Coriolanus, a love story?
Jan. 30th, 2012 10:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hafitalHello, kind friends, how did we get to the end of January already? I have no idea.
~~~
I went to a screening of Coriolanus last night. I admit, I was unfamiliar with this Shakespeare play outside of the premise and that it was a tragedy. I had seen a trailer the other day when I went to The Iron Lady, and for some reason wasn't aware that it was a modern setting, either. Anyway, this is all to say that this entire movie was a bit of a surprise, but I have a weakness for Shakespeare films so I was eager to go.
Not having much patience for long drawn out gritty modern warfare sequences (a la Black Hawk Down and District 9) I was not keen on that aspect of the film, but thankfully, the battle part of it wasn't excessively long.
When the film started, I wasn't certain that the shakespearian language was gonna mesh all that well with the setting Fiennes had decided for the telling. There was no doubt that everyone in the film would be able to act, though, and once I bought into the world that was being presented (it was still "Rome" but modern, rather eastern european looking) I was able to let go of any preconceived notions and enjoy the film.
For the most part, I thought it was great. Totally brutal in some ways, but the acting was superb and being unfamiliar with the play I had a great time listening to the words and marveling at some of the better, beautifully written passages.
"I go alone
like to a lonely dragon that his fen
Makes fear'd and talk'd of more than seen."
There are three primary relationships that are shown admirably, and all of which are interesting and ultimately destroyed. The first is the relationship Caius Martius Coriolanus (Fiennes) has with Rome, as Rome's servant and oppressor.
The second relationship is between Martius and his mother, Volumnia, portrayed by Vanessa Redgrave. Shakespeare sure does like his complicated Mother/Son relationships! You can look to the mother, to see how and why the son is who he is.
And the third is Martius/Aufidius haha. Aufidius (portrayed by Gerald Butler in a very nice scottish accent) is the leader of the Volsci with whom Rome has been at war with. At the start there is a lot of admirable hatred between them, rather my noble enemyish and stuff, and then, in a fit of pique, Martius is exiled/rejects Rome and joins up with Aufidius but only really to use the Volsci to carry out his vendetta against Rome. Anyway. I was fascinated with each and every scene between these two men, who hate and respect and love each other, although Martius is not really capable of love. Granted most of their scenes together have them fighting (with guns, with knives, with hands and fists), and when they became friends for a while, it was all embraces and brotherly blood lust. I mean, it is a classic "oh just have sex already and get it out of your system" kind of relationship, which I can't say I disapprove of. And I LOVED their final confrontation. It's a tragedy so I hope I'm not giving too much away by saying Martius does not survive, and sadly Aufidius kills him, but it was so beautifully done, almost like a love scene, it might have been my favorite part of the film. o.O lol.
~~~
In other news, I have a lot of things I want to post about, that's not going to happen today. :(
Oh, but have a picture of me on a Halflinger! And no, that is not a hobbit. Those are halflings. haha.
~~~
I went to a screening of Coriolanus last night. I admit, I was unfamiliar with this Shakespeare play outside of the premise and that it was a tragedy. I had seen a trailer the other day when I went to The Iron Lady, and for some reason wasn't aware that it was a modern setting, either. Anyway, this is all to say that this entire movie was a bit of a surprise, but I have a weakness for Shakespeare films so I was eager to go.
Not having much patience for long drawn out gritty modern warfare sequences (a la Black Hawk Down and District 9) I was not keen on that aspect of the film, but thankfully, the battle part of it wasn't excessively long.
When the film started, I wasn't certain that the shakespearian language was gonna mesh all that well with the setting Fiennes had decided for the telling. There was no doubt that everyone in the film would be able to act, though, and once I bought into the world that was being presented (it was still "Rome" but modern, rather eastern european looking) I was able to let go of any preconceived notions and enjoy the film.
For the most part, I thought it was great. Totally brutal in some ways, but the acting was superb and being unfamiliar with the play I had a great time listening to the words and marveling at some of the better, beautifully written passages.
"I go alone
like to a lonely dragon that his fen
Makes fear'd and talk'd of more than seen."
There are three primary relationships that are shown admirably, and all of which are interesting and ultimately destroyed. The first is the relationship Caius Martius Coriolanus (Fiennes) has with Rome, as Rome's servant and oppressor.
The second relationship is between Martius and his mother, Volumnia, portrayed by Vanessa Redgrave. Shakespeare sure does like his complicated Mother/Son relationships! You can look to the mother, to see how and why the son is who he is.
And the third is Martius/Aufidius haha. Aufidius (portrayed by Gerald Butler in a very nice scottish accent) is the leader of the Volsci with whom Rome has been at war with. At the start there is a lot of admirable hatred between them, rather my noble enemyish and stuff, and then, in a fit of pique, Martius is exiled/rejects Rome and joins up with Aufidius but only really to use the Volsci to carry out his vendetta against Rome. Anyway. I was fascinated with each and every scene between these two men, who hate and respect and love each other, although Martius is not really capable of love. Granted most of their scenes together have them fighting (with guns, with knives, with hands and fists), and when they became friends for a while, it was all embraces and brotherly blood lust. I mean, it is a classic "oh just have sex already and get it out of your system" kind of relationship, which I can't say I disapprove of. And I LOVED their final confrontation. It's a tragedy so I hope I'm not giving too much away by saying Martius does not survive, and sadly Aufidius kills him, but it was so beautifully done, almost like a love scene, it might have been my favorite part of the film. o.O lol.
~~~
In other news, I have a lot of things I want to post about, that's not going to happen today. :(
Oh, but have a picture of me on a Halflinger! And no, that is not a hobbit. Those are halflings. haha.
