Product Details

• Actors: Standard Deviants
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Cerebellum Corporation
• DVD Release Date: August 8, 2000
• Run Time: 45 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1581983239
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,267 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • #56 in Music > Miscellaneous > Instructional > General

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Standard Deviants, a cast of energetic young performers whose stock in trade is to make serious academic subjects lighthearted and offbeat enough to be memorable, turn their attentions to three classic Shakespeare tragedies. The usual bad jokes, silly costumes, and mugging for the camera are somewhat more subdued when detailing Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear, though the treatment is often imaginative. The lessons about each play begin with a brief historical discussion of the background of the play, and the plot is outlined with the aid of some distinctive animation. The young performers act out scenes from the plays, and computer graphics present particular sections of text on the screen. The motivations of characters are discussed, Shakespeare's use of language is given appropriate attention, symbolism is illuminated, and a synopsis of each play is provided in a review section. Students can take or skip a quiz given on each play, and a comprehensive exam dubbed the "Mac Daddy" also appears on the disc. The lessons about the plays have been approved by a serious academic panel and do contain considerable detail. And the lively approach of the Standard Deviants can certainly help a student increase an understanding of the great tragedies. --Robert J. McNamara

Product Description

This DVD examines three plays that reveal Shakespeare at his height as a writer of tragedies. This trio of tragedies contains Shakespeare's variations on the tragic figure: A man destroyed by jealousy (Othello), a man destroyed by ambition (Macbeth), and a man destroyed by hubris and ultimately redeemed by love (King Lear). The Standard Deviants take the mystery out of these difficult plays, making them easier to understand and appreciate.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Deviant view on Shakespeare, December 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Standard Deviants - Shakespeare Tragedies - Othello, Macbeth, King Lear (DVD)

I really enjoyed this take on Shakespeare, mainly because it breaks down these plays in ways that help you gain an understanding and appreciation of just how good the Bard's work was. I would highly recommend them to anyone studying the plays or just a casual fan. Fun, fun style and good looking and funny actors.

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How things change?, August 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Standard Deviants - Shakespeare Tragedies - Othello, Macbeth, King Lear (DVD)

At school I hated Shakespeare, I hated the person who 'taught' it to me and I wasn't all that fond of some of my classmates. Which is a shame because I now love Shakespeare, I think it is something you grow into and begin to appreciate later on. However, many people are put off by school-time study of Shakespeare and as such miss out on something very special.

This DVD does a great job in reducing that. I wish I had this when I was in school. Great watch, very interesting approach. Something for everybody.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good intro/review, July 2, 2006

By 

Frederick Christian Franck (MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Standard Deviants - Shakespeare Tragedies - Othello, Macbeth, King Lear (DVD)

I'm a high school English teacher and I thought it was amazing how this video covered every single element of the plays that I focus on, and added a few other insights that I now have added to my plans. Covers language use, symbolism, characters, plot, irony, etc. For Lear includes an interesting bit about how the play incorporates elements of the Fairy Tale. Genuinely interesting from start to (nearly 2 hour long) finish.