Reviews

Macbeth is the film which is more Polanski than Shakespeare from the late 70s. The story might be faithful to the play but there are few changes and few little disturbing points. It is starred by John Finch as Macbeth and Francesca Anis as Lady Macbeth. As Polanski directed it, the darker part of the play was shown much of it. For the family audiences or the student audiences the censored version should be shown. The plot is about a thane of Cawdor, Scotland whose encounter with the witches and support of his mistress let his ambition to misguidance. Therefore it leads through such tragedy that creates a disturbingly painful tone. The acting is the important part of the Shakespeare play. John Finch and Anis played justice to their roles. The disturbing point for us Asians is the nudity of the witches; the little child who was showering nude plus the epic battle scenes in which Macbeth's head was cut. The soliloquy was replaced as inner monologues to make it more realistic. The scenes foreshadow the cut from the text. There are some characters which were developed rather than the play. The music were suitable at the 70s but a weak point if you go to the post-modern period. The music shows the dramatic picture and the film made more historical. It shows from the protagonist's view as most Polanski's films do. The set design was rough and dry as the atmosphere of the play. The rain also symbolizes dark prediction of the film. Lady Macbeth's acting was brilliant. The direction was superb and the camera angle grabs the attention of the viewers. Overall, the story is more of the play but it's not for the family audiences. But it was the best Macbeth adaptation and there was no option to find the alternatives. It's a four hour film like Hamlet. It's also a must watch for adult Shakespearean viewers.

'King Lear'- BBC Version is quite faithful to the play but it lacks a little essence of the play, that could have been noted but the stars of this version foreshadowed it. The play does have a slow start but it goes fast paced due to the acting. The plot is about a king who divided the kingdom to his daughters. When one of them truly expressed her true love towards the king, his fury forced him to banish her from the kingdom. Due to his actions, the consequences came towards the king's life that leads him to a misguidance and a loss of sanity. There are funny sequences when The King exposes his madness, the performance of Tom the Beggar (Edgar) and the fool's 'nuncle' word. The royal status of the King is omitted to shorten the play. There are dialogues replaced to entertain the modern audiences. Somehow it is not the fact but I may say that the film is the bet one to date as I cannot find any of the versions of the play to be better. The acting is much more brilliant due to its star cast like Ralph Fiennes as Tom The Beggar and Michael Hordern as Lear. The villains were also brilliant such as Edmund, Regan and Goneril. I laughed and cried at the same time. The most emotional scene is the moment when Lear recovered his mental illness, and the torturing scene of Glouster who was blinded and begged forgiveness from his legitimate son, Edgar (Tom The Beggar). Overall, the story was superb as the essence of a folk tale. The acting is a little shallow but brilliant at the same time. The changed costumes did not bother much but it was even more realistic made. The camera angle was such that I was watching a stage play. It is faithful and must watch it for the story and its performance only.

'The Taming of the Shrew' is one of the classic Shakespeare comedy film ever made by the 'Shakespearean Director' Franco Zeffirelli in the early 1960s. The exceptional acting in the film has been made by Elizabeth Taylor as Katharina and her second husband Richard Burton as Petruchio. It was a golden time for them too while acted together. The others were starred by Michael Hordern as Baptista, Natasha Pyne as Bianca and Michael York as Lucentio. It won an Academy Award for the set direction and costume design. Though it's a faithful version of the play, it had the subplot of Bianca missing plus the tinker which is not that important. It was produced by Franco Zeffirelli and MGM studios. This is the story about a hot-tempered but beautiful woman named Katharina who married to a wise noble named Petruchio. According to the director, this film is based on how Katharina rediscovers herself from a hot-tempered woman to a gentle lady that her husband transformed her to. The costumes are authentic as expected in Shakespeare's time. It was set in Italy as told in the play but it was shot under the studio. This version inspired most people that some other directors can make a contemporary version based on the same. Elizabeth Taylor as in real life didn't do any of the Shakespearean films before as this film is her first role in the Shakespeare play. She looked stunning in her costume but was also exceptional as she showed her 'tamed side' after meeting Petruchio who also done justice to his role. The atmosphere almost adjusts the play due to the dialogue was written. Some dialogues were replaced to help the contemporary audiences to understand the Shakespearean language. Burton made an exceptional acting rather than Taylor but the chemistry was superb as I think. The comedy was worth laughing due to its content. Michael Hordern was not there much but he gave an active role as a father which was worth laughing. The climax shows the message where both the play and the films tried to represent. The message of the film was shown by running its plot but it sometimes dragged that we become bored and miss the subplot of Bianca but foreshadowed by its comedy. Natasha played a cute Bianca but a cat-like expression that wowed the audience. The development of the characters was not perfect except for Baptista, Katharina, Bianca and Petruchio's acting. Overall, the story and its screenplay were authentic but the acting was mind-blowing, as I think. As people say 'Old-is-Gold', yes it is true that the 'real' movies ruled the 60s. It was such an era that anyone cannot forget where educative films were made with a little entertainment.

This play is the only uncut version ever seen or heard. Hamlet-what a play it is, that consists of a 4 hour but the only uncut movie ever. It is starred by Keneath Barangh, Kate Winslet, Charlton Heston and Robin Williams. It is also directed by Barangh himself.

The Plot is about a prince of Denmark who was suspicious of his father's death, until he meets the father's ghost his revenge on his uncle made him feigning his madness.

