It is very easy, in this day and age of seemingly rote-like movie renditions of the works of Jane Austin, Henry James, and, of course, the Bard, to produce a film that just goes through the motions - without anything much to say, no interesting "spin" on the subject matter, and with dull, pretty-boy and girl ham-handed actors, speaking their lines, or some other catch, like state of the art FX, or some other gimmick (like the infamous "Nude Macbeth" version of the play that was filmed back in 1969) being the offering.
To my mind, however, this particular rendition of Shakespeare's Juliuys Casear is THE defintive one ever filmed. Frankly, I just read the comments by "Signet" posted on March 20th - and I don't really know what on earth he is talking about. "Dull?" If he has on his mind Bruce Willis and the Die Hard films (as by his own comments it is clear that he does), well, yes than anything that does not have to do with rocket ships, or blazing machine guns, or steriod-laden super heroes rescuing scantily clad well-endowed women might seem "dull." But frankly, Signet, such being your defintion of what is exciting and interesting, I really don't know why you would even bother checking this film out, or any work of Shakespeare, for that matter, in the first place!
This JC film plays out like a taut, well-placed political thriller - showing the machinations of scheming politicians, of their egos and jealousies, and a quite simply SUPERB Mark Antony funeral oration scene. Now, to me, brando has never seemed to be the most subtle of actors in his performances, but the way he plays it here is perfect! He shows the absolute mastery of reverse psychology, of how sharp demagogues from him to Hitler are able to sway the masses to do their bidding. It is simply an amaziug scene, to my mind one of the very best scenes ever put on film.
The acting, from Mason to Geilgood to O'Brien is first-rate throughout.
Again, if you are looking for a classic (and to me, definitive version of this particular Shakesplay), watch and tape/buy this film. And if you're more interested in WWF-style rock 'em sock 'em action, lpease don't.
And if you are in the later thrill-seeking camp, just don't watch a Shakespeare film, and then post your juvenile comments to this web site. It merely serves to embarrass you. Becuase you obviously just don't "get" the Bard. And you never will.
To my mind, however, this particular rendition of Shakespeare's Juliuys Casear is THE defintive one ever filmed. Frankly, I just read the comments by "Signet" posted on March 20th - and I don't really know what on earth he is talking about. "Dull?" If he has on his mind Bruce Willis and the Die Hard films (as by his own comments it is clear that he does), well, yes than anything that does not have to do with rocket ships, or blazing machine guns, or steriod-laden super heroes rescuing scantily clad well-endowed women might seem "dull." But frankly, Signet, such being your defintion of what is exciting and interesting, I really don't know why you would even bother checking this film out, or any work of Shakespeare, for that matter, in the first place!
This JC film plays out like a taut, well-placed political thriller - showing the machinations of scheming politicians, of their egos and jealousies, and a quite simply SUPERB Mark Antony funeral oration scene. Now, to me, brando has never seemed to be the most subtle of actors in his performances, but the way he plays it here is perfect! He shows the absolute mastery of reverse psychology, of how sharp demagogues from him to Hitler are able to sway the masses to do their bidding. It is simply an amaziug scene, to my mind one of the very best scenes ever put on film.
The acting, from Mason to Geilgood to O'Brien is first-rate throughout.
Again, if you are looking for a classic (and to me, definitive version of this particular Shakesplay), watch and tape/buy this film. And if you're more interested in WWF-style rock 'em sock 'em action, lpease don't.
And if you are in the later thrill-seeking camp, just don't watch a Shakespeare film, and then post your juvenile comments to this web site. It merely serves to embarrass you. Becuase you obviously just don't "get" the Bard. And you never will.