Lumsdal Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Dotbankey A lot of fun.

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

GusF Generally believed to have been William Shakespeare's final play, this is a typically excellent BBC production which is very well directed by John Gorrie, one of the corporation's best drama directors from the 1960s onwards. This is another Shakespearean play with which I was familiar only through reputation but I understand that it is a very faithful adaptation. While it is not on the same level as his absolute best work such as "Hamlet", "Macbeth" or "King Lear", it is a wonderfully told tale of sorcery, vaulting ambition, power and control.Michael Hordern may not have been as good a Shakespearean actor as Laurence Olivier or John Gielgud but he is terrific as Prospero. Exiled to an island after being usurped as Duke of Milan by his treacherous younger brother Antonio, he is nevertheless not a terribly sympathetic character. He abuses his great power and is cruel and vindictive, threatening to return Ariel to the prison in which he found him when he reminds him of his promise to free him. He enslaves Caliban and Ferdinand and is very controlling towards his daughter Miranda. However, as the play progresses, he becomes a better man as he renounces magic - which was of course considered a great evil in Shakespeare's time - and forgives Antonio for his betrayal 12 years earlier. His final speech has often been interpreted as representing the Bard's farewell to the theatre.Caliban is the most interesting character in the play after Prospero. At turns, he is both monstrous and pitiable. Warren Clarke is very good in the role. He serves as a very effective contrast to several other characters. For instance, in his first scene, it is mentioned that he attempted to rape Miranda, which is the antithesis of Ferdinand's sweet, pure love of her. He wants to gain control of the island in much the same way as Antonio seized the dukedom of Milan and Sebastian seeks to usurp his brother Alonso's throne. He is in many ways a dark reflection of Ariel, who is effectively played by David Dixon.The gentle, innocent Miranda is under her father's thumb for much of the play and, in that sense, she is well matched by the equally passive Ferdinand. Pippa Guard and Christopher Guard play their respective roles very well but I wish that I had not known that they were cousins in real life before I watched this as it made their professions of love a little...weird. Then again, they were playing royalty so it was pretty appropriate that they were blood relatives. Derek Godfrey gives an excellent performance as Antonio, being at his best in his interplay with Alan Rowe as Sebastian. As Trinculo and Stephano, Andrew Sachs and Nigel Hawthorne are often hilarious in their dealings with each other and Caliban and provide another great contrast, in this instance to the scheming lords Antonio and Sebastian.Overall, this is a first-rate production. It was made as part of the BBC Television Shakespeare series from 1978 to 1985, which will serve as my main source for many of his other plays, particularly the more infrequently adapted ones.

decoats This is an excellent Tempest. I have just seen the Patrick Stewart in Ann Arbor with the Royal Shakespeare. Poor by comparison, but good enough in an of itself. Good storm here. In RSC this year (Michigan residency) they use a curtain with a CB radio, with a hole where the dial might be, and all the storm is sound effects, and all action for the storm is limited to what can be seen through this hole, 10 feet in diameter. A little weak for a storm. Stewart was rather good, but Miranda was weak, Pippa Guard here more qualifies as a goddess. See the play first, then see this DVD. Always read them first, so you know what you will see, then the play or DVD will flesh out the story for you. Ann Arbor Caliban was good, but Ariel was spooky, more frightening or threatening than ephemeral. 1980 Tempest (BBC) Dixon is an excellent Ariel, almost not clearly male or female, a spirit. Flying all the way to Ann Arbor to see the Tempest (also Julius Caesar) was a long trip. But worth it. Enchanting snow flurries there, nice to come back to warm L.A. RSC was very good, very well done, but you do not get the facial close ups like on the DVD. Shakespeare will live forever, because it is such intelligent thought provoking material. The plays are like children. There must be no favorites, just further study and thought on them. The question must never be, "did you enjoy the play (dvd)", but what did you THINK of the play. A massage is to enjoy, Shakespeare is to make you think.

Dan1863Sickles Shakespeare's TEMPEST is magical, romantic, and full of delight. But the center of the play is the dynamic between Prospero, the wise old wizard, and his innocent but adventurous daughter Miranda.Pippa Guard is PERFECT as Miranda. She captures all of Miranda's sweetness and gentleness while adding courage and spirit and passion and even daring to the surface obedience she always displays. Watch the famous scene where Prospero talks on and on about his past and his great gifts and his magical plans to bring them home. At the end of his long-winded speech, he prevents Miranda from asking any further questions by waving his magic wand and sending her to sleep! It's a scene that often makes modern audiences groan aloud. But Pippa Guard has the most extraordinary gift for putting a world of passion and deep feeling into her face as she opens her mouth to protest. Her magnificent spirit is fully displayed, even though she has no verbal comeback to Prospero's manipulative magic. Even the surprised, confused, and then suddenly very sleepy look on her face cannot conceal her growing strength and her rebellious desire to know more.Pippa Guard is the model Shakespearean actress -- rendering the language beautifully and adding a world of meaning with just a single look or a glance.Pippa Guard Rocks!

issi_85 This must the worst move I've ever seen! I thought that by the fact that it said BBC on the cover, that it had to have some kind of quality or at least be ok. This is ridiculous! some excuse it must get since it was made in 1980 but still. To actually dress up the air and water sprites in thong and cover them with baby oil and glitter is not the best way to take a dramatic play of Shakespeare seriously. The one actor I could actually watch without getting attacks of laughter was the drunken servant! And the scenography looked like it had been brought in from a school play. Everything look as if it were made of papier-maché! well maybe I do ought to recommend it after all, not if you want to see a good Shakespearian play but if you would like to get hysterical laughter attacks from oiled men in thongs crawling over each other...erh...wait a minute...was this a PG-13 movie? I think not....