The acting is brilliantly crafted and the 'picturization' of Denmark is unique. Some people cannot enjoy the movie the movie due to its lengthy time. The story is faithful to the play and what I enjoyed in the movie is Hamlet's madness, and comical situations created by other characters. In that movie, the annoying moment was Ophelia's madness but emotional at the same time who expressed her internal behavior meaninglessly. Yet, it is also implied that Hamlet also loves Ophelia in a platonic manner. The emotional part of the play was the moment while the ghost of King Hamlet leaves while the young Hamlet confronts his mother. The background music comes seldom but much more dramatically that we feel the intensity of the movie.

The acting portrays the justice of the play in a much more uncut and intense manner. Some people may feel bored if they think about something entertaining. Overall, I think this film is brilliant as if we are watching the original play. We all have the characteristics of Hamlet. The set design is speechless but the only flaw is that it should get more essence but the acting foreshadowed it. The camera angle, I think it's a masterpiece. If you see it in theaters, you can get something of a different experience in the History of the Hollywood cinema. This play's brilliant and its essence are also brilliant. I am speechless overall.

A Bollywood adaptation of William Shakespeare's Hamlet with a sense of realism. Isn't it? Why are you asking questions to the makers? Ask Shakespeare who made the performance tougher but yet what an adaptation it was! The singer, music director and filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj had nailed it. This is the final of the Shakespeare Trilogy after Maqbool (Macbeth) and Omkara (Othello). Haider is starred by a renowned actor of Bollywood, Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, the National Award Winning Actress Tabu and Kay Kay Menon but most of all the household name Irrfan Khan.

The story is based on Kashmir riots during the 1990s. It's about a doctor who was disappeared during the riots. Due to that, his son Haider arrives the scene until he learned about his uncle's and mother's closeness, his life became even complicated. Will he find his father? Or be derailed by the society who misunderstood him? I learned something from Haider that 'we are not born as a criminal but society made us a criminal'. Yet there are lots of differences regarding the length of Hamlet and Haider but also the stretch of the story. The supernatural theme of Hamlet has been modified into a dream sequence and a realism sense. The leading lady plays a dual role of a friend and lover (Horatio and Ophelia) which is superb in many ways but had to be a little more tightened, Shahid as Haider had done a justice to the role as Hamlet with its main attraction- fake madness, Tabu as Ghazala (Gertitude) deserves the actual credit as a mother and Kay Kay Menon as Khurram's (Claudius) performance is menacing but a little less than Shahid's menacing act. We clap while Irrfan Khan enters the scene before the interval- splendid act according to my perspective. The director, Vishal Bhardwaj proved that we all have characteristics like Hamlet even in the world. Yet, it is a controversial subject but according to my perspective really the memorable one ever. The winter of Kashmir was beautifully pictured as we get a feeling of a Gothic atmosphere but the most disturbing part is the flashbacks where the entire plot stands. The dialogs are the main standpoint of the film where we could understand the story but of course, it was rich and tight. Though it has 41 cuts as said in the interviews or articles, the movie is really a soothing piece of work. The story is logical, true to Hamlet with a lot of political and sexual developments within the plot itself but a little chopped off that should not be noted as mentioned above. As most of us know the story of Hamlet, the story can be retold in many ways. The music background had a realistic feeling but of a typical Bhardwaj, still it was more of a soothing feeling but at the same time it sets the mood of the film. The in my perspective two best tracks in the score was 'Bismil' based upon the play within a play 'The Murder of Gonzalo' and 'Aao Na' is based on the whole story. Both of the tracks deserve an intense feeling of revenge, social norms and the story. Overall, it is far the best movie of 2014 after another movie, Ek Villain which is also another movie to get chills. It is a must watch for people who keeps their cool mind as they want to learn something as to judge a character. A mother's love is immortal and people are unpredictable even they are sane or insane. If you need a friend to share, help them to trust you and trust them as well but regarding their actions keep your eyes sharp. If you did not watch Haider, watch it if you want to judge a character and create your personality. A brilliant film to deliver with a picture that sooths our mind.

It's a horror comedy. Not really but a satire that takes place in the mid to late 19th century. Their time was so different than the 21st Century that creates a unique motion. Less horror, more comedy. The man who stole the show was no other than Vincent Price, from the Dr. Phibes fame. His dark humor realized me that he influenced some of the actors such as Robert Downey Jr. if I aren't wrong but no one can compare his 'Priceless' acting. The comedy was such that somebody could realize the definition of a 'pure black comedy'. Yes there are lots of movies out of it but this one gave me a real laughter than I have imagined. Most of the actors, the comic timing is given by Peter Lorre and Joyce Jameson. I wished it would have been a remake to suit more out of it. The story was really attractive as well as the characters even the dialogues. It had created a realistic statement (literally). Even it is film from the 1960s but a versatility is always a mark of this movie. Hat's off to the renowned Vincent Price- The Legend . 7/10

A mind-blowing movie, an eye opener.It's a must watch but watch the movie patiently.Though it is a Halloween day as rather than being in a traditional festive mode, we would like to be a little altered to be aware of the serious situations. We all have to be known about the people around rather than staying in oneself. As for sure, understand others' perspectives. The story about self destruction, unemployed people from the Bangladeshi youths and psychological phenomenon. The way Mithu and Sheena Chohan has acted was superb in many ways as some people got scared by it. The dialogues are worth best and helps to learn about the harsh part of the world. A milestone by Mostafa Sarwar Farooki from Third Person Singular Number and Television. Must watch!