Shakespeare in Love (Miramax Collector's Series)

Amazon.com

One of the most endearing and intelligent romantic comedies of the '90s, the Oscar-winning Shakespeare in Love is filled with such good will, sunny romance, snappy one-liners, and devilish cleverness that it's absolutely irresistible. With tongue placed firmly in cheek, at its outset the film tracks young Will Shakespeare's overwrought battle with writer's block and the efforts of theater owner Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush, in rare form) to stage Will's latest comedy, Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter. Jokey comedy, though, soon takes a backseat to ravishing romance when the beautiful Viola De Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow) disguises herself as a young man to wangle herself an audition in the all-male cast, and wins both the part of Romeo and, after much misunderstanding, the playwright's heart. Soon enough, Will's pirate comedy becomes the beautiful, tragic Romeo and Juliet, reflecting the agony and ecstasy of Will and Viola's romance--he's married and she's set to marry the slimy Lord Wessex (Colin Firth) in the near future.

The way that Oscar-winning screenwriters Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard enfold their story within the parameters of Romeo and Juliet (and even Twelfth Night) is nothing short of brilliant--it would take a Shakespearean scholar to dissect the innumerable parallels, oft-quoted lines, plot developments, and thematic borrowings. And most amazingly, Norman and Stoppard haven't forgotten to entertain their audience in addition to riding a Shakespearean roller coaster, with director John Madden (Mrs. Brown) reigning in his huge ensemble with rollicking energy. Along the way there are small gems to be found, including Judi Dench's eight-minute, Oscar-winning turn as a truly regal Queen Elizabeth, but the key element of Shakespeare in Love's success rests on the milky-white shoulders of its two stars. Fiennes, inexplicably overlooked at Oscar time, is a dashing, heartfelt Will, and as for Best Actress winner Paltrow, well, nothing she'd done before could have prepared viewers for how amazing she is here. Breathtakingly beautiful, fiercely intelligent, strong-willed, and lovestruck--it's a performance worthy of Shakespeare in more ways than one. By the film's end, you'll be thoroughly won over--and brushing up your Shakespeare with newfound ardor. --Mark Englehart

Description

Triumphant winner of 7 Academy Awards(R) -- including Best Picture -- this witty, sexy smash features Oscar(R)-winning Best Actress Gwyneth Paltrow (SLIDING DOORS, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS) and an amazing cast that includes Academy Award-winners Judi Dench (Best Supporting Actress), Geoffrey Rush (Best Actor -- SHINE), and Ben Affleck (GOOD WILL HUNTING, PEARL HARBOR). When Will Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes -- ELIZABETH) needs passionate inspiration to break a bad case of writer's block, a secret romance with the beautiful Lady Viola (Paltrow) starts the words flowing like never before! There are just two things he'll have to learn about his new love: not only is she promised to marry someone else, but she's successfully impersonating a man in order to play the lead in Will's latest production! A truly can't-miss motion picture event with outstanding critical acclaim to match its impressive collection of major awards -- everyone will love this funny behind-the-scenes look at the writing of the greatest love story ever told!

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2007-09-13

This is one of my top 3 favorite movies. I just love the costumes, the acting, the story...everything about it was something I fell in love with.

Shakespeare in Love (Miramax Collector's Series).......2007-08-24

I don't remember buying this one but if I did, it was a gift. I haven't seen it.

lovely movie, and worth the grounding.......2007-08-18

I remember sneaking into the theater at 14 to watch this on Christmas day after my family decided to see "You've Got Mail" instead. So, full disclosure: This holds a special place in my heart for visiting such wonder and wit in my decidedly smalltown life. This is what the movies is about.

Precocious theater dorks unite because on DVD, it's as well-written, clever, funny and magical today as it ever was. A lovely film, and worth the grounding, after all these years.

What a cast. Fiennes was robbed on Oscar night. And next to "Sliding Doors," this is Paltrow's most winsome performance. Add Geoffrey Rush to the mix, and you just can't lose. Can't be done. Even dear nurse is a sight to behold -- here, my most beloved character in a nun habit since Mother Superior. Simply put, and esp. for fans of the Bard, I can't recommend this enough.

