In Search of Shakespeare
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Movie Reviews of In Search of Shakespeare
Movie Review: Wood does it again!
Summary: 5 Stars
A fascinating, if sometimes highly speculative, look at the life of Shakespeare. The best parts here are the context on the man himself -- his neighborhood, the acting companies of his day, his family life, boyhood home, etc. Worth checking out! Michael Wood (In Search of the Trojan War) scores again.Movie Review: As Good as it Gets
Summary: 5 Stars
Thorough and lively this is as good a coverage of Shakespeare as can be found. It also ends up being a stunning travelogue of England. (Note to DVD producers: All British DVDs should have a caption option.)Movie Review: Anne and Will
Summary: 5 Stars
Just a comment on Anyechka's review immediately below. In Colonial New England it was common for a couple to prove themselves fertile and potent before marrying.Movie Review: michael wood's Shakespeare
Summary: 5 Stars
I am an English Teacher and find this to be a grear aaset to my teachingMovie Review: Glorious landscape cinematography
Summary: 4 Stars
It is more than quarter of a century since Michael, nearly fresh out of Oriel College Oxford, first appeared on our TV screens. Clad in unfusty denim, he hurled himself about the great English outdoors, enthusiastically telling us about Eric Bloodaxe and Co in the BBC series 'In Search of the Dark Ages'. Since then, Michael has been abroad with 'In Search of the Trojan War', 'In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great', and ... well, you get the general picture.
Now he's back in England -- mostly Warwickshire, Lancashire and London, actually -- and he's ditched the denim in favour of the Barbour 'Bushman' jacket and Karrimor backpack. This four-part programme is as much a celebration of England's landscape and ancient buildings as it is the story of our greatest playwright. The photography is exceptional, the music well-composed, and Michael is always a pleasant companion to escort us around the key sites. We also spend much time in the company of the RSC, as they travel around the more authentic venues to perform excerpts from Othello, Henry IVth Part Two, Romeo & Juliet etc.
There's always latent demand on British TV for Shakespeare insmall, digestible chunks. It is one of the regrets of so many adults that they wished they liked Shakespeare more ... if only it wasn't so much work to appreciate him, compared to 'Friends' etc. Here Michael makes him very digestible. If you could cope with 'Shakespeare in Love', then you can handle this series. The problem for me is that, having now viewed it once, when will I next want to watch it again? Probably in a couple of years' time. This is really a DVD to buy, watch once, and then lend to friends and family.
One intriguing moment: in the College of Arms sequence, William Hunt, who used to run the HAC recruits course, takes Michael through the creation of the Shakespeare coat of arms. For the final shot, Mr Hunt is suddenly wearing his mess kit -- why??
But back to the real world: one of the strengths of this series is that it shows the audience so clearly entranced and enjoying themselves. If this series doesn't have you rushing out to buy a copy of Ovid's Metamorphoses, it should at least persuade you to stop watching the telly and go out to the theatre, which can be no bad thing.