Movies Inspired by William Shakepeare's Plays
In light of the recent birthday of William Shakespeare, we've put together a list of films that you may or may not have guessed were inspired by his plays.
John Tucker Must Die = The Merry Wives of Windsor
In The Merry Wives of Windsor, we meet Falstaff. A foolish man in need of money, he devises a scheme to seduce two married women and steal their husbands' wealth.By talking to each other, however, the wives soon discover his plan and begin to plot their own revenge.
Similarly, in "John Tucker Must Die", John dates several girls simultaneously. Eventually finding out that they've been taken for a ride, the girls come together and decide to seek vengeance through several schemes designed to leave Tucker red-faced.
Although Falstaff's intent is to gain wealth and John is simply a ladies man, both stories follow the idea of women getting their revenge on a dishonest man.
We support women's rights, but most importantly we support women's wrongs ;)
And hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!
Warm Bodies = Romeo and Juliet
Set in a city torn apart by feuds and gang warfare, Shakespeare's immortal drama tells the story of star-crossed lovers, rival dynasties and bloody revenge.
Romeo and Juliet is a hymn to youth and the thrill of forbidden love, charged with passion and violence, but also a warning of death: a dazzling combination of bawdy comedy and high tragedy.
There are endless Romeo and Juliet adaptations, but we've gone with perhaps a less-obvious one. Warm Bodies features our favourite star-crossed lovers with a supernatural twist.
A zombie meets, and falls in love with a human girl - as one does. Naturally, an enemy of his own kind, and alas, the star-crossed lovers are destined for failure.
This movie screams "forbidden love and tragedy", and also recreated the famous "Balcony Scene" - How's that for Shakespearen Inspiration?
10 Things I Hate About You = The Taming of the Shrew
The beautiful and witty Katherina has sworn never to accept the demands of any would-be husband. Much to the dismay of her younger sister, Bianca, who cannot marry until Katherina does. But when she is pursued by Petruchio, it seems that she has finally met her match.
As he meets her caustic words with capricious cruelty, Katherina is forced to reconsider her position, in one of the greatest and most contentious of all comic battles of the sexes.
Similarly, in "10 Things I Hate About You," the main plot is that Bianca can't date until Kat does. And so begins a series of humorous attempts by atypical heartthrob, Patrick, to sweep the tempestuous Kat off her stubborn feet.
Fans of the Bard will enjoy spotting the little Shakespeare references dotted throughout the film (look at the main characters' surnames for a start!). And of course the plot has plenty of tragic twists and turns - it wouldn't be Shakespeare if it didn't!
She's The Man = Twelfth Night
Separated from her twin brother Sebastian after a shipwreck, Viola disguises herself as a boy to serve the Duke Orsino. Wooing a countess on his behalf, she is stunned to find herself the object of her affections.
Amorous intrigue, practical jokes, sexual confusion and riotous disorder ensue in this lyrical, hugely popular romantic comedy, which shows both the delights and the perils of desire.
In the movie "She's The Man", Viola Hastings disguises herself as her twin brother, Sebastian, and takes his place at school, in order to play soccer for their all male team.While impersonating her brother, she falls for her roommate, Duke, who's unaware of Viola's true identity. To make matters worse, she finds herself fending off the advances of Olivia (the girl Duke likes) and avoiding Sebastian's ex-girlfriend - the one person who could blow her cover!
My Own Private Idaho = Henry IV and Henry V
The first of Shakespeare's four plays about the Wars of the Roses dramatizes the rivalry between power-hungry noble houses, divided by grievances inherited from the past.
After the death of Henry V, the French revolt and threaten to reclaim their country from English rule. Guided by his Lord Protector, the young King Henry VI journeys to Paris to reaffirm his rule over France.
But while the British battle Joan of Arc abroad, discontent is also breeding at home between the two ancient Houses of York and Lancaster.
In My Own Private Idaho, we meet Scott Favor - a privileged but rebellious teenager who finds himself involved with the wrong crowds in Portland. His father Jack Favor, the Mayor of Portland, symbolizes the role of King Henry IV.
After Scott meets Mike Waters - a hustler afflicted with narcolepsy - they travel together from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally, to the coast of Italy in a quest to find Mike's estranged mother.
Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of Bob Pigeon, a stand-in for the character of Falstaff.
The Lion King = Hamlet
In Shakespeare's verbally dazzling and eternally enigmatic exploration of conscience, madness and the nature of humanity, a young prince meets his father's ghost in the middle of the night, who accuses his own brother - now married to his widow - of murdering him.
The prince devises a scheme to test the truth of the ghost's accusation, feigning wild insanity while plotting revenge. But his actions soon begin to wreak havoc on innocent and guilty alike.
Like Hamlet, Simba is royalty and the oldest child of the King - therefore first in line to the throne.
Like Claudius, Scar kills his brother by faking an innocent accident, takes the throne for himself, and cast his nephew out.
Nala and Ophelia are treated as unsurprising love interests. Their families are intertwined, the characters around them expect their relationship to develop, and the workings-out of the romance keeps the plot moving along.
Despite the initial similarities, The Lion King does have a significantly less tragic ending!
Did you know there were so many comparisons? which was your favourite?
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