Prospero…The Moor of Milan?

I’m not really sure what blog Thrice Fresh is all about, but his envisioning of character Doc Prosper got my attention: My version of the Duke was born in Scicily (after its occupation by the Moors) and later made his way to Milan in the north. I’m thinking before becoming Duke, he studied Neuromancy in the ruins of Alexandria. I wonder if he’ll spot the link and check in.  I can’t tell if this is some sort of graphic novel in progress, or an animation project, or what.  

Technorati tags: Shakespeare, Prospero, Tempest

Shakespeare for Lunch

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=477222007 Now there’s a neat idea.  Break down the plays into 45 minute versions that you can watch on your lunch hour.  Instead of a three hour chore, you get an entertaining break in the middle of the day.  If they did such a thing walking distance from my office I’d be there every time. Like any modern attempt to bring Shakespeare to the masses, I’m sure that it will be met with criticism.  What parts will they cut?  How much of the essence will be removed?  There are folks that will only be happy with Branagh’s four hour Hamlet.  For the most part, I’m with you.  I’ll take the original novel over the comic book any day.  But when I don’t have time to sit through four hours, 45 minutes is much better than nothing.

Technorati tags: Shakespeare, lunch

Tarantino as Shakespeare. Discuss.

This story made the rounds this weekend.  It seems that Quentin Tarantino, he of Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill and now Grindhouse, “can’t rule out the possibility” that he’s Shakespeare reincarnated.  “I’ve always had a thought maybe I might have been Shakespeare in another life,” he says.  “I don’t really believe that 100 per cent, and I don’t really care about Shakespeare, I’ve never been into Shakespeare, but then people are constantly bringing up all these qualities in my work that mirror Shakespearean tragedies…” It’s actually an interesting question.  Once you get past the liberal use of f-words, Tarantino is actually known best for his writing, and through that, his character development.  Look at Samuel L. Jackson’s character in Pulp Fiction, a hired hitman who has an epiphany after experiencing a miracle.  Or the journey of Bea in Kill Bill, to hunt down the man who’d tried to murder her and her unborn child.  There’s enough gore and chopping of limbs in that one in particular to do Titus Andronicus proud.  

Technorati tags: Shakespeare, Tarantino