The Cinematic Bard

Films/DVD Asylum

Movies from comedy to drama to your favorite Hollyweird Star.

I don't think this has been a topic here before - what are your favorite and/or least favorite Shakespeare movies? A few I can recall:
Olivier's Hamlet (1948, IIRC) I know this is considered the classic one by many, but I didn't really care for it. I think film calls for more understated acting than theater.
Olivier's King Lear (1980's) just to show I'm not an Olivier hater - I really liked this one. OK, so it's a made for TV movie. In this case, it doesn't matter. Leo McKern (as Gloucster, I believe) and John Hurt as the fool. I don't remember any of the actresses who played daughters. Very well done.
Al Pacino's Looking for Richard - Good Idea, if only it didn't have Pacino in it. "A ham, a ham! My Kingdom for a ham!"
Kenneth Branagh's "Much Ado About Nothing" - Keanu Reeves - 'nuff said. The rest of the film wasn't strong enough to overcome Ted's presence on the screen.
A Midsummers Night Dream - you know, the one with Mickey Rooney as Puck (!) My memory is a little hazy, but it seemed a little sloppily done, IIRC. I don't remember it as being horrible, though.
Mel Gibson's Hamlet - I remember when this came out, there was big hype about it being a "refreshing" treatment of Hamlet. Mel would have been a good Hamlet if this would have been "Rosencrantz and Guildersteen are Dead." Oh, well, I never liked Fresca, either.
So how about it - If I need a Shakespeare fix, what should I rent (or stay clear of)?

"Oh no, I can't do anything to the death. Doctor's orders. You see, I have this ulcer condition, and death is the worst thing for it."

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VH Audio

Topic - The Cinematic Bard - mvwine 12:59:17 01/07/03 (14)

nonsense all - Bing 15:42:09 01/10/03 (1)

I enjoyed it as well.... - dado5 08:33:49 01/20/03 (0)

Henry IV - Victor Khomenko 19:24:54 01/08/03 (0)

Hamlet 2000 - clarkjohnsen 16:28:02 01/08/03 (0)

Great suggestions! - mvwine 06:21:51 01/08/03 (0)

Three good ones - NapTime 21:32:31 01/07/03 (0)

Re: The Cinematic Bard - gware 20:12:15 01/07/03 (0)

Re: The Cinematic Bard - bubbahotep 16:38:42 01/07/03 (0)

Re: The Cinematic Bard - Ears 14:00:45 01/07/03 (1)

Dittos! nt - clarkjohnsen 16:24:54 01/08/03 (0)

Romeo and Juliet - DA 14:00:02 01/07/03 (0)

Orson Wells & Polansky....But Sir Laurence Olivier was not bad at all ! nt - patrickU 13:03:31 01/07/03 (1)

I forgot all about Polanski's Macbeth! Thanks (nt)! - mvwine 13:11:19 01/07/03 (0)

Typos galore! That's "Gloucester" and "Guildenstern" (nt) - mvwine 13:00:39 01/07/03 (0)

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