Classic Remarks Redux: #9

Take a look at my intro post to find out more about the Classic Remarks Redux series. As always, thanks to the ladies at Pages Unbound for the prompts and inspiration.

Oct. 21, 2016: Should we be assigning Lolita in schools or is it taking up valuable syllabus space another book could have?

I have not read Lolita, because I do not want to read about pedophilia. And I think Krysta did a great job summing it up…

“I’m not saying that we need to shield college students from difficult subjects, but when do address these subjects, there should be a clear purpose… Just because someone called a book a classic doesn’t mean we all need to read it.”

Next…

Oct. 14, 2016: Recommend a classic book that you think translated particularly well to screen (even if the adaptation was not entirely faithful).

Hands down and without a doubt Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet.

In the only unabridged film version of the classic play, here updated to the 19th century, Prince Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh) is traumatized by the revelation that his father was murdered by the present king, Claudius (Derek Jacobi), with the aid of Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude (Julie Christie). Hamlet considers a plot for revenge and mistakenly kills Polonius (Richard Briers), the father of his love, Ophelia (Kate Winslet), causing a chain reaction that leads to a climactic and tragic ending.

I was so excited about this movie when it came out that I went, by myself, to the midnight showing at it’s theatrical release. It’s one of the few movies I’ve seen twice in a theater.

I think everything about the adaptation is excellent. The sets are amazing and extravagant. The costumes are mind blowing. Branagh’s performance is out of this world. The cast is stellar. I mean it even has Richard Attenborough in it.

I love this movie. It’s so good. It’s the way Shakespeare should be adapted. In fact, I think I should go watch it right now.