The Tempest
Saw 'The Tempest' tonight, just like I promised, and here are the Random Thoughts:
- Helen Mirren as Prospera - in fact, Prospera herself, as a genderswapped Prospero - worked. First of all, Helen Mirren was excellent in the role. She knew exactly what she was doing and she inhabited her role with intelligence and vim. But making Prospero female just really works with the character - gives her a caring, gentle edge, makes her use of magic a clear attempt for her to maintain her own power, gives her a parallel with Sycorax, and also gives Caliban a reason for looking to Stefano so readily for a substitute master. It worked!
- Overall, the cast was very good, with special mention to Ariel and Caliban.
- It was a good idea to reread Browning's "Caliban Upon Setebos" before going out to see the film. That poem must be one of the best examples of alternate POV fanfiction ever. This Caliban - and all Calibans may suffer from this - really kind of suffered in that his early scenes, with Prospera, were strong, but his later scenes with Stefano and Russell Brand were weak and trying to be silly, not exactly succeeding. It's like, Caliban thinks he's dealing with another Prospera, but we, the audience, can clearly see that they're not, so how exactly is Caliban so easily fooled?
- Ben Whishaw was, indeed, adorable (though I prefer him with longer hair... and complete eyebrows), but sometimes trying too hard thanks to the costume, makeup, or lack entirely thereof. His first scene was basically a long sequence of "how I am going to hide my willy from you."
It reminded me of this rule: "Ariel should, hopefully, wear somewhat more than Gollum." This Ariel wore less.
And it changed, from scene to scene, whether or not he had breasts! That got really distracting! Because I quite liked a male Ariel. He worked as a male Ariel - the uncertain adopted son of Prospera. It made sense. But it was extremely distracting, the way they handled it, being like "Okay, does he have boobs now or not?" Especially in the harpy scene, when he's kind of showing them off... the hell?
Then again, it had me wondering for a while if Ariel was in love with Ferdinand. Which was interesting.
- Ferdinand was really the weak link in an otherwise strong cast. He was just a little too weepy, emo, always had perfect hair that was just too long, and he has a soprano singing voice. Sorry, Miranda, but he does.
- How come Miranda and Prospera have these lovely adobe walls with this cool staircase on each of 'em, and yet the rest of their house is cave?
- The costumes. What? Zippers? Zippers everywhere? Why? And why was Miranda's bodice staring at me?
- The ending kind of disappointed me. The treatment of "Where the bee sucks, there suck I" was just confusing, dropping the chance to give Ben Whishaw one good chance to show off (and possibly unhampered by subpar special effects!) , there was no resolution whatsoever as to what would happen to Caliban (a scene of him at peace, at last, solitary, on the island - could be powerful), and instead of hearing Helen Mirren address the audience "Now my charms are all o'erthrown," we get a credits sequence of her drowning her books while the monologue is sung. Missed chance of awesome!
Also, the song for the monologue could have been better. But the drowning books was a nice touch.
Overall, a good movie, well acted all around, with the weak moments in that sometimes Julie Taymor just doesn't put the faith that she should in her actors, dolling up their performances with unnecessary effects and gimmicks. But a lot of directors fall into that trap. The Tempest is a very good adaptation, if only for Helen Mirren showing her chops.
- Helen Mirren as Prospera - in fact, Prospera herself, as a genderswapped Prospero - worked. First of all, Helen Mirren was excellent in the role. She knew exactly what she was doing and she inhabited her role with intelligence and vim. But making Prospero female just really works with the character - gives her a caring, gentle edge, makes her use of magic a clear attempt for her to maintain her own power, gives her a parallel with Sycorax, and also gives Caliban a reason for looking to Stefano so readily for a substitute master. It worked!
- Overall, the cast was very good, with special mention to Ariel and Caliban.
- It was a good idea to reread Browning's "Caliban Upon Setebos" before going out to see the film. That poem must be one of the best examples of alternate POV fanfiction ever. This Caliban - and all Calibans may suffer from this - really kind of suffered in that his early scenes, with Prospera, were strong, but his later scenes with Stefano and Russell Brand were weak and trying to be silly, not exactly succeeding. It's like, Caliban thinks he's dealing with another Prospera, but we, the audience, can clearly see that they're not, so how exactly is Caliban so easily fooled?
- Ben Whishaw was, indeed, adorable (though I prefer him with longer hair... and complete eyebrows), but sometimes trying too hard thanks to the costume, makeup, or lack entirely thereof. His first scene was basically a long sequence of "how I am going to hide my willy from you."
It reminded me of this rule: "Ariel should, hopefully, wear somewhat more than Gollum." This Ariel wore less.
And it changed, from scene to scene, whether or not he had breasts! That got really distracting! Because I quite liked a male Ariel. He worked as a male Ariel - the uncertain adopted son of Prospera. It made sense. But it was extremely distracting, the way they handled it, being like "Okay, does he have boobs now or not?" Especially in the harpy scene, when he's kind of showing them off... the hell?
Then again, it had me wondering for a while if Ariel was in love with Ferdinand. Which was interesting.
- Ferdinand was really the weak link in an otherwise strong cast. He was just a little too weepy, emo, always had perfect hair that was just too long, and he has a soprano singing voice. Sorry, Miranda, but he does.
- How come Miranda and Prospera have these lovely adobe walls with this cool staircase on each of 'em, and yet the rest of their house is cave?
- The costumes. What? Zippers? Zippers everywhere? Why? And why was Miranda's bodice staring at me?
- The ending kind of disappointed me. The treatment of "Where the bee sucks, there suck I" was just confusing, dropping the chance to give Ben Whishaw one good chance to show off (and possibly unhampered by subpar special effects!) , there was no resolution whatsoever as to what would happen to Caliban (a scene of him at peace, at last, solitary, on the island - could be powerful), and instead of hearing Helen Mirren address the audience "Now my charms are all o'erthrown," we get a credits sequence of her drowning her books while the monologue is sung. Missed chance of awesome!
Also, the song for the monologue could have been better. But the drowning books was a nice touch.
Overall, a good movie, well acted all around, with the weak moments in that sometimes Julie Taymor just doesn't put the faith that she should in her actors, dolling up their performances with unnecessary effects and gimmicks. But a lot of directors fall into that trap. The Tempest is a very good adaptation, if only for Helen Mirren showing her chops.