William Shakespeare, a world-class writer, still defines the geography of modern filmmaking. His 400-year-old written word remains sparking off responses in both filmmaking and the audience's minds. It is not to be said that despite the similarity in his eternal subjects which were love, jealousy, betrayal, and power, it was in equal measure through the impression from his continued existence through characters. It might be in the form of direct stories or films using his themes and characters but changing as Shakespeare evolves on the silver screen. Through this blog, we will identify how the literary presence of Shakespeare remains influencing modern motion pictures by exploring notable films adapted from his work, the continuous relevance of the Shakespearean theme, and ways that filmmakers can include his work in a film based on today's context.
Shakespeare's works have a theme that is still relevant to today's audience. His investigation of human nature, morality, politics, and social issues has helped his work be timeless, and his writing will not bind him within any time and geographical confines. What separates Shakespeare is that he understands human emotions well and their intricacies; his works connect with people from any time. They run the gamut from love to revenge, jealousy, ambition, and betrayal. Most movies, especially those in this category, borrow directly from Shakespearean works.
The themes of Shakespeare's works remain part of the cultural heritage that saturates the world, and these themes inspired many modern filmmakers. These ageless themes are being reinterpreted with countless ideas to create a movie that may very well work well with the sensibility of a modern-day audience. From romance-comedy flicks to thrillers, the entire world is included under the influence of Shakespeare's own narrative arcs, character developments, and tones in so many films.
The most direct way Shakespeare has influenced modern cinema is through the adaptation of his plays into films. Such adaptations can be direct renderings of Shakespeare's text to very creative reinterpretations of his plays. During the 20th and 21st centuries, filmmakers continued to bring Bard's works to life by giving a new breath of life to the centuries-old plays.
The West Side Story musical, an iconic Shakespearean adaptation, itself forms the basic central theme of Romeo and Juliet but instead unfolds it in an urban background (1961). Directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, this has feuding gangs instead of feuding families, yet, the core substance of the Shakespearean saga remains- tragic love lost in the crossfire of a divided society. The film was revolutionary in terms of its music, choreography, and acting, and it continues to be a cultural touchstone today. The 2021 remake by Steven Spielberg proves that Shakespeare's themes of love and conflict are still potent in contemporary storytelling.
Another example of Shakespeare in cinema includes The Lion King (1994). Even though the movie does not draw directly from anyone's play specifically, the animated classic is heavily influenced by Hamlet. In this movie, Simba is the lead character as he goes through family betrayal, revenge, and self-discovery. The themes in this film will reflect the tragic elements that characterize Hamlet; however, in this case, it's presented in an accessible form that makes this a timeless classic for audiences of all ages.
More current adaptations are Macbeth in 2015, under the direction of Justin Kurzel and featuring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard. It is this gritty version of the Scottish play that Shakespeare's text comes alive, as a film for modern times with breathtaking cinematography and haunting scores. As ambitious and morally ambiguous as they ever were, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth get stark visuals and grounded performances, making it a film piece pertinent to the tastes of today.
None of the films directly adopt similar stories, however, most borrow or inspire their themes, characters, or plot structures from the originals. Probably one of the greatest innovative ways filmmakers have "borrowed" from Shakespeare was through reimagining stories in new contexts. A quintessential example of this reimagining is 10 Things I Hate About You, 1999 as an example of a rather creative reimagining of The Taming of the Shrew. It is set in a modern high school, retaining the basic premise of the original play but embedding it with contemporary teenage angst, humor, and social issues. Thus, it testifies to the eternal nature of Shakespeare's themes whereby one's characters can be made meaningful and relevant even in a more modern context.
Similarly, Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet 1996 is a wholesale remake of the classic drama but it takes in a modern, metropolitan setting and yet retains much of the Shakespearean dialogue. The film by Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes makes the known tale of the two star-crossed lovers drape guns, street gangs, and fast action, yet the very emotional core of the storytelling remains unchanged. The Luhrmann version goes on to show that the vocabulary and themes of Shakespeare can be utilized across ages and geographies to prove that Bard's writing cannot be limited to period dramas only.
Movies like She's the Man (2006) take Twelfth Night by Shakespeare and adapt it to a teen comedy. Again, through the gender-bending humor and misunderstandings that make the play romantic, the new movie has turned these elements of mistaken identity, gender roles, and tension into a different, relevant storyline for another generation.
Beyond simple borrowings, Shakespeare's influence can be seen in even the general thematic undertone of most modern films as they express the same sort of themes like ambition, love, jealousy, power, and betrayal alongside fate, for which themes Shakespeare's dramatic works mostly revolve.
For example, Francis Ford Coppola's film, The Godfather (1972), does not follow the storyline of any Shakespearean play; however, its themes involve family, power, and loyalty, which are themes associated with Macbeth and King Lear. The collapse of the Corleone family into obscurity relates to some of the same ambitions and betrayals found in Shakespeare's tragedies, as seen in the way Shakespearean themes remain relevant even today for filmmakers across all genres.
In terms of its most marked films, a very representative film is Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000). Much of what Gladiator has is from Julius Caesar, the revenge, the power, and the loyalty, among many themes. In this context, Maximus will find vengeance from the corrupt emperor, having slain his family. Maximus was a tragic hero, not unlike the Shakespearean tragedies, and who fell due to personal loss as well as justice.
Today also Shakespeare’s work is as relevant as the day it was written, however, the influence of Shakespeare over the cinema looks never-ending as filmmakers still take inspiration from his stories, characters, and themes from Bard's works to tell movies that still resonate among modern people. Whether it is a direct adaptation or a re-imagining of his plays, the theme of human study through his works remains enduring in films across all genres.
This enables filmmakers to get involved in Shakespeare's themes, which are always lively while discovering new ways of saying things that are suitable to this day's cultural climate. In effect, the inspiration given to filmmakers by creating within the cinematic medium together with the universality, which has long been inherent in the works of Shakespeare, is sure to continue the influence that art will have over times to come within filmmaking's capacity for storytelling.
Undoubtedly, Shakespeare has influenced modern cinema either as a direct adaptation or a more creative reinterpretation of his works. His works continue to depict the path of filmmaking and the stories that films tell. His explorations of the human condition be it love, jealousy, ambition, or betrayal are just as relevant today as they were when he wrote them. The Shakespearean influence on the cinema world is going to inspire, thus keeping the screen world of life going while keeping his name floating as the most influential figure as far in the annals of film history. From classic adaptations and new to fresh imaginations, the Bard lives on the screen and most likely is going to carry his legacy for generations and more.
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