| GLORIOUS! |
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| written by evilcupcakes |
June 10, 2004 - 5:54 PM PDT |
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5 out of 5 members found this review helpful
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| YES! This is what film making should be about! A very brilliant and original adaptation of Shakespeare that is at once modern yet timeless. This film is so mind blowingly lush and sensual that it can even make the mutilation of Lavinia an act of vulgar poetry. Alan Cumming is perfect as the Caligula-esque Saturninus, Anthony Hopkins is great as the beleaguered warrior Titus. Jessica Lange was, well, Jessica Lange, which is a good thing, but I didn't find her as engaging in her roll as I did the other actors for reasons I can't quite express. This tale of the price of vengeance is one of Shakespeare's buried treasures, which is odd because for some reason I find it to be the one I feel was somehow his most personal work. I think Taymor manages to utilize the sadistic glee of the tale without sacrificing the very human sorrow at the core of it. Great costumes, great direction, great sets, great acting, it's all there. If you haven't seen this you MUST! |
| Accessible Shakespeare |
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| written by squad |
June 8, 2004 - 7:53 PM PDT |
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4 out of 4 members found this review helpful
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| I took a chance on "Titus", wanting to expand my film experience so my expectations were not high. My reaction now, this is one intense film. I used the English subtitles because of unfamiliarity with Shakespeare, so consider this review in the light of my inexperience. First, I think actors like Shakespeare because it gives them free expressive reign. Which leads to my second impression which is that a film like this is produced for the love of the art, and film people invest. Third, passion unrestrained, beyond limit which grips the viewer's attention. I didn't have a problem with the mixed scenery (ancient and modern), because I generally do not like period costume movies, and "Titus" was anything but. Ah, one more thing, the violence in this film is more suggested than depicted. Compare "Musa: The Warrior", a Korean film for a comparison of graphic vs. suggested violence. In "Musa" when a limb is severed you get the whole image. In "Titus", as I said, there is the suggestion and the aftermath. Perhaps that is what makes this such a great film because the plot and dialog are in themselves so fearsome. So now I know to some extent why Shakespeare is unparalleled. I was stunned by this film. |
| Visually fascinating, violently disturbing. |
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| written by sangretoro |
February 14, 2004 - 3:32 PM PST |
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2 out of 4 members found this review helpful
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| Gorgeous and powerful imagery. Taymor very successfully creates a surreal iconography all her own. The relentless hideousness of Shakespeare's play is difficult to sit through. |
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