Julie Taymore: Film Analysis

Personally speaking, I prefer the movie to the play. Granted, the play may have deep, underlying meanings, but to me, it wasn 't very moving or emotional. The additions made in the movie help to more clearly define the roles of good and evil, and play on the hidden feelings people have. I think most of the additions, if not all, were appropriately made and were quite successful. I enjoyed both the movie and our reading of the play very much, but again, I would have to say that I prefer the

In addition, a difference in the film by Baz Luhrmann, compared to the play by Shakespeare is the prologue and chorus. In Shakespeare’s original production, the chorus would have entered the Globe Theatre, and to gain the audiences’ attention, would yell “Two households, both alike in dignity” and the rest of his part. In Luhrmanns’ portrayal of the chorus, he instead uses close up shots of a television with an African American woman delivering a news report. Whereas Shakespeare’s audience were aurally dependent, modern audiences rely immensely on visual aspects of Luhrmanns’ ‘Romeo+Juliet’. The use of the television ‘caught’ the contemporary audiences’ eye and the African American woman represents the historically important

There have been many Shakespearean plays that have been made into movies throughout the years. One that may not be so easy to come across is “Kiss Me Kate”. This movie stars Kathryn Gayson ,as Lilli Vanessi, and Howard Keel, as Fred Graham. This is a adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” The movie contains a story with in a story. The movie is about a man, named Fred Graham, who makes a recreation of the famous play. Many of the characters portray real life people who are some what identical to those in the play. The movie illustrates Shakespeare’s characters as he intended them to be and gives the viewer a good idea of what

The use of technology has catalyzed society into an era that is increasingly interconnected yet impersonal at the same time. Despite technology’s endless list of assets, many fail to acknowledge its shortcomings when mentioning what is lost as a result of using it. Although in “Great to Watch” by Maggie Nelson, she is not afraid to share her skepticism of technology, as well as the role it plays in desensitizing individuals on a day-to-day basis. The internet is an invaluable resource to many because it is a public domain for sharing ideas, opinions, and knowledge that any and everyone can have access to. In a sense, it does not restrict what someone may see or do, and this can either be a good thing or a bad thing. The booming use of new media

13th is a 2016 American documentary by director Ava DuVernay. The movie was captured and presented in the form of interviews with various people from the diverse background; from educator to politicians, from black to white, they all generally agree with the fact that mass incarceration has done nothing but damage the society and the people of color. As the movie tried to gather all the opinions and information from people with various socio-economic status, I think it is safe to assume that the primary purpose of this film is to serve the information without being polarized to one party. This movie has disenchanted people to realize that mass incarceration of people of color is a big problem. The reason why this topic has been overlooked for

     Many of Shakespeare's works have been transposed from stage to screen, none so more than Hamlet. Two of the most unique film appropriations of the play are to be found in Rodney Bennett's 1980 film and Kenneth Branagh's 1996 blockbuster. The two films share many parallels between them in both interpretation and method, however they also have marked differences in their respective approaches to the text.

Baz Lurhmann’s creation of the film Romeo and Juliet has shown that today’s audience can still understand and appreciate William Shakespeare. Typically, when a modern audience think of Shakespeare, they immediately think it will be boring, yet Lurhmann successfully rejuvenates Romeo and Juliet. In his film production he uses a number of different cinematic techniques, costumes and a formidably enjoyable soundtrack; yet changes not one word from Shakespeare’s original play, thus making it appeal to a modern audience.

Comparing a play to its movie adaptation is something that is hard to do since there is no tangible way a person can capture the original then change it to make the movie version of it up to par to the original. From the original play of A Midsummer’s Night Dream that was created by Shakespeare in the movie version of it created by Michael Hoffman, there are many similarities and differences that are in the movie some are very stark while others are very subtle differences.

