Change Your Image
ScarletSpider87
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Lists
An error has ocurred. Please try againThis list is informational and I do not personally endorse all these films.
As a sorry commentary on the state of our culture, to date there have been no faithful films made of "Troilus and Cressida," "All's Well That Ends Well," "Timon of Athens," "Cymbeline," "The Two Noble Kinsmen," and "Edward III."
This list is ordered in a suggested reading/viewing order, which is: the comedies and tragedies in the chronological order of their writing, followed by the histories in the chronological order of the events portrayed. Do yourself a favor and read Shakespeare's wonderful work before viewing the accompanying film.
Reviews
Leonor (1975)
Excellent Adaptation of "Wake Not the Dead"
This film is a fairly faithful adaptation of the Gothic short story "Wake Not The Dead" by Ernst Raupach (which is misattributed to Ludwig Tieck in many sources, including the opening credits of this film). Definitely read the source material before you watch the film, and your enjoyment of the film will be much greater. Of course, as is often the case, the short story is better, and the few ways in which this film diverges from the original story are detrimental to the film. Nevertheless, it is overall very faithful to the tone and message of Raupach. It has a lovely Medieval setting and Gothic tone.
The Tempest (1983)
The Perfect Tempest
The 1983 Stratford Festival production of "The Tempest" is traditional and faithful to Shakespeare's original intent. It is also beautifully acted. Everyone is at the top of their game here. It will make you laugh; it will stir your heart; it may even move you to tears.
Len Cariou is an amazing Prospero. He inhabits the character. Over the course of the play you watch him show the full range of emotions, from rage to sorrow to love to joy, and he makes you believe every time that he truly feels it.
The costumes are lavish and appropriate to the characters. The music is beautiful and memorable.
Above all, Shakespeare's beautiful message of true love and mercy shines through here as in no other production. After watching this, one will realize how art can truly inspire and cultivate the human soul.
Shakespeare's Globe: Titus Andronicus (2015)
Utterly Ruined by One Bad Actor
This production is unwatchable because of the horrible performance of the lead William Houston. He has absolutely no instincts. His performance is on par with William Shatner's worst moments. He delivers all of his lines in a ridiculous and hammy way, with the emphases in all the wrong places. He completely misunderstands the character of Titus Andronicus. It is just a train wreck. He honestly looks like he is having a stroke at times or maybe just some constipation.
This is sad, because the other actors all did excellent, especially the actors who played Marcus Andronicus and Aaron the Moor. They nailed their parts. Honestly, everyone else did great. But there is no way to get over that the lead character makes or breaks a film. He is in almost every scene, and it is enough to ruin it. I cannot believe that no one stopped him during rehearsals and said how terrible he was.
Watch instead the Titus Andronicus in the BBC Television Shakespeare production directed by Jane Howell. There Titus Andronicus is played by Trevor Peacock, who does an excellent job in every scene. Thankfully the rest of the production is up to par too, so there is no reason to watch any other.
I'm writing this to spare you the pain. If you have read the play first (which you should always do before watching the film), and understand what Titus Andronicus is meant to be, you will be very disappointed if you watch this production.
Macbeth (1970)
The Best Macbeth So Far
I just had to leave this review to correct the record, lest you be misled by the one other review.
This is the best Macbeth film because it is Shakespeare's Macbeth, true to his text and plot with no major cuts, true to his setting, and free from weird modernist alterations. It has no major flaws. It is not a big budget film, but that shouldn't matter to a true Shakespeare fan. It doesn't look cheap at all, but it is also not a special effects blockbuster. It is a good film of a PLAY. The feast here is for the mind. The costumes and sets are just as good as you will find in comparable British television productions.
The performances of Michael Jayston as Macbeth and Barbara Leigh Hunt as Lady Macbeth are outstanding among the other fantastic performances.
We are truly lucky to have this good Macbeth when so many others distort the play. Unfortunately, it has only been released on video, not yet on DVD or Blu Ray, which is a great shame.
The Boys from Brazil (1978)
A triumph!
"The Boys from Brazil" is very entertaining on several levels if you love history and you love asking those "what if" questions.
Even though most of this film is fictional, amazingly enough, a few parts of this film accurately predicted historical/scientific events before they happened.
If you can, do yourself a favor and don't read too much of the plot beforehand- when you go into this film not knowing its big reveal, you will understand what an effective thriller it was in its time. If you have already watched it, try watching it with someone who doesn't know what it's about. I think the film plays much better when you look at it from the perspective of someone who doesn't know the ending.
