... plots seemed perfectly reasonable. After many comedies, Shakespeare wrote the Roman tragedy Julius Caesar. Although many stories had been done about Caesar, and the story was a legend in England, Shakespeare's version surprised many people by its originality (Timeline). The play centers on Marcus Brutus, Caesar's friend, who eventually kills Caesar. It explores what drives a group of well-respected men to commit ... a monster. "By the time it opened in December of 1611 however, Shakespeare had retired from the King's Men. After his retirement, he wrote only one play, Henry VIII" (Hazlit...

• Word Count: 1655
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... not beneficial to the understanding of the drama. The reasons I wish to share include, the modern objects in the movie off-set the mood of the classic play, the modern version does not give the full effect of the original classic, and the movie strays from the original play which would cause confusion. In explaining how the modern ... work which should not need to be defended but it has come to that because new writers want to make things entertaining not original. In addition to the modern version not giving the full effect, it also strays from the original play which could cause confu...

• Word Count: 1130
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... . A recent BBC poll rated Hamlet the most important artwork of the millennium, and the play has been put to film at least 43 times (Behrens and Rosen 711). Franco Zeffirelli's version of the play accounts for one of these. Zeffirelli directed this film in 1990, and it's sets and costumes were Oscar-nominated. Mel Gibson played the part of Hamlet, a part ... escapes, I suppose, the charge of being a mere movie-star Hamlet. But his movieness still shows, not so much in his appearance as in his voice, which is growly and unstable, cracking too easily" (Denby 767). Gibson doesn't want the au...

• Word Count: 1208
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... that his religious views haven't been forgotten. Both Olivier's and Branagh's film versions of the play edit out parts of this scene. In fact Olivier's version only includes the first line of the scene when Henry says: "How yet resolves the governor of the town?" The main reason is probably because the ... illegitimately seized control of the English throne. Within the first few lines of the soliloquy we can see that the king feels that he has been given full responsibility for his people and that he doesn't necessarily like it. He says: "Upon the King! "Let our lives, our souls, Our deb...

• Word Count: 2119
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... his violent ambition to become king and wear the crown of Scotland. One of the main dramatic and literary devices used in Shakespeare's and Polanski's version of MACBETH is soliloquy, where the character is alone and speaking to aloud, revealing their inner thoughts, reactions, motives and deeds. This establishes a ... Lady Macbeth's first soliloquy is an analysis of her husband's character and her ambition for him. "Yet I do fear thy nature: It is too full o'the milk of human-kindness To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great; Art not without ambition, but without The illness sho...

• Word Count: 12917
• Approx Pages: 52
• Grade Level: High School

... new generation. Due to the growing mental gap between the youth of today and the Shakespearean dialect, director Baz Luhrmann creates the modern day film version of Romeo and Juliet. The opening scene of the play is absolutely one of the most powerful scenes in both the film and textual versions. ... However, some key elements have been altered in the film version of the play to better enhance the understanding of a younger audience. Some of these key factors cover the areas of scenery, costumes, conflict, ... conflict occurring between the two households. The language utilized by the t...

• Word Count: 2229
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... , in 1996, another film director, Baz Lurhmann, portrayed Romeo and Juliet as a contemporary version, just as Shakespeare did in his day. Critics argue on if Baz Luhrmann's version was more of Shakespeare's intent than Franco Zeferelli's version. In my opinion, I believe that Luhrmann's version was more to Shakespeare's intent than Zeferelli's version because it had a contemporary setting. Shakespeare meant for almost all of the plays ... to the party. Mercutio, with his silly character, came to the party as a drag queen. Everyone was in costumes. The costumes added more color to the sce...

• Word Count: 704
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... extent, these differences are superficial and contribute only slightly to the overall ambience that begins to shape the tone and feeling of the movies. The oldest version, directed by Laurence Olivier, does something completely different from the other two movies. It includes a text introduction. However, from there, it does follow ... is no mention made of Fortinbras. This is not totally unheard of in the film versions. Fortinbras is not mentioned in the Franco Zeffirelli version either. In this beginning scene, the positioning of Hamlet is extremely important. In all the film versions,...

• Word Count: 1694
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... Juliet" to one that he is able to successfully bring to a new and younger audience. The original version of "Romeo and Juliet" was written in the 1600's and set in Elizabethan England. Baz Luhrmann's version of one of Shakespeare's most loved plays portrays the classic story in a modern day setting. Luhrmann chose Verona ... all. The images shown relate to the words in the Prologue, which is yet another way in which Baz has tried to update and modernize his version of "Romeo and Juliet". The tension is also built up visually by the use of short phrases and key words on screen. The speed ...

• Word Count: 1575
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... towards Caesar are divided - the plebeians are fickle minded and support Caesar, whereas two Tribunes, Marullus and Flavius try to curb Caesar's ambitions and his growing popularity. The administration was cracking from within. "These growing feathers plucked from Caesar's wing Will make him fly an ordinary pitch, Who else would soar above the view of men And keep us all in ... precautions. Caesar had always considered Decius as his friend and so he told him about Calpurnia's dream. How was he to know about Decius? Though the conspiracy had leaked in full detail, Caesar was unaware of i...

• Word Count: 1618
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... plays Macbeth. Some scenes were altered or removed, but they were only changed to make the transition from the book to a full-length movie successful. Polanski movie version of William Shakespeare's Macbeth is a good adaptation of the text, the characters are displayed with precision and the supernatural activities ... through sounds and lighting. The audience can feel the evil that is present within the setting. The characters are displayed accurately in the movie version of William Shakespeare's Macbeth. A good depiction of a character helps make the story more interesting to the reade...

• Word Count: 577
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... play and uniquely adapted it into film while still maintaining the themes of the original play. Just about every type of genre has a film version of Romeo and Juliet. Some film versions, such as Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 adaptation entitled Romeo and Juliet, are just a basic interpretation of the ... Shakespeare original play. It doesn't stray from anything in the original version. Other films like Baz Luhrmann's 1996 interpretation, the one we have dealt with during the course, uses the original Shakespearean language but presents the ... are some films that don't use the original scri...

• Word Count: 3331
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School

... than it would to attract an audience in the 1500's. Props have also advanced. I intend to briefly talk about the differences I observed in the text version of the play and the movie. When watching the film "Much Ado About Nothing" the first difference I noticed was the setting. The movie is set ... the men are wearing earthy tones. There is music playing that emphasizes the happy and carefree setting. It is impossible to get this from the text version of the play. Hileman 2 The next difference I observed was as Don Pedro and his men came into sight. Denzel Washington, an African American...

• Word Count: 785
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... both very interesting interpretations of the play written by William Shakespeare. It was fascinating because both were the same play but were clearly very different. In the Zeffirelli version, Mel Gibson played a very good Hamlet. The scene where he confronts Ophelia and tells her that he does not love her particularly moved me. I think ... out of the room, Ophelia crying and holding the pendant that Hamlet gave to her in the past. In the PBS movie version, we did not see the same scene of Hamlet and Ophelia, but the fishmonger scene with Hamlet and Polonius was very amusing. I think tha...

• Word Count: 405
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Introduction In my Comparison Essay I will compare Zeferelli's version of Romeo and Juliet to the modern version of Romeo and Juliet staring Leonardo Dicaprio, and Claire Danes. Romeo and Juliet is old but is really famous around the world. Romeo and ... the two as well as the Capulets and the Montagues and the Friar must explain it all for them. Body In the modern version I found a few similarities and differences from Zeferelli's version of Romeo and Juliet. In the paragraphs below you will find four similarities and four differences as well as three symbolisms. At ... the very end of my C...

• Word Count: 1482
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... a worldwide, best selling soundtrack. A film that will kick you in the heart. Although it will probably not be considered a classic at par with the Zeffirelli version, I liked this film a lot more than the stiff, Coles Notes version the Italian director served up. Baz Lugrmann's Romeo And Juliet is a very interesting and intriguing interpretation of Shakespeare's tale of two star-crossed lovers, and ... I heartily recommend it. **** 1/2 stars. = Lucas Brown ***** Excellent show, DO NOT miss it (pay the $ 15.00) **** Very good show, worth the full price but try seeing a matinee. *** Not ...

• Word Count: 380
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... writing brought forth a new life to poetry. This outstanding poet, author and playwright, was William Shakespeare. These highly subjective sonnets are wonderful tales full of love, deception, and betrayal. Although it is presumable that Shakespeare did write these sonnets about his own life, some experts are still puzzled by ... beloved, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" (ll. 1). It is during this time when the flowers are blooming, trees are full of leaves and the weather is warm. Summer is thought of as the most enjoyable time of the year, especially by Shakespeare who has not...

