'much ado about nothing' modern English version?
10-20-14, 03:24 PM
#2
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 8,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: 'much ado about nothing' modern English version?
I assume you are avoiding this version because its too English? Honestly, as someone who has trouble with Shakespeare myself, I found this to be easy to follow and a lot of fun.
10-20-14, 03:29 PM
#3
2017 TOTY Winner
Thread Starter
Re: 'much ado about nothing' modern English version?
Well, I was trying to show someone the Joss Whedon version and they got lost. I admit it's a little hard to follow for someone not used to the language. And there is a bit of discontinuity between contemporary setting but archaic references.
I was hoping I could show the same story with an easier learning curve.
I was hoping I could show the same story with an easier learning curve.
10-20-14, 04:19 PM
#4
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Formerly known as "Solid Snake PAC"/Denton, Tx
Posts: 39,239
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Re: 'much ado about nothing' modern English version?
I'm not a fan of the language but they've made some good films off the material with the language. My fav Shakespeare adaptation is Throne of Blood. Hell of a way to adapt it. Also... Kurosawa... that elevates it much more.
10-20-14, 05:00 PM
#5
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Formerly known as "Solid Snake PAC"/Denton, Tx
Posts: 39,239
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Re: 'much ado about nothing' modern English version?
I do wonder why that isn't done much.
Actually that seems worth discussing. Aside from Kurosawa who has done that?
Actually that seems worth discussing. Aside from Kurosawa who has done that?
Last edited by Solid Snake; 10-20-14 at 05:07 PM.
10-20-14, 05:05 PM
#6
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
I don't understand why so many filmmakers feel a need to keep Shakespeare's language when updating his stories for the modern day. If you're going to update him, then fucking update him. There's a reason you don't hear Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman speaking like Victorian gentlemen on Sherlock.
10-20-14, 05:32 PM
#7
DVD Talk Legend
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Vichy America
Posts: 13,533
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: 'much ado about nothing' modern English version?
West Side Story (Romeo and Juliet), A Thousand Acres (Lear), Forbidden Planet (The Tempest), Kiss Me Kate and Ten Things I Hate About You (Taming of the Shrew).
10-20-14, 05:46 PM
#8
DVD Talk Godfather
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Home of 2013 NFL champion Seahawks
Posts: 52,604
Received 1,014 Likes
on
838 Posts
Re: 'much ado about nothing' modern English version?
I really enjoyed the Whedon version when I saw it in theaters, but I needed some time to get in the rhythm of the language. I then tried to show it to some other people on home video, but they didn't have the patience and mentally checked out immediately. I remember liking the Branagh version but it wasn't quite as much of an adjustment, perhaps because of the period dress.
Kurosawa also did Ran as an adaptation of Lear, of course. Honestly, I don't know if Much Ado is such an awesome story that it NEEDS to be done in updated language. Romeo and Juliet, Lear, Shrew, etc. seem like better base material.
Kurosawa also did Ran as an adaptation of Lear, of course. Honestly, I don't know if Much Ado is such an awesome story that it NEEDS to be done in updated language. Romeo and Juliet, Lear, Shrew, etc. seem like better base material.
10-21-14, 02:26 PM
#9
DVD Talk Legend
Re: 'much ado about nothing' modern English version?
You could try showing Al Pacino's Looking for Richard first. It's about Shakespeare's relevance today and he might be more receptive to MAAN afterward.
10-21-14, 02:51 PM
#10
DVD Talk Legend & 2021 TOTY Winner
Re: 'much ado about nothing' modern English version?
Seinfeld.
10-21-14, 05:31 PM
#12
DVD Talk Legend
10-21-14, 11:05 PM
#13
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Get some Sparknotes and No Fear Shakespeare. It'll help, no question. But for Shakespeare, I find the best thing is hearing it done by proper actors. It's hard to read if you don't know the rhythm, but hearing a great Shakespearean actor do it really makes the words come alive.
10-22-14, 10:55 AM
#14
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 8,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: 'much ado about nothing' modern English version?
Reasons the dialog isn't changed:
- because you already got a script
- actors already know their parts
- the material is kept as it was intended
- a classic is a classic
- and most the people who seek out Shakespeare wan't it kept that way.
10-23-14, 12:41 AM
#16
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: 'much ado about nothing' modern English version?
Much Ado About Nothing is pretty much the great-granddaddy of modern rom-coms, so just watch one of those.
