Titus

Rating:
Summary: Julie Taymor's directorial debut of the Bard's weakest play
Review: The fault with "Titus" is basically the original play by William Shakespeare. "Titus Andronicus" was his first and clearly the least of the Bard's tragedies. It is also the bloodiest, in which a series of ghastly mutilations is but prelude to the slaughter of the principles in the final scene. In that regard the end is similar to "Hamlet" and "King Lear," but without the artistry or the more developed sense of tragedy. What artistry is present in this 2000 film comes from first time film director Julie Taymor, who has done a theatrical performance of "Titus Andronicus," but who is best known as the Tony award winning director of "The Lion King."

Taymor claims this story with the title sequence of the film, in which the Roman general Titus Andronicus (Anthony Hopkins) returns to Rome after his victorious campaign against the Goths. His soldiers, in full armor and blue mud, march into the coliesium in a grandly stylized and totally arresting manner, bearing the bodies of Andronicus' twenty one dead sons along with his four living ones. Among the captives brought to Rome are the Queen of the Goths, Tamora (Jessica Lange) and her three sons, the oldest of which is sacrificed (drawn and quartered, for starters). Tamora vows revegne against Andronicus and his family, and the story heads towards its bloody conclusion.

My single memory of the play, reinforced by a photography of a stage performance with Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, was of the fate of Lavinia, the daughter of Titus, who is raped and then has her tongue cut out and her hands amputed by her assailants. Later in the play, holding a stick with the stumps of her arms, she is able to scratch out in the dirt the crime committed against her and the names of her rapists. However, this is put one horrible aspect of the larger tale. If this is not the most depressing Shakespeare play it is simply because we have little sympathy for the title character, who gives over the crown, the empire, and his family to Saturninus (Alan Cumming), who might end up being short of Caligula on the crazed Roman emperor scale, but is definitely heading in that direction.

Listening to Hopkins declaim Shakespeare is a joy, but his casting for this particular role becomes problematic at the end when comparisons to Hannibal Lecter become unavoidable (all due to Shakespeare's play more so than anything the actor or director bring to the proceedings). For me the troublesome bit of casting is Cummings, because allowing him to become emperor is just such a bad move. At least Lear with his stupid divide the kingdom in thirds nonsense thought it over. Titus refuses the crown and tosses it to Saturninus, only to be stunned when things go bad in a hurry. He then compounds this mistake with a series of others ending in the bloodbath at the end.

Ultimately it is Taymor's creative way of dealing with the text andthe problems it presents, that makes "Titus" worth watching for students of Shakespeare. To put it in the same context as Ian McKellan's "Richard III," misses the mark, for there is more here than changing the period in which the story is told. There are stronger similarities to Baz Lurhmann's "William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet," but Taymor's stylistic excess goes far beyond that production as well. I am sure there will be those who take issue with her choices, but you have to respect the ambitious effort to dress up the shortcomings of this play into something more palatable. In "Titus Andronicus" there is really nothing to be learned, beyond the idea that you should never let somebody else be emperor and kill all your enemies as quickly as possible.

This is one of those DVDs where the extras earn the fifth star for the rating (by itself the film is at least a 4). No doubt it is Julie Taymor's theater background that explains the depth of the commentary track that she provides (there is also an interview on the second disc), but in this regard at least she puts every director who shows up for such things are mumbles a few anecdotes about making the movie to shame. When you see what Taymor has done with the least of Shakespeare's tragedies, you have to be intrigued by what she might be able to accomplish with one of the classics.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific. Best movie I've ever seen
Review: When I saw this film two years ago, I was only fifteen and didn't even know the film was inspired by Shakespeare. So I really wondered how the scriptwriters could have made such a rich and theatrical plot, coupled with grotesque speeches. But now I know it's Shakespeare, I like the film even more. What a terrific project of Julie Taymor! What a cast! What an ambience! This is my all-time favourite movie. A favourite movie is one that has had a very special impact and one you'll always remember. Well, that was the case for me with Titus Andronicus.

I'll never forget the combination of classical Roman environment with modern attributes - heck, they are riding in cars and wearing watches! (But notice that the modern stuff, like the use of cars, only plays a role when it does not damage the classical environment. The characters don't use guns to kill each other, for instance.) The whole ambience of the movie is superb, in fact. It starts with a boy who's playing with his toys, but goes mad after a while, and he lets his toys fight against each other. This is only a prelude of what's going to happen in the next hours. Then a slave carries him into a Greek theatre. Slowly, the theatre surrounding changes to a normal environment. Then the story sets off. (This boy, by the way, is the grandson of the movie's main character: General Titus (Anthony Hopkins)). After the fantastic final scenes of the movie (see and believe), the environment changes back to the theatre, thus creating the feeling that the circle has been rounded. The little boy again plays an important role in the last scene of the movie, which is about hope for a better future, as another reviewer says.

Also unforgettable was the cruelty of the movie. Very few movies can really make me care about violence. A Clockwork Orange is a great movie, but when Alex and his droogies rape a woman and slash some street people, I don't feel any sympathy with the victims, nor am I shocked or so. When Vic Vega cuts a cop's ear off in Reservoir Dogs, well, so be it. I don't really care about that kind of violence. But here... oh my! There is one scene in the film, and I won't spoil which one. But I've never had so much compassion with the victim as here. It's so sad to see what has happened to this person... really unforgettable. The rest of the film is also full of violence, I admit, but it's an artful kind of violence. Not the brainless slasher-movie type, but rather an absorbing sort of cruelties that goes right to your heart.

Third very strong aspect was the cast. Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange and Harry Lennix are truly unbelievable! Especially Lennix, who plays a devilish Moor, steals the show. His role is so absurdly gorgeous: one of the best characters I've ever seen. But Hopkins is also in great shape as the tormented general Titus, who has to suffer a lot in the beginning of the movie, but finally gets his revenge... And how sweet is this revenge! Delicious! Again, I do not spoil anything, but the way Titus strikes back, is beyond words. Truly unique. The actors are the ones who make you believe the story is TRUE, and not just some idiocy by Shakespeare. Everything they say and do is a bit exaggerated for sure, but that kind of acting is part of a Shakespeare play.

I think enough has been said: this is a terrific movie that will have a shock-and-awe-impact on you. It's not for sissies, however, and those who can't stand the sight of blood, should not see it. But if you can, and like Shakespeare, the Roman world or great acting, for all means don't miss this movie!

Rating:
Summary: Horrible Misinterpretation of Shakespeare
Review: I can't believe that the average customer rating is four stars for this POS! I feel generous giving this film a rating of 1. This was a terrible, rambling, disjointed, and boring excuse for a movie. I rented it because of the cast (Anthony Hopkins & Jessica Lange), and because of the description on the DVD case. Little did I realize what a waste of time it was.

In this horrible misinterpretation of Shakespeare there are people dressed as ancient Romans, riding around in motorcycles and cars, speaking ancient gibberish. I don't mind the idea of updating a Shakespeare theme and creating a modern-day version of the story. However, I have to agree with another reviewer. Either keep it classic (with ancient sets, costumes, and speech), or make it modern (with modern sets, costumes, and speech). Don't attempt to be "artsy" by combining the two, because in this case the result is a mixed up mess (posing as art).

The senseless violence didn't bother me like it did some reviewers. It was the overall senselessness of the movie that I couldn't stand. My wife and I didn't make it more than halfway through this film before ejecting it in disgust. This movie is how I imagine Shakespeare might be interpreted during a bad acid trip...

Rating:
Summary: Unexpectedly Memorable, But Not Entirely Successful
Review: TITUS ANDRONICUS is perhaps the least regarded of Shakespeare's plays, and there are several reasons. Written early in his career, it shows little of the brilliant language we associate with Shakespeare's work; moreover, the plot is extremely derivative and so extravagant as to be virtually unbelievable, owing a great deal to both Roman "closet drama" and the "revenge tragedy" popular at the start of Shakespeare's career. At best, most critics regard it as developmental; at worst, a virtually unperformable mishmash of spurting blood and grotesque comedy.

The plot is notoriously bloody. Titus Andronicus has returned to Rome after successfully subduing the Goths, and he brings with him Tamora, Queen of the Goths, and her three sons as prisoners. Upon his arrival, and in spite of Tamora's pleas for mercy, he sacrifices Tamora's oldest son--but when Tamora's charms cause the newly crowned emperor Saturnius to crown her as empress, Tamora and her Moorish lover Aaron plot to destroy Andronicus for his refusal to show mercy to her oldest son. And the revenge they wreck is horrific indeed, as is the revenge Andronicus seeks against them in return. Before the story ends, we've seen rape, limbs lopped off, tongues plucked out, and two heads baked in a pie.

Given the outrageous nature of the story and the very loosely constructed plot and script, it shouldn't be a surprise that director Julie Taymor's film is not entirely successful. What IS surprising is that TITUS is as successful as it is. Coming from a remarkably strong theatrical background, Taymor follows suit with the script, giving it the most extravagant visual and highly theatrical style her limited budget will allow. When it works, it works extremely well; when it fails, which is fairly often, it is at least visually interesting.

Although I found that Anthony Hopkins' performance in the title role left something to be desired, he is at worst rock solid; this aside, the overall cast is amazingly good, with the major laurels going to Jessica Lange as the evil Tamora and Harry J. Lennix as her doubly evil lover-slave Aaron; Alan Cumming also makes a vivid impression as the weak-minded and ineffectual Emperor Saturnius, as does Laura Fraser as Titus' hapless daughter Lavinia.

But as previously noted, the great attraction here is the look of the thing. In terms of the script itself, Taymor is very faithful to the original--but in order to bolster its weaknesses she transposes the story to a collage-like never-never land that includes elements of ancient Rome, the roaring 20s, set pieces that would seem lifted from the notorious film CALIGULA, and fascist Italy. There are moments when the effect is flatly awkward--the first few opening minutes of the film being a case in point. But for the most part, Taymor's stylistic vision is quite remarkable, and while you may not care for the basic vision it remarkably done nonetheless.

For myself, I did not particularly expect to enjoy this film, but even though I was extremely critical of some of Taymor's ideas I found myself watching it straight through from beginning to end. The extras here are also quite impressive, including an extremely memorable "making of" documentary that includes interviews with Taymor, Hopkins, Lange and other members of the cast and crew; an extremely interesting director's audio track on selected scenes; and a video of a "Q & A" session Taymor did with film students immediately following a screening.

Those most likely to enjoy the film are people with a strong interest in theatre, design, and art films with an extreme edge; for them it will probably be a "must own." At the same time, however, I do not put it entirely out of bounds for more casual viewers, for there is much to recommend it--but I would also suggest they watch it before making a purchase.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Rating:
Summary: Elizabethan "Pulp Fiction"
Review: "Titus" is Shakespeare's bad boy play, an orgy of bloodletting, limbs getting hacked off, eviscerations, maidens ravished, people getting baked into pies, and all around mayhem. It was probably a boffo Elizabethan hit, and proof positive that mindless sex and violence did not begin with Hollywood.

Harold Bloom, in his wonderful book, "Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human," points out that the conventional listing of "Titus Andronicus" as a serious tragedy is what misleads most critics. Bloom perceptively makes the case that "Titus" isn't really a tragedy at all, but an over-the-top sendup of contemporary 16th century revenge plays a la Monty Python, or in Bloom's words, a "howler." It cannot, and should not, be taken seriously. Instead, maybe it's a 400-year old "Pulp Fiction," an ultra-black comedy, and Shakespeare was a Renaissance Tarantino. This is a revenger's revenge play.

