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Top 5 movie versions of Shakespeare plays?

posted 17 years ago by bubbleboy7
15 replies | jump to latest

To me this was one of the best Shakespeare movies I have seen. I think a lot of it is due to Brando's performance as well as the performances of some of the other actors like Gielgud. Here is my pick for best adaptations. What are some of yours?

1. Julius Caesar (1953)- Brando
2. Hamlet (1996) - Branagh
3. Throne of Blood (1957)- Kurosawa's version of Macbeth
4. Ran (1985) - Kurosawa's version of King Lear
5. The Bad Sleep Well (1960) - Kurosawa's version of Hamlet (loosely)

http://youtube.com/user/Yagamuri18

[–] nebogipfel67 17 years ago

This is certanily the best Julius Caesar available. Here's my list:

1) Titus (1999)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120866/
2) Prospero's Books (1991)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102722/
3) Ran (1985) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089881/
4) Macbeth (1948) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040558/
5) Othello (1990) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0357995/

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] bravehome 15 years ago

I'm speechless (for fortunately not writeless) that no one included one of the greatest film adaptations of Shakespeare ever, Laurence Olivier's 1948 masterpiece "Hamlet".

Also, since we're including adaptations, don't forget the marvelous 1961 film "West Side Story"....

[–] jeffgoldsteinseattle 14 years ago

Bubbleboy:

I'd have to disagree with your list. Titus blows everything else away. Julie Taymor is a genius, although Branagh's Henry V is a very worthy second place. Here's my top 5:

1. Titus (1999)- Anthony Hopkins
2. Henry V (1989) - Kenneth Branagh
3. Throne of Blood (1957) - Kurasawa
4. West Side Story (1961) - (Romeo and Juliet adaptation)
5. Much Ado About Nothing (1993) Branagh

I'm adding a sixth one as well:

6. Mr. Magoo's A midsummer Night's Dream

I watched Magoo's show when I was a kid, and I became interested in a lot of the classics by watching Magoo's adaptations. I left off any version of Hamlet, b/c I'm just not a fan. I've seen many adaptations, and it just doesn't do it for me.

[–] Kinokima 14 years ago

I was just thinking about this after I watched Julius Caesar which is now one of my favorites. My other two favorites are:

Throne Of Blood (1957)
Romeo and Juliet (1968)

And Kurosawa was certainly great at Shakespeare. I have yet to see Ran but you are right The Bad Sleep Well is a very good loose rendition of Hamlet.

[–] heartsoflight128 13 years ago

1.Julius Caesar- Brando
2. Henry V- Branagh
3.Hamlet- Branagh
4. Macbeth- Judi Dench, Ian Mckellon
5. Titus- Anthiny Hopkins

honorable mention: Olivier Hamlet.

[–] esteemedraiders 13 years ago

1. Julius Caesar- Brando
2.Henry V- Kenneth Branagh
3. Hamlet- derek jacobi
4.King Lear- Olivier
5. Macbeth- Judi Dench, Ian Mckellon

[–] hanrirtta23345 13 years ago

1. Julius Caesar- Brando
2. Henry v- Branagh
3. Hamlet- Branagh
4. Macbeth- mckellon, dench
5. titus- hopkins

[–] Captain_Augustus_McCrae 13 years ago

Hate to p!ss in your pool, but Kurasawa's version of anything does not constitute a Shakespeare play. If you are allowing the Kurasawa films, you might as well include Sons of Anarchy (Kurt Sutter's "version" of Hamlet)

"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae

[–] irishtom99 12 years ago

i also really liked tower of london,rowland v. lee's version of richard III ,with rathbone,karloff and price..

[–] decamefo 12 years ago

Polanski's Macbeth (1971) with Peter Finch and Francesca Annis is my definite favorite

[–] Cult_of_Kibner 10 years ago

Hate to p!ss in your pool, but...

I hate to p!ss in yours but why should bubbleboy7 conform to your specifications in his thread?

[–] Captain_Augustus_McCrae 10 years ago

He set the parameters, by stating "top 5 movie versions of Shakespeare's plays" A version would be Henry V, Hamlet, Richard III, etc. He then included adaptations, such as Ran, throne of Blood, etc., as well as versions. Words have meanings. He failed to conform to his own specifications. You're welcome.

"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae

[–] Cult_of_Kibner 10 years ago

Arbitrary bullcrap. You're just trying to be a pain in the ass.

[–] Captain_Augustus_McCrae 10 years ago

Nice you have opinions. Hope you get better at it.

"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae