Modern Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s works have withstood the spiteful punishments of time and remain relevant. Many actors, from amateur to professional, hope to perform Shakespearean plays via movies or other methods of physical storytelling. Consequently, film directors have adapted many of William Shakespeare’s plays and fused them with his or her interpretations. In a way, Shakespeare has ascended from its Elizabethan grave and walk along the streets of the twenty-first century, and rightfully so. Shakespeare’s plays’ themes are very universal, and the audience finds them entertaining. In modern films, its changed dialogues and settings allow the audience to relate to the topic. Notably, these modern interpretations are found in Andy Fickman’s…show more content… In both stories, Viola discards her femininity to pursue her dreams; Viola in She’s The Man wants to prove that she can play soccer with the men, and Viola in Twelfth Night aims to leave a mark on the world. They both come across obstacles and unplanned situations, such as sexism, but are able to triumph over them. By the story’s conclusion, Fickman’s Viola proved that she could play with the boys, Shakespeare’s Viola cleared up her identity and marries Duke, and both of them left their mark on their respective worlds.
The significance in this reimagining of Twelfth Night is credited to its entertainment and its reliance on Shakespeare’s original. Watching this film for the first time, the viewer may just dismiss it as another Hollywood flick; however, with a closer look, the audience can applaud the film’s creativity. The film remains true and honest to Shakespeare’s original, and adds contemporary humor and setting for the younger viewers. Andy Fickman, by keeping Shakespeare’s theme and adapting Twelfth Night, demonstrated his own creativity, and reintroduced Twelfth Night to modern…show more content… With the obvious differences aside: singing animals, talking lions, and animations; the very root of this critically acclaimed film almost mirrors Shakespeare’s critically acclaimed play. The two main protagonists, Simba and Hamlet, lost their fathers. Simba’s father, Mufasa, was thrown off a cliff by Scar, Mufasa’s brother, and Hamlet’s father was poisoned by his younger brother, Claudius. There is also a striking resemblance between Hamlet’s father and Mufasa. They were both kings of their respective kingdoms, betrayed by their brothers, and come to their sons in the form of a ghost. Through their arrivals, they encourage their sons to take back their land and royalty (McElveen). Then, Hamlet and Simba, both mourning the loss of their fathers, become lost, physically and emotionally. “The loss of their paternal companion leaves Hamlet incredibly melancholy, and Simba without a royal teacher and father during his tender years” (McElveen). However, when their fathers visit them, the two heroes begin their journey to find the courage and purpose to take