If Bloom is correct, the film "Titus" gets it exactly right. The movies' setting is a collage of neo-Roman, black Gothic, and hip modernist. The casting is on target. No one other than Hannibal Lecter - oops, I mean Anthony Perkins - could do Titus. Perkins careens from arrogance, sadism, rationality, and madness effortlessly. Titus is a hard character to like (he murders his son early in the film) but I was fascinated by his descent into bad craziness. Or maybe he was always crazy.

Jessica Lange vamps as Tamora, Queen of the Goths, and she is a truly great Gothic vixen, complete with leather and studs. The movie's scene stealer is the sociopath Aaron the Moor, played by Harry J. Lennix, who spins and plots the terrible events in the play as does the later Iago in Othello, but with even less scruple or conscience. He gets the film's best monologue: "But I have done a thousand dreadful things/ As willingly as one would kill a fly/ And nothing grieves me heartily indeed/ But that I cannot do ten thousand more." Aaron stalks the movie as pitilessly as the creature in Ridley Scott's "Alien" and is so, so much fun to watch.

In sum: "Highly recommended for malchicks and devotchkas in the mood to viddy a little ultraviolence."

Parents advisory: Gore and nudity abound. "Titus" borders on the misogynistic, and many think it crosses the line - a close parallel is the uncut "Clockwork Orange." This is a late night DVD to watch after the wee tykes are tucked in.

Rating:
Summary: Oh My God
Review: I refuse to bore you with 19.5 paragraphs of pretentious BS.
This movie is incredible. Go watch/rent/download/buy/carve into you soul now.

Rating:
Summary: Hail great Andronicus!
Review: If it please you all, let me tell you of a movie that will vex your souls, yet as one of the best, imaginative Shakespearean movie adaptations. There is murder, rape, massacre, acts of treason, villainy, complots, and violent revenge. I speak of none other than the story of Roman general Titus Andronicus.

Andronicus has returned victorious from a war with the Goths, but for him it was Pyrrhic, as it claimed twenty-one of his sons, four surviving. In time-honoured tradition, he has the proudest of the captives, the eldest son of the Goth's queen, Tamora, sacrificed by having his limbs hewn and his entrails offered to the gods. He ignores the tearstricken pleas of the queen, who begs on her knees. This only has her thirsting for revenge when by a chain of events, she becomes the betrothed of Saturnine, the new emperor. "I'll find a day to massacre them all" she vows. Andronicus himself refused the crown in order to pacify the factions between Saturnine and his brother Bassianus. He prefers a "staff of honour, not a scepter to control the world."

However, he and his remaining sons and only daughter Lavinia are caught in the traps of Tamora's revenge. And it is the scheming Moor, Aron, Tamora's lover, who guides the queen's odious young sons, Chiron and Demetrius, in their desire for Lavinia, already pledged to Bassianus. Those who have read the play will know the horrific ordeal she goes through. Even though the actual act is not portrayed, the results are graphically disturbing but vivid. "No tongue to call, nor hands to wash" taunt Chiron and Demetrius. When her uncle Marcus finds her, his expression speaks for him before he utters the words, "If I do wake, some planet strike me down that I may slumber in eternal sleep." When he asks her to speak, she opens her stricken mouth and a stream of blood comes cascading out where her tongue was. "Come, let us go, and make thy father blind, for such a sight will blind a father's eye." The sight totally breaks Titus in a mixture of grief and madness, and the revenge that follows is horrible.

This is Anthony Hopkins' greatest performance, exceeding Picasso (Surviving Picasso) and Stephens (Remains Of The Day). As Titus Andronicus, he portrays the general with the tragic flaw of his blind obedience to the state and tradition before that of his own sons, at the cost of his compassion. It is an irony that he begs for such when two of his sons are framed and condemned to death. Alan Cumming does Saturninus as a petulant and effeminate emperor, complete with greased hair, yet his makeup sometimes does make him resemble a garish clown.

