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You know that recent SNL sketch 'The Californians'? This is like a version of MAaN, done like that...in black and white...with a bunch of TV actors...by the director of the Avengers.
For the 1st half hour, it wasn't working for me at all. Whedon couldn't really handle B&W and to attempt it for this was just pretentious. Plus knowing the backstory that he filmed it at his home in a very short time bothered me. I'm Joss Whedon, super director - I can throw a party at my house and make a movie. They stick to the language of the play, but don't put on any Brit airs, so it's like totally Californian, just like that SNL sketch. But then, that brilliance that is Shakespeare shines through - such dialog, such farce, such insight into comedy, tragedy and the human condition. MAaN remains such timeless entertainment. While the Thompson/Branagh version is in no fear of being unseated as best film adaptation of MAaN, Whedon's take on it works surprisingly well by the end. Special props to Amy Acker as Beatrice (although very much in the shadow of Thompson), and Nathan Fillon as one of my all time fav Shakespeare characters, Dogberry. Those two steal every scene they appear in. Clark Gregg was distracting as I kept thinking 'It's Agent Coulson!' And no sword fights because it's modern, so they brandish pistols.
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I think you have to give Whedon a little more credit. This is his favorite play. He puts it on all the time in his back yard. He decided to film the Shenanigans as a way to step back from the Immensity that was the Avengers and overseeing the Marvel universe by doing a personal project. More power to him.
I'm looking forward to seeing it.
So much for the flickr badge idea. Dammit
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Nathan Fillion and Joss Whedon? Couldn't be unwatchable. I'm in. Speaking of which, I think I'm nearly ready to rewatch Dr. Horrible.
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
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I should qualify that by saying I did enjoy it immensely, as did my family. We all laughed at the farce and as for Whedon/Fillon, it is perfect for Dogberry. I think I like Fillon's Dogberry better than Michael Keaton's. I respect Joss for the gear change. It was clearly therapeutic filmmaking for him. And he has a lovely house.
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Joss Whedon takes a break from Marvel to give us the Bard.
I wasn't familiar with this play at all. It probably would have helped to have read some of it before hand to keep straight who was who and what they were doing in order to focus on the language.
It's modern retelling of this courtship play. Clark Gregg is the best of the bunch with Nathan Fillion a close second. Gregg gets the lead because he has much more screen time. Although, I would love Mr. Shakespeare to start writing the play 'Detective Inspector Dogsberrie'. I also felt the cast could have spent more time with their lines. More familiarity would have made it sound less mushy, which it did at times.
It's Shakespeare. The language is beautiful. The structure of the plot is a little archaic but Wheedon does give it some modern touches.
Didn't thrill me. Didn't really bore me. Needed a sword fight and more Dogsberrie.
So much for the flickr badge idea. Dammit
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I really enjoyed it. Nathan Fillion is just impossible not to adore. his "I am an ass..." Just perfect. And having Andrew from Buffy as Nathan's sidekick -- hysterical. I still think of "Fred" from Angel whenever I watch Amy Acker; it's only recently in her latest incarnation as "Root" in Person of Interest that has made me finally see her as something other than a ninny and I thought she did a very good job with Beatrice. Same with Alexis Densiof - his Benedick was creditable, and they clearly have the chemistry that comes with having worked closely together before. Fred and Wesley, together again. The actor who played the doctor from firefly played Don John way, way too stiff. Also didn't love the stoner from Cabin in the Woods as Claudio and whoever it was that played Hero. Then again, Hero is a terrible, wimpy part. Funny -- if it were a few years back, I wonder if Joss would have cast Charisma Carpenter as Beatrice and Amy Acker as Hero.
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
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Greg Wrote:I wasn't familiar with this play at all.
You must see the Branagh/Thompson version. Denzel and Keanu rock it (and you know my disdain for Keanu). And Keaton as Dogberry was delicious but Fillon stole that crown from him with this new version. Plus....swords!
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
