I’m a sucker for movies based on performances or adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays. Unfortunately, while the perforances tend to be solid, the adaptations—at least the ones that I’ve seen—have been good, but not great. What I really want to see, though, is a brilliant re-imagining ( Richard III (1995) didn’t do it for me) which is why I’m cautiously excited about the new film version of Coriolanus .
This looks awesome . Could it end up being the best of the non-performance films?
A couple of years ago, the critic aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes put together a list of the 30 Greatest Shakespeare Movies . Which ones are your favorites?
1. Henry V (1989) — Dir. Kenneth Branagh; Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Ian Holm; 100%
2. Ran (1985) — Dir: Akira Kurosawa; Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Tereo; 96%
3. Hamlet (1996) — Dir: Kenneth Branagh; Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi; 96%
4. Throne of Blood (1957) — Dir: Akira Kurosawa; Toshiro Mifune, Isuzu Yamada; Macbeth; 97%
5. West Side Story (1961) — Dir: Rob’t Wise/Jerome Robbins; Natalie Wood, Rich’d Beymer; R & J’t; 94%
6. Richard III (1995) — Dir: Richard Loncraine; Ian McKellen, Annette Benning; 95%
7. Romeo & Juliet (1968) — Dir: Franco Zeffirelli; Olivia Hussing, Leonard Whiting; 97%
8. The Lion King (1994) — Dir: Roger Allers/Rob Minkoff; Jeremy Irons; Hamlet/Henry III; 92%
9. Henry V (1944) — Dir: Laurence Olivier; Laurence Olivier, Robert Newton; 100%
10. Forbidden Planet (1956) — Dir: Fred M. Wilcox; Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis; The Tempest; 94%
11. Much Ado About Nothing (1993) — Dir: Kenneth Branagh; Denzel Washington, Emma Thompson; 90%
12. Hamlet (1948) — Dir: Laurence Olivier; Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons; 92%
13. Othello (1952) — Dir: Orson Welles; Orson Welles, Michael MacLiammoir; 90%
14. Macbeth (1948) — Dir: Orson Welles; Orson Welles, Jeanette Nolan; 90%
15. My Own Private Idaho (1992) — Dir: Gus Van Sant; Keanu Reeves, River Phoenix; Henry IV; 85%
16. Macbeth (1971) — Dir: Roman Polanski; Jon Finch, Nicholas Selby; 86%
17. The Taming of the Shrew (1967) — Dir: Franco Zeffirelli; Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton; 85%
18. Hamlet (1990) — Dir: Franco Zeffirelli; Mel Gibson, Glenn Close; 71%
19. Strange Brew (1983) — Dir: Dave Thomas/Rick Moranis; Dave Thomas, Rick Moranis; Hamlet; 70%
20. Twelfth Night (1996) — Dir: Trevor Nunn; Helena Bonham-Carter, Ben Kingsley; 70%
21. Romeo & Juliet (1996) — Dir: Baz Luhrmann; Leo DiCaprio, Claire Danes; 70%
22. The Merchant of Venice (2004) — Dir: Michael Radford; Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Joseph Fiennes; 70%
23. Prospero’s Books (1991) — Dir: Peter Greenaway; John Gielgud, Micheal Clark; The Tempest; 67%
24. Othello (1995) — Dir: Oliver Parker; Laurence Fishburne, Kenneth Branagh; 68%
25. Titus (1999) — Dir: Julie Taymor; Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange; Titus Andronicus; 68%
26. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999) — Dir: Michael Hoffman; Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer; 68%
27. O (2001) — Dir: Tim Blake Nelson; Josh Hartnett, Mekhi Phifer, Julia Stiles; Othello; 63%
28. Scotland, PA (2002) — Dir: Billy Morrissette; James LeGros, Maura Tierney; (Macbeth); 59%
29. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) — Dir: Gil Junger; Heath Ledger, Jul. Stiles; Taming o.t. Shrew; 57%
30. Hamlet (2000) — Dir: Micheal Mareyeda; Ethan Hawke, Julia Stiles; 55%
While I have you, can I ask you something? I’ll be quick.
Twenty-five thousand people subscribe to First Things. Why can’t that be fifty thousand? Three million people read First Things online like you are right now. Why can’t that be four million?
Let’s stop saying “can’t.” Because it can. And your year-end gift of just $50, $100, or even $250 or more will make it possible.
How much would you give to introduce just one new person to First Things? What about ten people, or even a hundred? That’s the power of your charitable support.
Make your year-end gift now using this secure link or the button below.
