MovieChat Forums > Prospero's Books (1991) Discussion > It's Sad to Me that there is No Definiti...

It's Sad to Me that there is No Definitive Tempest Movie

posted 17 years ago by felixandchester
10 replies | jump to latest

I find it sad that Prospero's Books is the closest thing we have to a true-to-the-play film adaptation of The Tempest, which has always been my favorite Shakespeare play. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a bad movie. Prospero's books is certainly a great work of art, sort of like watching an animated renaissance painting of scenes inspired by The Tempest, but it's not my idea of a true adaptation OF The Tempest. All the dancing naked people kind of get in the way of the story.

And if I'm wrong and there are some good film adaptations of The Tempest out there please point me towards them. A while back on an episode of Extras there was a fictional movie-within-the-show where Patrick Stewart plays Prospero and delivers his famous soliloquy. Now THERE'S a movie I'd love to see.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] I_am_the_Hen 17 years ago

What about Derek Jarman's 'The Tempest' film, from 1979? Not to everyone's taste, but many consider it one of the better Shakespearean film adaptations.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081613/

There's also the small-screen adaptation from the BBC Shakespeare series. Not my favourite of them, I have to admit, but textually it's probably the most faithful screen version available.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080000/

And if you liked Patrick Stewart doing the part, he's been playing Prospero on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company in a pretty decent production since July 20th 2006, and is just finishing a run in London. As far as I know there are no plans to film this production for TV, but there are recordings available of it in the archives..... though you do have to go to Stratford-upon-Avon to get hold of them.....

http://www.rsc.org.uk/newsandevents/events/2193.aspx

Hope some of that helps!

[–] gingerwanderer 17 years ago

Yes, I just saw Stewart as Prospero and agree that he'd definitely be the best choice for the role if they did make it into a film, he was mesmerising. Plus Simon Russell-Beale would make a fine Caliban.

[–] nebogipfel67 17 years ago

Yeah, amazing isn't it? One of Shakespeare's supreme masterpieces and we don't have a great version of it available.

I love Prospero's Books. It's long overdue for a Criterion DVD...heck any readily available DVD.

Jarman's Tempest is okay, but there's too much text cut, and not enough cimematic excellence to make up for it.

No doubt, I'd love to see a Patrick Stewart Tempest. Get Julie Taymor to film it, and I might even put up some of the money. (Call me, Julie :)

[–] theodoorsteen 17 years ago

In holland there's a Dvd avalaible. Excellent quality and with english subs. The only bad thing is... you have to buy it in a box with 24 other films. (the good thing is, most of them are excellent. They are all winners of the golden calf, a prize for the most outstanding dutch production of that year). But i heard they also sell those films in equal parts of five films per box. I think the box which contains Prospero's Books also includes Kyodai Makes The Big Time, Zusje (sister), 1000 rosen (1000 roses) en Het zakmes (the pocket knife).

[–] walterfive 16 years ago

Not anymore. :-) The Dutch DVD is available by bit-torrent DL on The Pirate's Bay. Original wide screen aspect. Gorgeous! Get it while you can.

You'll need something like NERO to change it from PAL to NTSC, if you need to.

It amazes me that films like this aren't available in the U.S. market.

[–] irisheyes317 16 years ago

It looks like Julie Taymour is turning out a version, but alas, she's done some more post-modern bastardization to Shakespeare: Prospero is gender-switched :( However, it's intriguing to see Dijmoun Honsou is playing Caliban because it's commonly believed that Caliban was never a "monster" in a traditional sense, but rather someone of a non-European race.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] nebogipfel67 15 years ago

When I first heard about it, I was disappointed with the gender switch in Taymor's Tempest. Of course, if you were to describe Prospero's Books to me, I would probably have the same thoughts, but it's one of my favorite movies. Taymor is such an excellent director and the Tempest is such a remarkable play that whatever my reservations are, I'm still very much looking forward to it.

[–] 15 years ago

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