Shakespeare and stuff

[jonny jeez]

So there's a single decent production of a single Shakespeare play? Much the same as there's a single good Tarantino .[/SIZE]

Honestly there are plenty of the renaissance film productions worth seeing.

If you still don't fancy it perhaps try a modern translation, like west side story, kiss me Kate, the forbidden planet.

On a tangent, I've long felt that tarantinos reservoir dogs would make an awesome stage play, its set I pretty much a single location (short of a few flashbacks) and is all about the dialogue.

To add some yin to my yang, I cant stand seeing Shakespeare produced by some toff with an accent like Brian Sewell, rolling their r's and believing that annunciation equals good acting...drives me bonkers

I believe Ray Winstone and Micheal Caine did a version of henry V. I'm going to try and find that, could be good.

 

[ufkacbln]

Sounds to me like you've found fault with the steak because the plates it's served on were a different colour on the website

Which illustrates the issue nicely, you are reading the posts, then making up an absurd interpretation to reaffirm your own unsupported point of view.

 

[Profpointy]

I totally agree, it's a superb film. My favourite scene is where the "Dolphin" sends him some tennis balls and Henry's reply starts very quietly and gradually builds up to a full blown declaration of war.

My favourite scen from Brannagh's film is the opening. A modern-dressed (sorry Cunobelin) Derek Jacobi as The Chorus is walking through a film set with various lamps and film paraphenalia strewn around and delivers the opening "Oh for a muse of fire, that should ascend the highest heaven of invention.... kingdom for a stage" and so on, and bit by bit there are a few more suits of armour and tapestries, and a bit less film stuff. By the end of the prologue you're all exited by the prospect of the "vasty fields of France" when it cuts suddenly to the two plotting monks who have been looking up documents to justify Hal's claim to France. Great speech superbly done.

and whilst we're on Henry V, I recall seeing a film clip of Roylance doing the St Crispin's Day speech at the Globe - which was their first production when it opened. Instead of a rousing call to arms it was a quietly deliverd cycical gallows humour deliver from a man realising his cause was lost and he and all his comrades would be killed the next day. Chilling and real and a very different message from the usual, but same words. Sadly only seen the one clip. Zoe Wannamaker was the chorus in that one - her father Sam having been one of the key people behind the globe project

 

[jonny jeez]

Which illustrates the issue nicely, you are reading the posts, then making up an absurd interpretation to reaffirm your own unsupported point of view.

I actually do understand the frustration here.

Not sure I would have demanded a refund but I get that the production values were not as advertised.
Personally I would have just tried to enjoy it for what it was

What would have flipped my burger, would be the jumped up, pretentious ass of a manager who suggested that you just don't "get" Shakespeare, in a kings new clothes kinda way.

 

[jonny jeez]

My favourite scen from Brannagh's film is the opening. A modern-dressed (sorry Cunobelin) jacobo as The Chorus is walking through a film set with various lamps and film paraphenalia strewn around and delivers the opening "Oh for a muse of fire, that should ascend the highest heaven of invention.... kingdom for a stage" and so on, and bit by bit there are a few more suits of armour and tapestries, and a bit less film stuff. By the end of the proligue you're all exited by the prospect of the "vasty fields of France" when it cuts suddenly to the two plotting monks who have been looking up documents to justify Hal's claim to France. Great speech superbly done.

and whilst we're on Henry V, I recall seeing a film clip of Roylance doing the St Crispin's Day speech at the Globe - which was their first production when it opened. Instead of a rousing call to arms it was a quietly deliverd cycical gallows humour deliver from a man realising his cause was lost and he and all his comrades would be killed the next day. Chilling and real and a very different message from the usual, but same words. Sadly only seen the one clip. Zoe Wannamaker was the chorus in that one - her father Sam having been one of the key people behind the globe project

Dare I suggest that this would have been a far better first reply to @Cunobelin on his issue of disappointment. It illustrates how different productions bring totally different interpretations...sometimes

 

[ufkacbln]

Honestly there are plenty of the renaissance film productions worth seeing.

If you still don't fancy it perhaps try a modern translation, like west side story, kiss me Kate, the forbidden planet.

