Twelfth Night
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Movie Reviews of Twelfth Night
Movie Review: An Amazing Adaptation
Summary: 5 Stars
I was thrilled to recieve my copy of Twelfth Night after over a year of waiting for it to come out in America on DVD. The film itself is wonderfully shot and sports a talented and knowlegable cast. Imogen Stubbs, who I had only seen previously in Sense and Sensiblity, as Viola seems made for the role. You can truly believe that Olivia, played by the always "on" Helena Bonham Carter, would fall in love with her. Toby Stephens is a revelation as Orsino. He managed to make Orsino very noble and sexy while most actors tend to play him a little too whiney for my taste. It was a bit of a shock to see Ben Kingsley playing the Fool but I fell in love with him with in 10 minutes. All in all this film has taken the title of favorite in my home. I watch it every time I can and always find something new to enjoy. The DVD is seriously lacking in any extras. The "behind the scenes" feature is literally just that. Someone set up a camara about 100 yard from the set and left it there. No voice over or editing. Very disappointing. But one can expect such things from a movie that was not made in the DVD era. GO OUT AND BUY IT.Movie Review: Twin Paradox
Summary: 5 Stars
Without a doubt this is the finest version of Twelfth Night ever produced. The acting, direction, writing, cinematography, and music by Shaun Davey are wonderful and designed to appeal to a modern audience.
I bought a used vhs copy of the BBC production for contrast and comparision, and while the BBC version is true to the original play, much of the English is hard on the ears. The play of course is staged and not "filmed on location" as Trevor Nunn's version was, and lacks a certain concision and needed brevity in the dialogues of all the characters. Plus I find the fool played by Trevor Peacock down right repulsive and obnoxious and not at all innocuous and pleasantly amusing like Feste as played by Ben Kingsley.
The music and song of this version of Twelfth Night give it a three dimensional quality as there are nuances in tone timed for certain developements to elicit expected emotional responses in the audience. This is something the BBC version fails in. If you like romance and a good laugh - this movie is for you. It is entertainment at its finest.
Movie Review: damn yank
Summary: 5 Stars
This could have been a 5 star movie because it is hard for me to follow the dialect without subtitles though the acting by the cast was what made up for this. The cinematography is great and was sentimental seeing the coast of Cornwall. I saw this movie primarily cause of Imogen Stubbs playing the part of a tomboy as being plausable because of a boyish figure like Hilary Swank, who is a hotty too. I found Imogen attractive in other roles and was curious as to how i would see her. Well it was amusing to watch the scenes where her cover could have been revealed whether or not she was fooling anyone i could not care cause she still looked fine as a woman to me. One particular time was when an instructor was correcting her posture during fencing training at the military academy. Later I enjoyed her swordsmanship in a duel that was surprisingly aggressive so that you would not mind having her around alot enjoying life. There is a relationship between twins that is very poinyant during the beginning and at the end of the film that Imogen had part into that is worth noting.Movie Review: Awesome
Summary: 5 Stars
People have criticized this version mostly for Ben Kingsley's performance of Feste as "not funny enough". I watched this film in my college Shakespeare class (mostly as a study on Feste) and it's the best production of Twelfth Night i've seen.Feste is a jester (or fool) but if you read the lines you will notice that most of Feste's job is to serve as a mirror to Olivia and the others; to make them laugh at themselves. Sometimes this can be a cruel thing and not stereotypically funny. If you think I'm wrong, all you need to do is look at Feste's first scene in which he is telling Olivia she is a fool to mourn her brother to the extent she does, since he in in heaven and doesn't need her sympathy. Is this something to laugh out loud at? No. Is it funny? In a way and convinces Olivia to keep Feste around. Feste is one of Shakepeare's more philosophical and intelligent fools, and those simply looking for a shallow laugh shouldn't judge this film. The interpretation was spot on, and this is an excellent film.Movie Review: Top Notch
Summary: 5 Stars
Many reviewers seemed surprise that the film was entertaining. Contrary to public opinion Shakespeare's first purpose was to entertain and not oppress high school and college students in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Maybe because students are forced to read the plays and not to watch them as was intended. Perhaps, the way it is taught has a lot to do with it. It is all so serious. Remember, people went to the theater to be entertained in Shakespeare's time, not to be bored.
There are many different levels to Shakespeare, but the characters resonate with a humanity that transcends the centuries. As the film demonstrates that in the right hands, Shakespeare still packs a wallop today and is accessible to modern audiences. Sir Toby Belch is as hilarious (crude) today as he was 400 years ago, as are the other characters. Allow Shakespeare the opportunity to entertain you. He will not disappoint.