Lame and overwrought.......2007-08-02

How did this win the Academy Award?! I guess because it is a movie theater people and the Academy is composed of theater people? The script is predictable and formulaic. Fienes's performance is unbearably earnest.

One of the best movies I've ever seen.......2007-07-31

I'm astounded that this movie has anything but 5 stars from everyone! The editing between the "live" action and the play and players is brilliant. The screenwriting is superb, and the characters are engaging, personable and loveable. It's as nearly perfect as a movie can get, with bright, witty dialog and tremendous aesthetics. I've seen it 6 or 7 times and I'm still enthralled at the craft of the actors, writers, producers, cinematographers, costumers, etc. Fiennes deserved best actor nomination at least for his part. Wow! Get it and you won't be disappointed.

The Reduced Shakespeare Company - The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)

Average customer rating:

Great fun
2/3s Funny
The Best of Rap: Othello
A great disk of a great play
Beyond hysterical!!

The Reduced Shakespeare Company - The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
Starring: Adam Long , Reed Martin , Austin Tichenor , and Daniel Singer
Director: Paul Kafno
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

ASIN: B00008US5Q
Release Date: 2003-05-01

Amazon.com

Ah, Shakespeare. The great bard. You've heard he's a terrific writer. One of these days, you may actually get around to catching one of his plays. Yeah, right. Well, with the help of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, not only can you catch all of Shakespeare's plays at once, but you can have a riotous good time doing so.

Three men performing 37 plays in less than two hours may seem a bit of a stretch. But Adam Long, Reed Martin, and Austin Tichenor--all members of the Reduced Shakespeare Company--pull it off beautifully with The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), a slapstick show that summarizes the playwright's stage work (with the sonnets thrown in). Never read Titus Andronicus? No problem; it's presented here as a cooking show. Can't keep your Shakespearean histories straight? Visualize them as a football game. Wondering what exactly is the deal with that guy Othello? Hear his story as a rap song. Hard as it is to imagine, this video of the stage show (originally seen on PBS) is one of the funniest, most clever productions around. Long is hysterical in his roles of Juliet and Ophelia (among others), bringing a hip, edgy feel to the plays while remaining surprisingly true to the stories. Martin and Tichenor will amaze with their acrobatic movements and frequent costume changes, and the three together are a marvel of timing and rhythm. Best of all, whether you know Shakespeare inside out or have yet to read a word of him, The Complete Works will have you in stitches. --Jenny Brown

Description

Life is short. The complete works of Shakespeare are long. To the rescue: THE REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, the three-man comedy troupe known for fast, funny, physical condensations of real serious stuff. They wrap up the Bard's outsized oeuvre in 90 roller-coaster, rib-tickling minutes. After warming up with a nothing-is-sacred send-up of Romeo and Juliet, they're off, dispensing with the comedies in one fell swoop (because the tragedies are funnier). You decide after you see Othello as a rap song, Titus Andronicus as a cooking program, and the show's unforgettable finale - Hamlet - told with the help of audience members and lascivious sock puppets. Contains material not seen on the PBS broadcast. "Intellectual vaudeville" - The New York Times. "Inspired American spoof merchants...slings and arrows of outrageous comedy" - Daily Telegraph. "This trio of modern Marx brothers will leave you in stitches" - Boston Herald.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE: Trade secrets: Two commentaries featuring the stars and the director; Humble beginnings: Rare footage of an early RSC performance; Who are these clowns?: Cast bios; Pop Quiz: Interactive trivia, Say Again?: English Subtitles. WARNING: High-speed hilarity. Not for people with weak hearts or English degrees! Starring Adam Long, Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor.

Customer Reviews:

Great fun.......2007-08-13

Even Shakespearean newbies will get a laugh out of this. The video is of a live show performed by a well cast trio of talented comic actors. William Shakespear wrote for everyone, comedy and action was part of his legacy. The Reduced Shakespeare Company may be irreverent but the Bard would have appreciated the joke.

2/3s Funny.......2007-06-21

About 2/3s of this show are funny and about 1/3 is either boring or forced. Adam Long is a stitch, very enjoyable. But do we really need multiple versions of "Hamlet"? This is one I would rent if I had to do it over again.

