Random thought of the Night

Why was I named "Ian"?
To know how to punch out a mutha fucker if need be

Mucho Ado About Nothing

I have never understood people that didn't get Shakespeare.
Even in High School when it was required reading.
The man wrote about universal themes of love and hate; revenge and redemption; loyalty and betrayal.
He wrote tragedies (Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth), comedies (Taming of the Skrew, Loves Labors Lost) and fantasies (Midsummer Nights Dream, The Tempest).
I thing a lot of the problem is that most people only have read Shakespeare or seen it preformed in the classical trained style. And usually then only the tragedies. But Shakespeare wasn't high art in his time. The theater as a whole was looked down upon and was considered entertainment for commoners.
People have been adapting Shakespeare's work for decades to make movies
Throne of Blood = Macbeth
Ran = King Lear
Forbidden Planet = The Tempest
The Lion King = Hamlet
West Side Story = Romeo and Juliet
10 Things I Hate About You = The Taming of the Skrew
There are tons more you can look up online.
People have taken Shakespeare's work and updated them, changed them around to tell the tales in more modern ways. Just look at Romeo + Juliet  from the 90s. Its very 90s!
So I was happy to notice an upswing in the production on one of my favorite plays, Mucho Ado About Nothing.
Just look at this adaption from the 1993, filmed in the actual place the play is set. Great cast, beautiful shot and put together film. It is a bit more in the classical style of Shakespeare, but the real world locations plus acting help convey the story well

The next example, was filmed on stage from London. Set somewhere in the early 1980s. Clever sets and great actors keep this production moving. I highly recommend you rent or buy it, but it is only online. And YES!!! I know it is a bit of a Doctor Who thing.

Which brings us to the lastest adaption. So what does a director, Joss Whedon, do after making one of the highest grossing movies of all time, The Avengers? He adapts Shakespeare on an indie budget, uses all his favorite actors and sets it in modern times. I really look forward to seeing this. I hope it plays around here.