• Word Count: 3329
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School

... a truly feminine characteristic at the time. . Lady Macbeth herself notices a so-called female quality in her husband: "I do fear that thy nature is too full o' th' milk of humane kindness."" Indeed, Macbeth demonstrates considerably less determination than his wife. After Macbeth's procrastination before the murder of King Duncan, it is ... does not even remain even contented. She mocks her husband's compassion In doing this Lady Macbeth is disregarding the gender roles and recreating her own version of reality. She not only offers advice to Macbeth but also prompts him to Kill in her...

• Word Count: 1432
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... what other plays of his had been turned into contemporary versions. I decided to look at my favorite Shakespearean play of all time, Othello. I know that there was at least one version made, O, which starred Josh Har Mekhi Phifer and Julia Stiles. The reason I"m writing is to find out if this adaptation of the classic play by Shakespeare worked better for the ... critics. Many critics do not like modernized versions of classics, so I was intrigued as to what they thought about the new version of Othello. Did they find the modernization successful? Were the critics happy or disappointed ...

• Word Count: 485
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... the sections beging and end as sentences (at the end of the first 3 lines there are commas, but at the end of the fourth line of the section there is a full stop.) This is method is present in the first three sections. The next method that is applied is that each new sentence begins a different topic, moving the audience gradually through ... but to go onto the stage and read out the prologue. The chorus wasn't an actual character in the play, just as the newsreader is not a character in the film version. The job of the chorus (and the prologue) is to inform the audience of the main sto...

• Word Count: 1721
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

The "old" Romeo and Juliet movie has many similarities and differences compared to the contemporary version. The first release of the movie and the modern adaptation both follow the original story line. The two films diverge in their portrayal ... when approaching the theory of fate and the conclusion of the play. The physical features of the two pictures are distinct. The weaponry used in the first version included swords and daggers while the recent edition used guns. This shows the difference in the time periods in which the films took place. This also ... This shows that the play was a ...

• Word Count: 396
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... to have power drove him to kill anyone that stood in his way. The consequence of Macbeth's action was eventually his downfall. In my opinion the play was a far better version of Macbeth. The play was more detailed and concise, the movie had a lot more blood and gore, and the added scenes made it hard to follow. The added scenes in ... Roman Polanski's version of Macbeth made it very hard to follow. The play was hard enough to understand as it is, but the added scenes made it more confusing. Like when the porter ... come later in the story. The play was very violent, especially when all...

• Word Count: 270
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... shows she does not have a good understanding of relationships or jealousy. Desdemona has been interpreted differently at this part of the play in films and drama. In the Oliver Parker's version of Othello Desdemona appears very wistful, dreamy and more emotional. The director emphasises her spiritual value in the play and she appears delicate, sweet and nave. The actress's youth emphasises ... this and she appears very much an innocent child dreaming of making the world a better place. In the BBC version an older actress plays Desdemona and although she appears meek, passive and thought...

• Word Count: 2631
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School

... inflate his own character to be emotional and father-like. "Such and so finely bolted didst thou seem; and thus thy fall hath left a kind of blot to mark the full-fraught man and best indued with some suspicion." (Shakespeare 70) Critics believe that Shakespeare emotionalized Henry by talking of this "broken trust." (Thompson 2) Although Henry V was a devout orthodox Roman Catholic ... made possible to distort the image of the true Henry V. "Although no group of real human beings could ever achieve such unanimity and uniformity as the magnates do in Shakespeare's version of Henry's cour...

• Word Count: 1970
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... about his love for Olivia. Orsino speaks of his love for Olivia, so right in the beginning of the play, we know all about Orsino. However, when Orsino says, "So full of shapes is fancy that it alone is high fantastical" (I.i.14-15), we begin to wonder if Orsino is really in love with Olivia at all. This comment leads us ... that he needs to see her in her female clothes, and continues to call her Cesario, which may lead us to believe that Orsino is in love with the male version of Viola. I don't think Orsino really knows who he is love with, or what kind of woman, or man for that matter...

• Word Count: 840
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School