The Best of Rap: Othello.......2007-05-13

I had seen a live production of this play a few years ago, but forgot how much I laughed. Great satire of the Bard's works. Bravo!

A great disk of a great play.......2007-05-06

This is simply one of the funniest shows ever staged, especially if you have at least a passing familliarity with most of Shakespeare's works. The DVD is not a movie, it is simply a recording of a stage performance, with a little bit of camera work.

Best of all, this DVD's performance features the writers of the play.

Bonus features include a home video of the very first performance of the play, under a park shelter in Canada. Once you're familliar with the show, watch this feature to see how the show has evolved. The earlier version will also make you laugh.

Beyond hysterical!!.......2007-04-08

The first time we watched this, my husband and I were laughing so hard that our eldest teenager came in to see what on earth we were watching. She promptly claimed it, and while she was watching it in turn, her younger brother came in because she was laughing so hard. He was next to succumb to the hilarity of Reduced Shakespeare.

As another reviewer mentioned, you will fully appreciate this if you know and love the Bard. The Reduced Shakespeare Company performs all of Shakespeare's works, including the sonnets, in about 90 minutes. Well, they don't actually perform the sonnets, but they make an appearance, and were I to further comment on that, you would not enjoy it as much!

Their Othello rap is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. They also reduce, rereduce and rerereduce all Shakespeare's comedies to one sentence, then perform them all simultaneously. (That may not appear to make sense, but trust me, it works!)

If you are a fan of Shakespeare, and seeking comedic fare above the average available on DVD, you owe it to yourself and your family to get this DVD. Whether you see it once or a dozen times, it is guaranteed to get you laughing uncontrollably (seriously, drink beverages while watching this at your own risk!). Not appropriate for very small children, teens and up will really have fun. In fact, showing it to your teenagers may get a whole new generation hooked on the Bard!

Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

Beautiful
Shakespeare in Love (Miramax Collector's Series)
lovely movie, and worth the grounding
Lame and overwrought
One of the best movies I've ever seen

Shakespeare in Love
Starring: Geoffrey Rush , Joseph Fiennes , Tom Wilkinson , Antony Sher , and Martin Clunes
Director: John Madden
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00000JGOH
Release Date: 1999-08-10

Amazon.com

One of the most winning and intelligent romantic comedies of the '90s, Shakespeare in Love is filled with such good will, sunny romance, snappy one-liners, and devilish cleverness that it's absolutely irresistible. At the 1999 Academy Awards, this dark-horse costume comedy sneaked off with seven Oscars, besting the highly favored Saving Private Ryan for Best Picture. With tongue placed firmly in cheek, at its outset the film tracks young Will Shakespeare's overwrought battle with writer's block and the efforts of theater owner Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush, in rare form) to stage Will's latest comedy, Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter. Most of the jokes in the first one-third of the film are along these lines: Will's anachronistic therapist session, a mug inscribed "A Souvenir from Stratford-Upon-Avon," Henslowe's battles to pay off his debts, and the backstage high jinks of pre-production. However, once Will sets his eyes on the beautiful Viola De Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow), joking takes a backseat to ravishing romance. Well, almost--turns out Viola wants to break into the world of male-only theater, and disguises herself as a young man to wangle herself an audition. She wins the part of Romeo and, after much misunderstanding, the playwright's heart. Soon enough, Will's pirate comedy becomes a beautiful, tragic romance, and Ethel is shoved aside for a woman named Juliet. Will and Viola's romance, however, is equal parts comedy and tragedy--he's married, and she's betrothed to the slimy Lord Wessex (Colin Firth), and it doesn't take an English major to figure out that it's not all's well that ends well.