The New World Encyclopedia includes a lengthy and extensive section on Romeo & Juliet with a copious amount of information or aspects pertaining to the play. In one part, it examines the film adaptations of Romeo & Juliet and discusses the thought process when trying to adapt Shakespeare’s works cinematically. The end of the fourth act being a major focus. This material will help further my understanding and argument of the sacrifices that need to be made to have Shakespearean plays effective on the big screen; especially for modern audiences.

The movie however had some weak points that pulled it away from shakespeare's original intent with the script. There was a lot more emphasis on sexuality in the movie than Shakespeare's play intended. There is also

I will say this I may not be great at understanding the (modern English?) dialect but I did realize that the movie cut out lines and parts of the actually play. He (Branagh the movie director) also left out offensive references that are in the actual play. I think in comparison that movies are focused on visuals, surroundings and the lead in to a scene. This takes more time where the play does not. If the movie had done every thing just like the play and still held true to their camera attractions think the movie would have been twice as long. Another thing I found to vary between the play and the movie is that the movie is great in having close ups and all of that, but because of this you don?t get to see the rest of the scene at the same time, like the background acting. Sometimes it is good to see everything that is going on in a room or courtyard, rather than just seeing 2 minutes of a person?s face. Also it degrades the actors full involvement such as body movement and mannerisms when you only see their face.

Although the movie did tell the baseline story of the play I don’t think the movie captured what Shakespeare would have liked it to. The story of the play followed the originally play but I think the overall mental image and picture has more to do with the story than the story itself. The movie didn’t capture any of the original settings, or anything in that nature. It kept the story line, but then decided to take its own twist and turn on the vision of the play. The movie version did not in vison what Shakespeare would have wanted or tried to portray in his original

The play was significantly finer than both the text, and the movie. Primarily, the visual performance was very pleasing. Furthermore, the play was more interactive than the text, and the movie. My last point, is that the actors had to memorize their roles for the whole play, not just one scene at a time. Winding up, the play was above, and beyond the other two performances.

Part 1 - In American author's 2009 book, The Help, the primary thesis is the relationship between Black maids and white households in Jackson, Mississippi during the early 1960s. The story is really told from three perspectives, Aibileen and Minny are Black women, both maids, and Skeeter is the nickname of Eugenia Phelan, daughter of a prominent White family. Skeeter has just finished school and hopes to become a writer. In general, the relationship between the Black maids and the White employers is six sided: On one side we have the White employers who have three views: 1) Their personal and private beliefs that can range from extreme scorn and bias to kindness regarding race; 2) Their public persona that must have the "proper" attitude about Blacks and "the help," and 3) Their employer attitude, which is condescending and parental. The Black view also has three segments: 1) Their personal and private beliefs that usually range from understanding not all Whites are the same and an extreme love and empathy for the White children for whom they care; 2) The public persona that is deferential, polite, and stoic to their White bosses; and 3) Their attitude and view among the Black community, which usually separates the "poor and ignorant but rich" White souls from the Black view of family and common sense. All in all, the relationship is contentious, phony, and based on economic advantage.

Antony and Cleopatra is one of Shakespeare’s more glamourous plays that details a forbidden romance in an incredibly passionate and often aloof way. While reading the play it is difficult to find empathy in my heart for Antony and Cleopatra’s demise. The way I read the play made me feel second hand embarrassment for the way they handled their relationship and Antony was all the more worse with his continued infidelity and immature actions. However, watching the play in the intimate setting of the Round at the Folger Theater allowed the audience to have a more intimate connection with the actors and better identify with the characters’ actions. The director took care to light the mood of certain scenes accurately which effectively warmed and cooled the audience down in a way the director wanted the audience to feel. The director also made several casting decisions that really pushed the interpretation of the play he wanted to exhibit. The technical production of the performance including lighting and sound paired with the casting decisions made by the director help display the director’s angle of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays: to bridge the gap between Egypt and Rome, where the audience is able to gain an understanding of the characters is ways they have never been able to before because of the way their emotions and actions change on a whim. It is difficult to really “get” Antony and Cleopatra and follow their story because of the way it bounces around so