A modern re-telling of a Shakespeare tragedy: Rome is a starving city.
Ralph Fiennes plays Caius Martius Corialanus, a Roman military governer hated by the people for his hard-lined approach.
Gerard Butler plays Tullus Aufidius, a Vorascian rebel.
Together they lead their forces to fight over Rome.
I usually find pure Shakespeare, in his original words, tiresome and ungainly.
For example, when Martius is rallying his men he says:
"Those are they
That most are willing. If any such be here -
As it were sin to doubt - that love this painting
Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear
Lesser his person than an ill report;
If any thing brave death outweighs bad life
And that his country's dearer than himself;
Let him alone, or so many so minded,
Wave this, to express his disposition,
And follow Martius."
.. instead of ...
"Come on lads, let's 'ave it at 'em".
Where would we be if I'd written all of Shakespeare's works, instead of that bloke in Anonymous?
Maybe because it was an action-centric story, this worked. Forsooth!
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