Gregory Peck's portrayal of Dr. Mengele is gripping, the work of a true master of the acting art. He steals every scene he is in. The same can be said of Laurence Olivier.
No, this film doesn't have CGI. No, it doesn't have a fast-pace. No, it doesn't have a lot of frenetic action. What "The Boys from Brazil" does have is a great concept, a great story, great actors, and a few well-placed laughs.
Skyfall (2012)
A great film, but not Bond
Skyfall was disappointing. My overall impression? It was a great and enjoyable film if it were an ordinary action film, but it was NOT a Bond film.
Skyfall lacked everything that differentiates Bond from every other action hero.
1. The film did not open with the gun barrel sequence. It was pointlessly tacked on at the end. That is so stupid. If you are going to include the sequence at all, why put it at the end? Just to be different? The gun barrel sequence is important at the beginning because it sets the tone. It revs the audience up and gets you in the Bond mood. Some traditions shouldn't be messed with.
2. There were no visible naked women in the opening sequence. We want dancing naked women! There, I said it. Yes, there were two naked women that it showed from the shoulders up, but that doesn't count. Everything else was CGI, and with way too much focus on Daniel Craig himself.
At this point I must add that I loved Adele's theme song, until a FREAKING CHURCH CHOIR started singing behind her! That ruined the whole song. It was completely inappropriate to the tone of the film. When she sang by herself, that was awesome. Why did she ruin it like that?
3. The Q sequence was extremely lame. Q gave Bond a gun and a radio transmitter. Q is supposed to give Bond cool gadgets. A gun is not a gadget. Q said, "Did you want an exploding pen?" Yes, Q, I freaking did.
4. No actual female nudity was shown, but we sure got to see Daniel Craig with his shirt off all the freaking time.
5. James Bond didn't say anything funny in this film. Sure the writers attempted to give him jokes, but THEY WEREN'T FUNNY. I didn't hear a single laugh in the theater.
Even when Bond could have said something funny, he didn't. Like when he stabbed Silva in the back at the end, and he starts slouching toward him, the old Bond would have made a quip about his death. What Bond should have said is something like "I can see your back is killing you." That would have been brilliant.
6. James Bond did use his Walther PPK, but he didn't treat it with any respect. He got frustrated and threw it down at the beginning. Then when he got a new one, he simply left it in the pit at the Asian place. In fact, I am amazed at how often Bond thought it would be a great idea for him to go around with no gun whatsoever.
Like at the end, when he is chasing Silva to the old church, he knocks out a bad guy with a machine gun. But does Bond grab the gun like any sensible person would do? No, he continues chasing Silva weaponless, and is immediately confronted by Silva who has a gun and stops him helpless on the ice. SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE MACHINE GUN, IDIOT.
7. Bond failed to rescue the girl (who happens to be M) in the final sequence. Which is OK, because I hated Judi Dench anyway.
8. The film lacked the typical ending with Bond about to ravish some hottie.
9. The end credits did say "James Bond will return," but failed to name the next film. What, are they too lazy to think of a title? Here's a bright idea- make another of Ian Fleming's actual books.
10. The number one rule of James Bond is that he must never, ever, ever, be Daniel Craig. But to my dismay, James Bond was again Daniel Craig. And he looked worse than ever. How could someone so ugly be James Bond? Seriously. And before you ladies go on about how hot his body is- have you ever paid attention to his chest hair? The man has no chest hair except for two little patches that grow in rings around his nipples, and this hair is long my friend, like six inches long! It hangs down like a woman's hair from his nipple. What a freak.
By the way, why were they talking about Bond being old in this movie? This is only the third film of the reboot, and he isn't supposed to be old yet, knuckleheads. This is James Bond at the beginning of his career. How can he be old already?
All in all, the filmmakers went with the same dry, Bourne-like stuff that they did in the last two films. Bond is not supposed to be realistic like that. He is supposed to be over the top. Is it realistic that the guy turns on every woman he meets? Bond was never realistic, just like Batman (you hear that Christopher Nolan?).
The best sequence was when Craig pulled out the old Aston Martin and the classic Bond music played, and everybody in the theater went wild. That was the most excited anybody got during the whole film. Do you know why? People like the old Bond and they want the old Bond. The formulas are what made Bond successful to begin with.
One final thought. When "Bond" word associates "murder" with "employment," that makes absolutely no sense. The classic Bond was not a murderer; he was not an anti-hero like Bourne. In one of the classic Bond films (I can't remember which) he even actually says that he doesn't kill innocent people. The old Bond actually recoiled at the thought of being labeled a murderer. Bond is a killer, not a murderer. My Bond only kills murderers and those he has to kill in self-defense.
