Rhapsodies

I confess that I cheated a little bit this week. I had seen the first film in my selection, John Carter, in the theater but what can I say?  it was one of my favorites of that year. I liked Andrew Stanton’s work in WALL-E and I looked forward to see how well he’d do at a live action film.

John Carter was a good adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ original material. Which is to say it’s a whole lot of fluffy pulp with lots of non stop action . Of course in films like this what I like best is the creation of an alien world and culture for our heros to play in. In this respect they did very well especially with the Tharks (green Martians) who were well designed and animated and I was able to throw my suspension of disbelief to the wind. (Not so much about the “dog” Woola)

The other film on my lineup, The Tempest, was one I’d wanted to see for a long time. I’ve been a fan of Julie Taymor’s work ever since I read an article about her work in a the Smithsonian in the mid eighties and my appreciation has only increased since then.

The Tempest is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays .  Along with Midsummer’s Night dream it is the play that most opportunities for a creator, and since it has the most theatrical elements the most challenges. I’m always fascinated about how different a production you get with just the slightest change of approach. Having seen multiple productions I’ve always been fascinated by how different a production can be. For me it all comes down to Prospero and Caliban.

I’ve seen Caliban done in every possible way from mere brute to brooding and bitter. Djimon Hounsou’s went closer to the bitter and sarcastic but with a nice balance of physical humor thrown him making simultaneously the “mooncalf” Shakespeare describes and a tragic victim.

For Prospero though, casting Helen Mirren as was fascinating. It was amazing how much of a difference the change of gender made. The most obvious being the relationship between Prospera and her daughter Miranda but made it all the more fascinating was how it changed the ending. Due to the role of women in the renaissance when Prospera gives up her power at the end of the play she is giving up far more than just her magic.

All in all this was one of the better versions of the Tempest I’ve seen and well up to Ms. Taymor’s high standards.