Customer Reviews

The Shakespeare Collection (Romeo + Juliet / Titus / A Midsummer Night's Dream)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These movies are a real value and a good introduction for modern people to Shakespeare. They are not done in a very classical way, but rather take a lot of poetic license in their approach. They are a refreshing interpretation of Shakespeare that are very accessible to a general audience. Serious Shakespeare fans may want something more traditional, but overall these tapes bring a refreshing approach to these classical plays. Titus was especially powerful and provides a lot of creative visual interest, great acting and high emotional impact. While it was a bit disturbing, it was also quite interesting in a way that is unique to Anthony Hopkins. Purists may want to look elsewhere, but I enjoyed seeing these interpretations and recommend them given the caveats above.

Amazon is not at all consistent when providing shoppers with the technical specs of DVDs in general and multi-disk box sets in particular; specifically whether or not they're all ANAMORPHIC.
I assumed (incorrectly) that this version of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' would be anamorphic, as are the other two DVDs in the box set. Turns out it's the same NON-anamorphic, widescreen letterbox version released on 25 January 2001 (UPC 086162123085), and occupies less than half the area of a 50" screen. Six years on, 20th Century Fox still hasn't managed to bring this movie into the 21st century.
Moral: if the description doesn't explicitly say that a DVD is anamorphic, better assume it's not.

three of possibly the most interesting films you'll see, all are dramatic, comical and beautiful in their own way.

i love the modern version of titus. the midsummer night's dream was also wonderfully done. the romeo and juliet was just too damned sissy-pants for me, though. if not for john leguizamo, the rating would be lower.