Like Shakespeare's work itself, the film is instantly accessible to everyone, from the raucous groundlings looking for low comedy to the aesthetes hankering for some intellectual bite behind their entertainment. The way that Oscar-winning screenwriters Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard enfold their story within the parameters of Romeo and Juliet (and even Twelfth Night) is nothing short of brilliant--it would take a Shakespearean scholar to dissect the innumerable parallels, oft-quoted lines, plot developments, and thematic borrowings. And most amazingly, Norman and Stoppard haven't forgotten to entertain their audience in addition to riding a Shakespearean roller coaster. Director John Madden (Mrs. Brown) reigns in his huge ensemble with a rollicking energy that keeps the film's momentum going at top speed for its entire two hours. Along the way there are small gems to be found: Ben Affleck's riotous egotistical actor, Imelda Staunton's nimble nurse, and of course Judi Dench's eight-minute, Oscar-winning turn as a truly regal Queen Elizabeth. However, the key element of Shakespeare in Love's success rests on the milky-white shoulders of its two stars. Fiennes, inexplicably overlooked at Oscar time, is a dashing Will as we might expect him at the early stage of his career, bundled full of comedy and tragedy but unsure of how to harness his talent. And as for Best Actress winner Paltrow... well, nothing she'd done before could have prepared viewers for how amazing she is here. Breathtakingly beautiful, fiercely intelligent, strong-willed, and lovestruck--it's a performance worthy of Shakespeare in more ways than one. By the film's end, you'll be thoroughly won over--and brushing up your Shakespeare with newfound ardor. --Mark Englehart

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2007-09-13

This is one of my top 3 favorite movies. I just love the costumes, the acting, the story...everything about it was something I fell in love with.

Shakespeare in Love (Miramax Collector's Series).......2007-08-24

I don't remember buying this one but if I did, it was a gift. I haven't seen it.

lovely movie, and worth the grounding.......2007-08-18

Lame and overwrought.......2007-08-02

One of the best movies I've ever seen.......2007-07-31

The Plays of William Shakespeare - The Taming of The Shrew

Average customer rating:

The Taming of the Shrew
Awful at any price

The Plays of William Shakespeare - The Taming of The Shrew
Starring: Franklin Seales , Karen Austin , Kathryn Johnson , and Larry Drake
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Satire | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000059XTW
Release Date: 2001-01-30

Description

The clearest and most understandable Shakespeare productions ever made. Staged as seen in the 16th Century, featuring award-winning performers. The ever-popular play examining the comedy of courtship. Starring Franklin Seales, Karen Austin, Kathryn Johnson and Larry Drake. 115 minutes.

Customer Reviews:

The Taming of the Shrew.......2004-03-20

I saw this movie years ago and loved it. When I saw it on Amazon I knew I had to have it, especiallly since it was one of my favorite Shakesphere plays. The actors have done an excellent job capturing the fire and wit of the characters, I thourghly enjoyed it.

Awful at any price.......2001-06-29

One star is too high a rating for this production of Taming of the Shrew. It was so campy and cheap that it was a torture to watch. I wanted to throw something at the screen everytime Grumio mugged directly into the camera lens. The tinny and repetitive synthesized music is also extremely grating on the nerves. The cover literature of this cheaply packaged disc makes a point of stating that "English accents... are absent from this series" in order to achieve "clarity of both language and story." Translate this as: "Dumbed-down for North Americans." I'm insulted! This disc is awful at any price.

The Plays of William Shakespeare, Vol. 5 - The Merry Wives of Windsor

Average customer rating:

Amateur [Junk]
Shakespeare more accessible
Beware: Not "Shakespearian Drama of the Highest Quality"
Horrible!

The Plays of William Shakespeare, Vol. 5 - The Merry Wives of Windsor
Starring: Leon Charles , Gloria Grahame , Valerie Seelie-Snyder , Dixie Neyland Tymitz , and Joel Asher
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Satire | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Murder & Mayhem | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000059XTT
Release Date: 2001-01-30

Amazon.com

Think of this DVD (part of a series taped in England in the 1970s and 1980s) as Shakespeare on the cheap: serviceable, overacted, aimed squarely at a student level. It's hardly the Bard for the connoisseur, but its broad, slapstick approach translates into comprehensible comedy that works on a verbal level as well as a physical one. This productions stars Leon Charles as Sir John Falstaff, who engineers a roguish plan to seduce two married women, then blackmail them into protecting their reputations. But the wives, played by Gloria Grahame and Valerie Seelie-Snyder, turn the tables on Shakespeare's oversized knight errant. The acting is professional in a provincial way, with sets that look as much like cardboard as they are. If shown in a classroom, where its 150-minute length can be broken up into more easily digestible bites, it might be able to promote interest in Shakespeare nonetheless. --Marshall Fine

Description

The clearest and most understandable Shakespeare productions ever made. Staged as seen in the 16th Century, featuring award-winning performers. A timeless comedy about marital fidelity. Starring Leon Charles, Gloria Grahame, Valerie Seelie-Snyder, Dixie Neyland Tymitz and Joel Asher. 150 minutes.