Laura Fraser does exceptionally well as Lavinia, exhibiting a young woman completely shattered in her traumatized and mutilated state. Yet another irony follows when how one moment she haughtily taunts Tamora during her forest tryst with the Moor, yet when she is captured by her to-be mutilators, she complete changes her tune, begging for her life, then asking her to be kill her with mercy.

Harry Lennix's portrayal of Aron, the grand schemer who seeks to topple all, is perfect as "the devil incarnate." Never has there been a more chilling portrayal of a pernicious schemer who shows no regrets to his foul deeds. Jessica Lange plays Tamora as a woman bent on vengeance for the horrible loss of her son, but whose guile isn't infallible.

What really makes this film amazing is the visual style, wild, sometimes garish, and graphic. It can be seen in director Julie Taymor's other film Frida. The anachronistic liberties to the film may befuddle Shakespearean purists. The confrontation between Saturninus and Bassianus is translated to the two of them in a motorcade, shouting into bullhorns at their supporters. Trucks and armoured vehicles are joined with the usual march of Roman soldiers, and there are the grey fascist uniforms worn by soldiers. And Tamora's two sons are more at home in a bogus punk band like Green Day. And punk guitars are heard at certain times to capture their attitude.

Yet despite the killing, mutilation, and violence, the final shot has a note of hope for a new tomorrow, where all hatred and blood will be washed clean. Despite all the tragedy, a memorable film not to be missed.

Rating:
Summary: To Watch Or Not To Watch, That is the Question
Review: Julie Taymor's adaptation of one of Shakespeare's more obscure plays comes short in everything except the acting. The adaptation lacks creativity on the part of Taymor despite the solid performances by the actors.

The story revolves around the Roman general Titus Andronicus (Anthony Hopkins) who returns to avenge the death of his sons against Tamora(Jessica Lange), a Gothic queen who has seduced the new emperor to advance her own ambitions. Factions form and a bitter power struggle ensues with murder, rape, incest, and cannibalism.

This story makes "MacBeth" seem as light as "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Great play and story horribly mutilated by Julie Taymor's pretentious attempts in making the setting and stage design a truly original invention. Instead of using a traditional montage based in antiquity, Taymor carelessly mixes modern motifs with traditional ones (e.g. cars, modern buildings, guns, etc.) and turns the play into a pseudo-intellectual farce. This is hardly an innovative attempt as this was more done more than once before: over 30 years ago by Fellini in his "Satyricon" and more recently in a modern adaptation of "Richard III."

In attempting to present herself as being original, Taymor has merely shown her own lack of creativity. I would love to see more great Shakespeare adaptations such as Brannagh's "Henry V" but this is the last of Taymor's work I care to spend my money on.

Rating:
Summary: A diferent Shakespeare
Review: I think this is a different amazing way to see Shakespeare. Anthony Hopkins as Titus give us a performance that we'll never forget. He shares his talents with Jessica Lange, a never best played Tamora. The direction of Julie Taymor is superb and the esthetic of the art direction is amazing. A must-see Shakespeare for those who love the Dove of Avon.

Rating:
Summary: MAGNIFICENT
Review: I first heard of this play when I read in her biography, that VIVIEN LEIGH played Lavinia and Sir Laurence Olivier Titus, in England 1955 and on an extended Europeen tour in 1957.

This film is nothing short than magnificent. Yes, it has the brutish and pervert scenes a`la "Caligula" - but here it HAS A POINT!!!! It is never suggestive... The perfomances in front and behind the camera are all ace... The colors are Minnelli and "The Cell" combined... The opening surprised and irritated me at first("WAS THIS A HIDDEN AS A SORT OF A C H I L D R E N `S FILM?????????????????????), but then I GOT IT... I won`t - CAAAAAAAAAN`T say anymore..... u just haVE 2 C IT....

IT IS A MUST-c folks...