Much Ado About Nothing (2012): A Review

Hello, my lovelies!

I am so excited to be starting this series on reviews of movies based off classic tales. Today’s review is Joss Whedon’s film based on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.

I utterly adore the original play- it’s my favorite of Shakespeare’s works- and I was a little apprehensive about this movie. I’d read mixed reviews but I have a lot of respect for the people involved. I went into it not knowing what exactly to expect.

Much Ado About Nothing (2012)

4.5 Stars

What I Liked:

The Cast: If you have watched anything Joss Whedon has been involved in you will recognize at least one actor in this movie. This movie is filled with incredibly talented people- Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion, Clark Gregg, Reed Diamond, Sean Maher, and so many more.

And each one of them brings their character to life in unbelievable ways. Their acting is stellar, especially Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof as Beatrice and Benedick. They’re incredible.

The Setting: This movie was made for fun by Joss Whedon at his house. You can tell this is true as the men settle into a bedroom with a Barbie house and stuffed animals and the police station is clearly in a basement.

The simplicity of the setting juxtaposed with the amazing acting is beautiful because it proves how incredible Shakespeare’s works really are. They can be performed anywhere, on any platform, with any setting and they’re still the same. It shows just how much the actors carry the work, not where it is filmed. This play doesn’t need beautiful sweeping landscapes or jaw-dropping costumes. It needs its characters brought to life and that is what this version does.

Beatrice and Benedick: I already mentioned how wonderfully these two are played, but I need to gush about them some more.

The casting choices are A+ and these two play their roles to perfection. The scenes with them are some of the funniest I’ve ever seen- no matter how many times I watch this movie I actually laugh out loud every single time. I don’t do that often when I’m watching stuff alone.

The Way They Make The Story Come Alive: This is Much Ado About Nothing for me- I don’t need any other version for me to be happy. It obviously doesn’t beat seeing it performed live- nothing is ever a substitute for that- but this is the best movie version I’ve ever seen and I think I ever will. The way they bring this story to life, I can’t even put it into words.

They don’t add anything to Shakespeare’s words. Every line in this show- save one place where ‘Jew’ is used to mean ‘fool’ which is what they swapped it out for- is exactly as Shakespeare wrote it. But with their facial expressions, their inflections, their movements and actions, they add another layer to the story. They add meaning to certain scenes, bring depth that wasn’t there before, and just make the story come alive in ways I didn’t know I needed until I saw this version.

It's the kind of movie you can watch over and over again and find another facial expression that you missed, another subtle movement, another slight inflection. It just gets deeper the more you watch it.

I cannot say enough good things about this movie. I could gush forever, except I don’t want to spoil things for anyone who wants to experience it spoiler free.

What I Didn’t Like:

The Sexual Content: There is one thing I didn’t like about this movie, though it’s broken into smaller parts. But it basically all boils down to the sex.

I know Shakespeare can be full of inappropriate things and this story certainly has thematic elements that can’t be ignored but it always makes me sad when people draw attention to that and make it a main focus of the story.

The movie’s intro, for example, in keeping with no added lines, it a silent little snippet of Beatrice and Benedick waking up in bed together, clearly after sex. I know they added it because of that curious little exchange later where Beatrice implies that she and Benedick had been in a relationship before but it’s honestly just such a strange scene. There’s a confusing air to it that possibly comes simply from my complete lack of understand of secular romance? But knowing they slept together before falling in love honestly makes it harder for me to believe that years later they’re able to form a different sort of relationship. I feel that by adding that to their past it should have made things even weirder between them. It should almost change the entire story.

And then there are two other instances with sensuality that are quite frankly just a little too passionate for me. I would have preferred things to be more tastefully, less in your face. That’s the one downside to having a movie instead of a play- you generally get things like this handled more bluntly rather than subtly. I wish they would have taken a different direction with that.

Overall:

This is my favorite Shakespeare play and given that I already know what is happening and I know which parts to skip, the sexual content isn’t a huge deterrent for me. It does make me a little hesitant to recommend it to others though. But if you’re okay with skipping parts of the story or that sort of thing isn’t an issue for you then you should definitely watch this movie. Like, right now.

It’s an incredible portrayal of a classic that does the original work the justice it deserves. I look forward to watching it again and again to help me always remember just how much I love this story and why exactly.

And here's the playlist for the play (it also fits the movie, as little is changed)

I hope to see you all on Monday for a post on creativity. Until the next time we meet, don’t forget to live happily ever after <3

~Jennifer Sauer, the Ivory Palace Princess

P.S. Let’s Chat! What is your favorite of Shakespeare’s plays? Which one would you like to see turned into a movie?