Skyfall is Bond without all the fun and sex. So go see it if that's what you're into.
3000 Miles to Graceland (2001)
A cult classic
To enjoy this movie, you need to know what kind of movie to expect going in. Don't expect it to be about Elvis per se, although he does play a large role in the background. So if you came to this movie because you are an Elvis fan you may or may not be disappointed. Also don't expect it to be a polished critical classic like Gone with the Wind. Do expect it to be campy, over-the-top, and fun. Too many people go into the film expecting it to be something it isn't, and that ruins the experience for them.
This film is what is known as a cult classic. It did not do well on its initial release, but people have come to appreciate it over time. It is a film to watch when you want to unwind and see some pure entertainment.
It has all the elements of a classic late-night guys' popcorn flick. It has lots of guns, action, hot women, hot cars, and the classic showdown between good and evil. It also has a lot of laughs with a bit of quirky randomness. The plot holes are numerous, and the dialogue is sometimes stilted, but for some reason you just don't care, because the film is fun.
Kevin Costner gives one of his best performances here (although everything Costner does is pure gold). You will love every scene he is in. Everyone did a great job, but Costner made the movie.
One bit of a warning: the opening sequence is really odd, and only becomes clear after you have watched the whole movie, so try to keep an open mind.
The Raven (2012)
What a wonderful film!
I can say without hesitation that this film is a true masterpiece. The story was solid, touching, and well-paced. It had just the right mixture of action, suspense, mystery, humor, and intellectualism.
This film will be a treat for anyone, even someone who has never read Poe. But if you love Poe, this film will be even better.
When you stop to think that this film was completely passed over at the Oscars, it makes you realize just how little that award means nowadays. Most of the films that won an Oscar this year were utter tripe compared with this film.
"The Raven" is very similar in tone to the new "Sherlock Holmes" with Robert Downey Jr. If you loved that film, you will love this one. "The Raven" is in the grand tradition of films that actually make you think, and present you with a human story instead of explosions and blurry karate sequences. This film has heart- a great tribute to a great man.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
A true classic and Romero's best
This film is a must-see if you are a horror fan! In my opinion, there was not a single misstep in the entire movie. The story, the acting, the pacing, and the effects are all spot-on.
To me, "Night of the Living Dead" feels like an extended version of a Twilight Zone episode. It has the same black and white, long-shot cinematography, and the setting is the same conservative 50-60s America. As in "The Twilight Zone," there is an unexplained phenomenon, a small group of people who react to it, and a twist/shocking ending. I am actually surprised that Rod Serling had nothing to do with it.
George Romero did his best work here. Although I am a fan of the whole series, I personally believe that the quality of his films has gradually gone down. Every film of the Dead series is fun in its own way, but each one is a little inferior to the one that preceded it.
"Night of the Living Dead" is a breakthrough, standard-setting film. It is best watched late at night with the lights turned down low. You will not be disappointed, unless you are one of those CGI-spoiled, every-scene-has-to-be-constant-frenetic-action kind of persons. Don't get me wrong, this film delivers the thrills, but it also has an actual story that makes you think. In other words, Michael Bay didn't direct it.
Romero intends for his films not only to entertain, but also to cause us to think more deeply about the world we live in and the human kind that inhabits it.
Gordon's Great Escape (2010)
A great series
Although so far I have only watched the first season, I can wholeheartedly recommend this series, in which Gordon Ramsay takes a vacation to India and the rest of southeast Asia to learn the secrets of authentic Asian cuisine.
The show is highly educational and entertaining. It is fun to see Ramsay taken out of his comfortable environment and placed in situations where he may not be the top chef.
It is a much more personal show that Ramsay's other shows. You will likely learn things about Indian cuisine, and about Gordon Ramsay, that you never knew before. If you are a fan of Ramsay, it's a must-see!
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
This film was mindblowingly awful
On the DVD cover it said that this film was a "spy thriller." Oh boy was that deceptive. I have watched very few films that are as boring as this one. The pace is so slow that you start making up comments like in Mystery Science Theatre 3000 just to make watching it barely tolerable.
The acting is poor, the cinematography is sub par, and the whole film is a jumbled, confused mess.
Most of the film consists of people staring off into the distance, or staring at each other, with no dialogue whatsoever. "Ok, now this guy is staring at this guy." "Alright, now the second guy is staring back at the first guy." "And now the first guy stares back again." Most everything that is mentioned is unexplained and disconnected from the surrounding scenes.
Please save yourself from wasting two hours of your life on this turkey that has about as much life in it as a corpse.