On a tangent, I've long felt that tarantinos reservoir dogs would make an awesome stage play, its set I pretty much a single location (short of a few flashbacks) and is all about the dialogue.

To add some yin to my yang, I cant stand seeing Shakespeare produced by some toff with an accent like Brian Sewell, rolling their r's and believing that annunciation equals good acting...drives me bonkers

I believe Ray Winstone and Micheal Caine did a version of henry V. I'm going to try and find that, could be good.

This was a suposed SCiFi adaptation, and is listed several times, but does not appear on IMDB as a film, or in either Winstone or Caine's FImography

Then I found this article that suggest this was a project that was never actually made

Shame as some adaptations worked well. For those of a certain age, Forbidden Planet was based on the Tempest

 

[theclaud]

Which illustrates the issue nicely, you are reading the posts, then making up an absurd interpretation to reaffirm your own unsupported point of view.

How about you post the offending 'advertisements' so that we can judge for ourselves?!

 

[jonny jeez]

This was a suposed SCiFi adaptation, and is listed several times, but does not appear on IMDB as a film, or in either Winstone or Caine's FImography

Then I found this article that suggest this was a project that was never actually made

Shame as some adaptations worked well. For those of a certain age, Forbidden Planet was based on the Tempest

Yup, I mentioned forbidden planet earlier (also kiss me Kate and west side story)

 

[ufkacbln]

I actually do understand the frustration here.

Not sure I would have demanded a refund but I get that the production values were not as advertised.
Personally I would have just tried to enjoy it for what it was

What would have flipped my burger, would be the jumped up, pretentious ass of a manager who suggested that you just don't "get" Shakespeare, in a kings new clothes kinda way.

Exactly, we did try and watch it, but it was unwatchable. You could not hear the words that were spoken for the banging of chairs in what can only be described as a bad modern dance routine.

Had I received a refund then that would have been it, but they were unable to take the point about honesty and integrity in advertising, that cost them


Edited -see Post 81

The cost was that of withdrawing and republishing literature that was deemed by Trading Standards to be dishonest and misleading

 

[Profpointy]

Dare I suggest that this would have been a far better first reply to @Cunobelin on his issue of disappointment. It illustrates how different productions bring totally different interpretations...sometimes

Of course it would, but I was saddened that someone on here was rather proud of extracting money from a supplier on specious grounds. We always hear of people demanding money off holidays for ridiculous reasons, "this is Torquay madam, what do you expect, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon" and it just ends up costing the rest of us money. Or spurious suing of the Scouts or whatever resulting in fewer opportunities for kids to do stuff. But hey ho

 

[jonny jeez]

Of course it would, but I was saddened that someone on here was rather proud of extracting money from a supplier on specious grounds. We always here of people demanding money off holidays for ridiculous reasons, "this is Torquay madam, what do you expect, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon" and it just ends up costing the rest of us money. Or spurious suing of the Scouts or whatever resulting in fewer opportunities for kids to do stuff. But hey ho

Props for quoting basil. Perhaps herds of wilderbeast roaming majestically across the stage would have improved @cunobelins enjoyment

 

[ufkacbln]

How about you post the offending 'advertisements' so that we can judge for ourselves?!

It was some 15 years ago, so I doubt they still exist, but basically all the posters, photographs and flyers showed traditional dress, which was dishonest.

 

[Profpointy]

Props for quoting basil. Perhaps herds of wilderbeast roaming majestically across the stage would have improved @cunobelins enjoyment

He'd have found something to object to no doubt.

 

[ufkacbln]

Dare I suggest that this would have been a far better first reply to @Cunobelin on his issue of disappointment. It illustrates how different productions bring totally different interpretations...sometimes

Different productions are fine, as are modern interpretations - that is not in dispute

Anyone who has seen the modern version of Macbeth with Patrick Stewart will see how a modern interpretation can be educational and put the plays in to a perspective that a younger generation can understand

My issue is and always has been the honesty and integrity of the advertising which allows you to make the choice whether you wish to see that version.

 

[srw]

the plays in to a perspective that a younger generation can understand

This is one of the funniest things I've read so far on a very funny thread.

You are the Colonel Blimp of theatre criticism.