right margins filled with explanations on many of the phrases. During my family's summer vacation, I would wonder off by myself carrying my complete works of Shakespeare. The only other thing I was interested in was sun bathing.

I didn't get a chance to watch a film this week so I thought, in memory of summer and Shakespeare, I would recommend my favorite films based on Shakespeare's writings.


Ten Things I Hate About You, 1999

This is a modern adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew. It stars a young Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles and one of my favorite actors, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Unlike other teen flics with too much sex and scatological humor, this is heart warming and lovable. You like all the characters and you want more than anything in the world for Kat to thaw. There's a good payoff in the end and fun is had by all.

Romeo + Juliet, 1996

You already know what a huge fan I am of Baz Luhrmann. In his version of Romeo and Juliet, he attempts what seems like an unlikely combination. He sets the story in a modern Verona Beach, with guns and pimped cars but keeps the Shakespearean dialog. If you already love the story, get a fresh energetic view of it through Luhrmann's colorful and textured lens.


Much Ado About Nothing, 1993

This adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy of twisting plot lines and outrageous characters is directed, written and acted in by Kenneth Branagh. Much of the fun of this film is in the amazing all star cast: Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Richard Briers, Keanu Reeves, Michael Keaton, Imelda Staunton, and Kate Berkinsale. Keaton, in particular, is hilarious. Consider watching this film on movie night with friends. It's great crowd pleasing fun and, besides, who wouldn't want to see Keanu Reeves do Shakespeare.


Hamlet, 1990

This was the first time I completely understood Shakespeare and I know it was the result of Mel Gibson's acting and Franco Zeffirelli's adaptation. Gibson's Hamlet is passionate, physical and intoxicating, which is the kind of characters Gibson plays. There is never a boring moment when he's on the screen.




The Taming of the Shrew, 1967

I rented this film because I hadn't read The Taming of the Shrew and I had yet to see a movie with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton together. Taylor and Burton's chemistry is obvious. This is Zeffirelli's earliest success in adapting Shakespeare to film and the most well known. I choose it as my classic.


Shakespeare in Love doesn't really count in this category because it's a fictional story about Shakespeare writing Romeo & Juliet, it's not actually one of his plays.

I saw Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet (1996) and was totally bored. It was the Kenneth Branagh show and, although Hamlet is melodramatic, Branagh's interpretation is too self-important. I didn't like Hamlet in this film and I didn't care what happened to him.

I haven't seen Laurence Olivier's Hamlet (1948). I hope to one day.