Customer Reviews:

Amateur [Junk].......2003-04-16

Do not buy a copy of this production in any form. It is cheap and nasty. It is amateur-city. Even the costumes look old and worn out. The acting is [bad.] the direction simple-minded, the video technically sub par. How this production ever made it onto tape in the first place and into a commercial arena is beyond me. The only taping this production should ever have been subject to is the one taken to show "Mother" and "Auntie Lucy" at home on the farm to prove the "actors" actually learned their lines!

Shakespeare more accessible.......2002-02-23

While it's not Olivier starring in this very accessible production, the acting is certainly better than adequate. Use of American actors makes Shakespeare a great deal easier to understand for US students, and the recreation of the original Globe sets adds authenticity. Kultur is to be congratulated for providing this DVD at a reasonable price when the school market isn't exactly welcoming the new format with open arms; one is certainly spared an infinite amount of winding backwards and forwards by the scene search function.

Beware: Not "Shakespearian Drama of the Highest Quality".......2001-07-21

I was extrememly dissatisfied with the quality of the product, 'The Plays of William Shakespeare: The Merry Wives of Windsor' on DVD . Despite the claim that this series is 'Shakespearian Drama of the Highest Quality", this DVD is an amateurish home video-translated production. The audio was unitelligible, large parts of the play were out of focus and the digital navigation was impossible to use. While none of this is the fault of Amazon, the end result is a little like selling a book with several chapters missing. I wouldn't give this product to a high school, let alone sell it for [price] to a good customer. I asked for my money back, and strongly recommended Amazon reevaluate its relationship with this company, Kultur.

Horrible!.......2001-06-12

This video was so bad that I could barely watch it. And the fact that I had paid over $..... for it made me even madder. Shakespeare is abused in this video! The acting is terrible. Probably the worst I have ever seen. I am a high school drama teacher, and I have 14 and 15 year olds who can act better than these so-called professional actors! The direction was horrible, too. They say that this was probably how Shakespeare was actually played in the 16th Century. Bull! If any acting company ever played him like this, they would have been out of business really soon. I feel sorry for people who watch this and think that this is what Shakespeare is about. Don't buy this video!

Average customer rating:

Shakespeare In... and Out
Starring: Roger Shank , Lawrence Trilling , J.D. Smith (IV) , Razel Wolf , and William Neenan
Director: Peter Shushtari
Manufacturer: TROMA ENTERTAINMENT INC.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0009J2SOI
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Charlie Rose with Robin Williams (August 23, 2000)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Robin Williams (August 23, 2000)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

Actor and comedian Robin Williams talks about his life, career, politics and other miscellany in a lively conversation cum stand up comedy routine.

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose (August 23, 2000)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

A rebroadcast of a conversation with actor and comedian Robin Williams talking about his life, career, politics and other miscellany in a lively conversation cum stand up comedy routine. This segment originally aired on April 20, 2000.

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000JBX0O8
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Description

First, Yale professor and author Harold Bloom discusses his new book, The Western Canon, and the increasing politicization of literary study. Then, animation director Chuck Jones -- creator of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and the Roadrunner -- discusses his retrospective at the American Museum of the Moving Image, the origins of his characters and his career in cartoons.

Taming of the Shrew- tThe Comedies, Histories and Tragedies of William Shakespeare

Average customer rating:

Taming of the Shrew- tThe Comedies, Histories and Tragedies of William Shakespeare

Manufacturer: Ambrose
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

John Cleese
BBC
Time-Life

ASIN: B000PGHEQM

DVD:

DVD

DVD