Clever. Brilliant. The bane of your existence in high school. Call them what you want, but there’s something about Shakespeare plays that transcends time. With the upcoming release of Joss Whedon’s modern re-telling of “Much Ado about Nothing” (in theaters June 7), audiences are sure to be reminded why Shakespeare classics are often brilliantly readapted onto the silver screen as modern tales. Here are some examples of those modern takes:
“10 Things I Hate About You”
Original Shakespeare play: “Taming of the Shrew”
Modern twist: The story is taken into suburban America and centers on a group of high-school students. Kat, still the headstrong “shrew,” is social outcast and feminist in this adaption, while Patrick, based on Petruchio in the play, is a brazen rebel. Sprinkle in a high school house party, a bad-ass serenade, prom and voila: a once classic Shakespeare play turns into a classic teen flick.
“Romeo + Juliet”
Original Shakespeare play: “Romeo and Juliet”
Modern twist: Although this film prescribes to the original play word-for-word and the Montagues and the Capulets are still sworn enemies, this film takes place in the fictional, modern-day “Verona Beach” (paying a nice homage to the play’s setting). There are guns in lieu of swords , a bit of recreational drug use, and the Montagues and the Capulets are belligerent business empires.
“My Own Private Idaho”
Original Shakespeare plays: “Henry IV” (parts one and two) and “Henry V”
Modern twist: Keanu Reeves plays Scott, based on Prince Hal in the plays, a street hustler as opposed to the often intoxicated and irresponsible Prince Hal. The setting and overall tone of this film is much grittier than the original Shakespeare play, but the film still captures the Shakespearean themes that transcends time.
“She’s the Man”
Original Shakespeare play: “Twelfth Night”
Modern twist: The film stays true to the most important aspect of the play’s plot: Viola disguising herself to achieve her goals– in a different way and for a different reason though. Viola in the play disguises herself as a man to work for the duke while Viola in the film disguises herself as her brother so she can play soccer. The classic story also turns into a teen flick, set in Illyria High School (a nod to the play’s setting in Illyria), dashed with a hunky male lead and slapstick teen comedy.
“West Side Story”
Original Shakespeare play: “Romeo and Juliet “
Modern twist: This adaption is arguably one of the most unique of Shakespearean film adaptions yet. This film, originally based on the Broadway musical, takes place in New York City. Instead of warring families, there are warring street gangs, the Jets, who are white Americans, and the Sharks, who are Puerto Rican. The star-crossed lovers, Maria and Tony, are inevitably associated with the two opposing gangs. But best of all, this film is laced with song and dance.
