I now blog over at The Eyre Guide! This blog is an archive of my past posts.


Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Awesome Adaptations (42) Much Ado About Nothing

Posted by Charlene // Tags: ,
This meme celebrates an awesome adaptation related to a weekly category. Any format of adaptation (television series, film, web series, etc.) is acceptable as long as it is based in some form on a book. This meme is hosted by Alisa Selene at PictureMeReading. Check out her site and join in on the fun!

An Awesomely Magical Adaptation
Title: Much Ado About Nothing
Adapted from: Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

Well I'm taking kind of big liberty with this week's AA theme as there isn't any magic of the literal kind in Joss Whedon's film Much Ado About Nothing, but magic of the figurative kind in the acting, directing and vision behind this film.  Joss Whedon filmed it at his house, in a little over a week with his friends, and although it is a stripped down affair, that allows for a wonderful focus on the story and the words and the emotions.  The actors are so amazing in their roles and although Shakespeare's words didn't seem to run trippingly off every actor's tongue, the emotion behind them ran true, and the humor was very apparent as well.

The scenes with Benedick and Beatrice were the best part of course; witty banter executed brilliantly with a hard edge of disappointment or misunderstanding behind it.  And love.  Their journey in the play is the heart of the story and a beautiful romance, and Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof pulled it off so well.  Another performance that captured me was Sean Maher as the almost over-the-top villan Don John (the line is tread so carefully through the acting and directing), but he is wonderfully dark and dastardly and just plain fascinating.  I've never been so intrigued by Don John before!

This is a wonderful film - unpretentious and emotional and even more riveting when you think of how it was made.  Without the trappings of effects, the filmmaking and the acting are highlighted and it brings so much magic to Shakespeare's story.

Now I'm going to go back to listening to the sleek, musicalized version of "Sigh No More" from the film!  I love it!

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10 comments:

  1. Glad it lived up to your hopes and expectations! We are both wanting to see this and just hope a theater near his family's home is showing it!

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    1. Can't wait to read your thoughts on this! I think it is an excellent adaptation, but I haven't yet decided if it is my favorite adaptation - I still really like the Shakespeare Retold version.

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  2. I cannot believe that Joss Whedon directed this and I never heard of it! Well, I mean, I've obviously heard the title before, but I mean this version of the movie specifically.

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    1. I was actually surprised when I heard it had come out already, they really didn't put too much into advertising for this film! It's in limited release right now so maybe that's why they haven't really publicized it.

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  3. Apparently the movie broke box office records (most money per individual theater...or something).

    I'm SO excited to see this! It looks fantastic (I should know, I've watched the trailer about 60 bazillion times...sigh). I can barely sit still thinking about it!

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    1. Ooh awesome I really wanted this film to do well, so glad to hear that! I hope you get to see it soon!

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  4. I want to see this, but unfortunately there's nowhere within 200 miles that's playing it. I know it was a small-scale production but I do hope it comes to more theaters... otherwise guess I'll just have to wait for video.

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    1. Oh That sucks it isn't playing near you! I think it will expand to more theaters, especially if it did so well like Krista said in her comment above. Hope you see it soon!

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  5. I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! Much Ado About Nothing is my favorite Shakespeare play, so I'm excited to see this adaption! :) Great review!

    Alice @ Alice in Readerland

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    1. Oh definitely you'll like this if this is your favorite play! :) I really should have mentioned in my post just how funny those scenes where Benedick and Beatrice are being tricked were! It was the best! :)

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