Posted: 2/18/2003 4:01:58 PM EDT
| Has anyone seen this movie? Im talking about the newer one with Anthony Hopkins. It was really good. Pretty fcuked up what they did to his daughter. |
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I agree. Shakespeare is notoriously difficult to adapt to the screen and I thought they did a pretty good job with it. IIRC the director had not done a movie before but was the director of The Lion King on broadway. It kind of showed in the scene construction. One part that struck me was the boy playing with the way toys. I of course have my own interpretation as to its meaning, but I thought it interesting that they did not directly tell the viewer what that was supposed to be about and left it to the individual. |
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Yes, I saw it several times last year when it had a run on cable. Excellent flick! Anthony Hopkins rules! Back in the day, we were forbidden to read Titus Andronicus because it was so graphic. We were then given another assignment so we'd be sure not to have enough time to read it. We were also told Shakespeare was trying to sell his audience on the concept of empathy-i.e., you don't do it to me and I won't do it to you. A lesson to live by this or any other day. |
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Quoted: I agree. Shakespeare is notoriously difficult to adapt to the screen and I thought they did a pretty good job with it. IIRC the director had not done a movie before but was the director of The Lion King on broadway. It kind of showed in the scene construction. One part that struck me was the boy playing with the way toys. I of course have my own interpretation as to its meaning, but I thought it interesting that they did not directly tell the viewer what that was supposed to be about and left it to the individual. What part are you talking about I saw it about a year ago and only remember certain parts. |
| MilkMan is talking about the very beginning of the movie, just before the Roman Legion returns. A kid (Titus's grandson?) is playing with war toys (Army men, GI Joes and the like) while watching some really brutal combat footage on a very old B&W TV. In the middle of all that, a Roman soldier snatches him up and takes the kid to greet the return of Titus's Legion. As the Legion marches in, the opening credits and theme starts. |
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Ah yes IIRC they also show him again at the end dont they? I dont think I really thought about it to much wehn I saw it, what do you guys interpert it as? One of my favorite parts is when the brothers are in the "game room" with all the weapons on the pool table and all those freaky scenes start flashing in and out. |
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I can only speculate, but since you asked... The kid is a metaphor for the audience. If my English Literature teacher was correct in her belief about Shakespeare wanting to teach empathy to his audience, this makes sense. At the film's beginning, the kid is left to his own devices learning how cruel soldiers can be to each other in combat. During the film he is mostly silent, viewing scenes with a distressed look. During the scenes when he has something to say, he's with Andronicus (Anthony Hopkins) at points of the film where you would hope Titus's fortunes would pick up. At the end he is walking off into the sunset with the illegitimate son of the Empress in his arms, whose father had been left buried up to his chin to starve. The scene you mention in the game room has to do with the brothers, also left to their own devices, growing up without a sense of empathy, being capable of brutality without a second thought. The Moor takes advantage of this because he wants harm and misfortune to come to Titus Andronicus. During one of his soliloquies he mentions how the brothers impassioned youth may aid his villany if he can guide them. My $.02--Sorry for the long read! |