Which Shakespeare Play Tops Your List for Plot, Quotes, or Villainy?

[zoobyshoe]

Lay on, MacDuff!
An damned be him who first cries "Hold, Enough!"

 

[honestrosewater]

Cry 'Havoc!' and let loose the dogs of war!

Or let slip the dogs of war, even.

 

[FredGarvin]

Your favorite? Much Ado? Challenge! You must defend that choice!

ummmm...'kay...I realllly like it. What shall I have to do to defend?

 

[FredGarvin]

I hate to say this, but I haven't seen this one, (and don't really want to based on his other movies.)

I've seen the Olivier, and the Mel Gibson, both of which I liked...

Your street cred with the Mel Gibson Hamlet just went to ZERO! Sir Laurence I can see, but Mel Gibson?? Kenneth Branagh's version was fantastic. It had some fantastic scenery in it as well. Derek Jacoby is an awesome actor as well.

 

[FredGarvin]

Shakespeare In Love was the best. That's why it won the Oscar.

You made my diet coke come out of my nose when I laughed at that. Please tell me you were joking.

 

[arildno]

As for the "Hamlet" movies:
Actually, I very much liked Mel Gibson's "Hamlet" (probably because of Glenn Close's appearance).
It's no match for Branagh's version, though..

 

[singleton]

Othello (and to a lesser extent Antony and Cleopatra)

 

[Evo]

Keanu Reeves as Hamlet.

 

[honestrosewater]

Keanu Reeves as Hamlet.

As funny as that is, he was actually in Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing! He was Don John, so (intentionally?) he didn't talk much. I think Branagh likes to put some better known American actors in his films just to tempt a wider audience to watch. Jack Lemmon (Marcellus), Charlton Heston (First player), Robin Williams (Osric), and Billy Crystal (gravedigger) were in Hamlet. Charlton Heston was good and Robin Williams was funny.

 

[FredGarvin]

Keanu Reeves was absolutely horrible in Much Ado. What parts he did speak were pretty painful. He stood out like a sore thumb when in scenes with real actors.

You forgot Michael Keaton as Dogberry. He did rather well in that role I think. I even think Denzel Washington did an OK job. Jack Lemmon was a bit tough to watch in Hamlet but it was a bit part so it was OK.

 

[arildno]

Keanu Reeves was absolutely horrible in Much Ado. What parts he did speak were pretty painful. He stood out like a sore thumb when in scenes with real actors.

A sore thumb??
You're not being objective; you should pay attention to his looks, as Evo does..












Runs and hides from somebody's wrath..

 

[Evo]

A sore thumb??
You're not being objective; you should pay attention to his looks, as Evo does..

Yeah, who cares if he talks.

 

[honestrosewater]

You forgot Michael Keaton as Dogberry. He did rather well in that role I think. I even think Denzel Washington did an OK job. Jack Lemmon was a bit tough to watch in Hamlet but it was a bit part so it was OK.

Heh, I didn't forget- I thought to mention it right after I posted but let it go. And Kate Beckinsale was Hero, though unknown at the time. Eh, she was unknown- it was known that she was Hero. Yeah, I like Jack Lemmon, but he was painfully bad. Billy Crystal wasn't so uncomfortable speaking, but I think he missed it. I would cast John Rhys-Davies as the gravedigger.
Have you seen A Midwinter's Tale? I think it's called something else in the UK. Branagh directed and (I think) wrote it. Laertes, Horatio, and Polonius are in it; They put on Hamlet in a little church. If you haven't and like them, it's hysterical.

 

[honestrosewater]

Runs and hides from somebody's wrath..

I can bear the bad cameos. It doesn't ruin the movie and if it gets more people to pay attention to Shakespeare, it's worth it.

 

[honestrosewater]

Yeah, who cares if he talks.

Did I mention Don John was a nudist?

 

[FredGarvin]

I didn't mention Kate Bekinsale because I don't know if she's considered a big start or not. What a transformation that girl went thru. Hubba-hubba.