The Tempest

Caution: This Might Contain Spoilers!

If you enjoy reading my blog, please become a fan of my facebook page!

This 2010 film is based off of William Shakespeare's play of the same title. This film adaption follows Prospera, who banished 12 years prior by her brother Antonio from Milan with her four year old  daughter Miranda. Propsera came upon an island that had Caliban as its only inhabitant. Prospera enslaves Caliban, and prospers on the island. A practioner of magic, Prospera creates a tempest that cause's Alonso's ship, the king of Tunisia, to crash with his son Ferdinand and Prospera's brother Antonio on board. She uses this opportunity to find a way back to her home-Milan.

This film was directed by Julie Taymor, who also artistically created the films Frida and Across the Universe. Taymor's artistry is clearly present in this film, but there is too much of an artistic styling. This is based off a classical Shakespearean play. There doesn't need to be too much creative flow behind the imagery, and the music. A film adaption needs to play to the strength's of a Shakespearean play, and not hinder it. Granted this film faced the challange of trying to get modern audiences to enjoy a Shakespeare performance. So, much of the film was cluttered wit special effects, creative camera angle's, and over powering music. however, this chaos adds a surrealistic feel to Prospera's world. The special effects for the ghost, Ariel, were brilliantly well done. It gave him a mythical visualization, and a pained visualizer. The constantly changing film photographry was too overpowering, and it took away from the script and the actor's performance. Taking away from the script is bad for a Shakespeare, because it's challenging enough to understand as a time piece, but with the ever changing sequences it becomes even less understandable. The change of Prospera from a male character to a female gives the film a more feminist approach. Prospera is the one who controls everything on the island, and she is the one who gets vengeance.

It is unfortunate that the artistry in the film diverted audience's from the actor's performance. However, some of the chosen cast seem to be an awkward fit that just barely pulled of their chemistry on set. Helen Mirren plays the leading role of Prospera. She gives her character so much power in her subtleties. She also creates a character that isn't clearly defined as evil or good. Felicity Jones plays the role of Miranda. She does a good job in this role as a teenager who plays a part in her mother's plan. Ben Whishaw played the role of Ariel, the ghost whose a slave to Prospera. He's great at creating a highly sympathetic character who is loyal to Prospera.

Without much ado, I give this film a 2 out of 5 stars! It has a lot of positional, but it just became over burdened with special visual effects.

Answer to last blog post: Director's, for the 1991 film Beauty and the Beast, Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise also directed the film The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Que: What other Shakespeare play did actress Helen Mirren perform in 1968?

Much Ado About Nothing
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Hamlet
Romeo and Juliet