ABC's Still Star-Crossed: A Review

Still Star-Crossed official promo graphic ©ABC Studios

Hello, my lovelies!!

Taking a break this week from the Princess Tales to bring you a review of a show I watched recently.

Still Star-Crossed from ABC

4 Stars

Based on the book by Melinda Taub, ABC’s Still Star-Crossed is a sequel to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The couple’s two families are still reeling from their children’s deaths and seeking closure. They are moving toward armistice at the command of their prince but neither side necessarily wants that.

At the heart of it all are Rosalind Capulet and Benvolio Montague- cousins of Juliet and Romeo respectively. As a show of good faith between the two houses they’ve been ordered to marry, but neither of them much likes that idea. Added to that is a whole lot of intrigue, engaging characters, and plot and wit Shakespeare himself would be proud of.

I utterly adored this show. I knew I was going to love it from the moment I watched the trailer and each episode was consumed with the fear that something was going to happen to completely ruin it for me. But that never happened and here we are, with me getting to share this beautiful little gem with you.

What I Liked:

Rosalind and Benvolio: I put these two together but feel I should address them separately first. These two characters, as individuals, are amazing. The actors who play them do so to perfection and they are written as interesting and dynamic people. They have lives beyond each other- indeed, they want nothing to do with each other- and they feel real and honest and true. I am not going to lie- I have a major crush on Benvolio. And Rosalind is just the sort of practical and levelheaded person I would love to be best friends with.

But then together, they’re amazing. They have wonderful chemistry but their relationship builds based off mutual respect and understanding. Theirs isn’t a physical relationship- indeed, they spend a good portion of the show trying to figure out how to keep from getting married to each other. Their bickering too is great because it builds from the two of them challenging the other and pointing out a side of things the other doesn’t understand. While their words might be hurtful at times it comes from their own hurt and not a desire to merely tear down the other.

And there is so much more than bickering. They work together- since their marriage is supposed to bring peace and they figure if they can bring peace before their marriage there will be no need for it- and they do so beautifully. The show could have botched everything else but kept them the same and I would have still loved it for them alone. Though, thankfully, it didn’t botch the rest of it and did so much that was right.

Also the way Benvolio consistently calls Rosalind “Capulet” is one of the cutest things ever. Just sayin’…

Juliet’s Parents: The way Juliet’s parents deal with their grief over the loss of their daughter is worthy of a Shakespearean drama. I don’t want to say too much because of spoilers, but I did love it. Their confusion over what happened, their anger, their torment, are all worthy of Macbeth or Hamlet or Julius Caesar. It was brilliantly written and I loved it.

The Set and Costumes: I love period dramas for their visuals and this show did not disappoint. The costumes and scenery are exquisite- vibrant and lush. I don’t know much about costumes from that time so I have no idea if they were historically accurate. But they fit the story and the rest of the show and I loved them for that. I hope to cosplay Rosalind and her gorgeous blue gown and cape someday.

The Plot: Oh goodness there was so much plot. It kept twisting and turning and surprised me several times. And even the stuff I did see coming it wasn’t in a “Yeah, called that, whatever” sort of way but was more like that small window immediately before a car crash- the realization hitting about what is going to happen and the implications of what that means and the damage it can bring but there’s nothing you can do to stop it. So you watch with horror, unable to look away but also dreading every second of it (which, in a story like this one, is a good thing).

The General Shakespeare Feel: I’ve mentioned it several times before but I feel it bears repeating in it’s own point- This show felt like Shakespeare. While the dialogue wasn’t in the language we’ve come to associate with Shakespeare’s works, it had the wit of Shakespeare. It also had the intrigue, the drama, the comedy. It felt like watching a movie of a Shakespeare play and it brought me all the same feelings I’ve come to associate with his works. Rosalind and Benvolio reminds me a lot of Beatrice and Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing and their relationship has all the feelings of a Shakespearean Comedy. But as I said, there is also the drama side of things, the darker intrigue, the themes of torment and shame and regret and obsession and it’s beautiful.

Already said it but I’ll say it again- I think Shakespeare would like what has been done here.

All the Strong Females: Oh my word there are so many strong females in this show- some good, some evil, some you really aren’t sure about. This too is in keeping with Shakespeare’s portrayal of the strong female and as each one comes into their own in their own special way it’s amazing- and sometimes heartbreaking- to watch.

I won’t say more because I’d like to avoid spoiling anything but I promise it's wonderful.

Content: Or rather, the lack of it. Aside from something I’ll discuss in the “What I Didn’t Like” part this show was surprisingly clean. There’s some talk here and there (for instance, every time Benvolio objects to marrying Rosalind his uncle tells him he just needs to wed her and produce an heir- then he can go sleep with whomever he wants). And while a good bit of what is said isn’t something I approve of I would rather they make their brief comments- which you’ll find in Shakespeare’s works themselves- than to actually have everyone sleeping together left and right. It was so refreshing not to find that in a story for once.

I fully expected to have to stop watching at some point based on content but it never went that far. I will address my one complaint later but honestly, for the most part, it was a good show that relied on good characters and strong plot to make it appealing rather than sex and other such content ever other second.

The Acting: Every time Benvolio would get really emotional about something he would get these tears running down his face and it. broke. my. heart. Every. single. time. And there were so many other little things like this that just made this show even more perfect.

I can't say enough good things about the acting. The people they cast did an amazing job and I wouldn’t replace them with anyone else for the world.

Just This Show, Okay? I just loved this show. As soon as I finished it I wanted to watch it again. And again. And again. (I’ve still only seen it the one time but I plan to remedy that soon…) I just can’t say enough good things about it.

What I Didn’t Like:

The Ending (No spoilers, I promise!!): This show ends on a cliffhanger. I won’t say what, just that while I was fulfilled with some parts of the storyline, there were major threads that weren’t tied up. And while I have yet to see an actual announcement from ABC announcing its cancelation, the numbers and ratings make it seem highly unlikely that the show is going to continue. So be warned that while some things will end satisfyingly a good portion of it won’t and there’s a fair chance you’ll need to also read the book to find the closure you're looking for (or do what I did and read the end of the book to tide you over until you get the chance to read the entire thing- which I still haven't done yet).

Episode Five (SPOILERS): Okay so this part will have some spoilers in it, though I will try to keep them at a minimum. I just really feel I need to say something since this and this alone is the only reason this show has a four star rating and not five stars.

Basically one of the plotlines of episode five is someone trying to get someone else to sleep with them in exchange for not causing a whole lot of trouble for everyone. Spoiler- she finds a way to get out of doing it- but not before there’s a ton of weird sexual talk and even when they aren’t talking sex there’s still this whole weird vibe about the whole thing. I felt gross and weird after watching it and honestly would just skip the entire thing if watching it with anyone else. Skipping it doesn’t really change the plot all that much and so if that sort of thing bothers you please don’t let this keep you from watching the show. Episode five still has other plot threads but by the time you get to the episode you’ll know which character this particular thread is about- just skip the scenes with her and you’ll be good.

The Love Triangle: If you read my review of The Clockwork Scarab you already know how I feel about love triangles. This one is no different. I wanted Rosalind and Benvolio together just from watching the trailer and nothing will change that. So throwing in a rival, someone Rosalind genuinely loves, made things tricky. There’s a good deal of will they?/won’t they? and I didn’t like it. SHE’S SUPPOSED TO BE WITH BENVOLIO!! I don’t care what anyone else says or thinks. I want her with Benvolio. And I don’t like authors playing with my heart that way- present me with one solid relationship I can root for and stop confusing me with all these tangled threads. I made up my mind and no one- not even the author- is going to change that for me…

Recap:

I love this show. Love it. So much love. The first episode was a little slow getting into, since I was under the impression that it picked up where Romeo and Juliet left off. But instead the first half of the first episode is dedicated to fast-forwarding through the original tale. According to Shakespeare the story is supposed to take 2 hours to tell. Instead, we get it in about 20 minutes.

And yet, once I realized what they were doing, I liked it. It was nice to get to see this version of Romeo and Juliet, though we know them too briefly. It added to the tragedy, for me, since I wished I could have known them better but knew they couldn’t return since they were dead. Which, on the basest of levels, is how death works- the sorrow of not having the time to spend with someone that you wish to have.

I had such a hard time writing this review because I wanted to squeal and cry and talk about every single moment of each episode in great detail. But I also don’t want to spoil everything so you get this instead. Hopefully I said enough to pique your interest. Because you should go check this show out. You really, really should.

If you have a Hulu account, it’s on Hulu (as of 10.06.17) and is also available for purchase digitally from a variety of different sites. And I think it’s well worth the money. I’ll probably be buying it at some point soon (right now that seems frivolous since I pay for Hulu and it’s on there…).

If you want a little extra encouragement, here’s the trailer for your enjoyment:

And, as always, I have a playlist for you!! This one was a lot of fun to make (and listen to, which I've been doing on shuffle since I finished the show) and it sparked a Romeo and Juliet playlist that you can find here if you’re interested.

I’ll see you on Monday with another writing post. Until the next time we meet don’t forget to live happily ever after <3

~Jennifer Sauer, the Ivory Palace Princess

P.S. Let’s Chat! Which of Shakespeare’s plays do you think begs for a sequel? What is something you would like to see in a sequel of Romeo and Juliet?