West Side Story

West Side Story

Mirish Pictures etc.

October 18, 1961

Musical

DVD
C-

A lot of silly dancing.  This is of course inspired by Romeo and Juliet.  Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise co-directed.

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

Brandenberg etc.

September 10, 1990
Dramedy?

DVD
C-

I didn't exactly understand this, but it wasn't bad.  Tom Stoppard wrote and directed, and this was inspired by Hamlet.

Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Romeo + Juliet (1996)

20th Century Fox etc.

November 1, 1996

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

I've seen at least some of this once before, close to its release, and it remains weird, that is creative but not necessarily enjoyable.  This time I tuned out before Juliet actually showed up, and I didn't even see that much of Romeo in the first quarter hour.  Director Baz Luhrmann helped adapt Shakespeare.

Othello (1951)

Othello (1951)

United Artists

November 27, 1951

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Like most screen adaptations of Shakespeare, this isn't good, although I like the sets.  Welles directed and starred.

Much Ado About Nothing (2012)

Much Ado About Nothing (2012)

Lionsgate etc.

September 8, 2012

Comedy?
DVD
D+

Modern-dress version of Shakespeare, but why?  It doesn't really add any extra meaning and actually makes it blander, not helped by being shot in black & white.  Joss Whedon directed and adapted.

Looking for Richard

Looking for Richard

Fox Searchlight

October 11, 1996

Documentary

DVD
D+

Both condescending and ignorant, especially about Richard III and Richard III.  Al Pacino is all over this one and deserves much of the blame.

Kiss Me Kate

Kiss Me Kate

MGM

November 26, 1953

Musical

DVD
C

Bumped up because of the scene-stealing first Ann Miller number.  This is based very loosely on Taming of the Shrew.  George Sidney directed, three years after Annie Get Your Gun.

McLintock!

McLintock!

United Artists

November 13, 1963

Western

DVD
D+

This is based on The Taming of the Shrew, but I tuned out before that really came up, or the grade would probably be lower.  (The posters are pretty offensive, but I'm unable to copy and paste any into this post.)  And we've got McLagen as director again.

Forbidden Planet

Forbidden Planet

MGM

March 23, 1956

Sci-Fi

DVD
C-

Leslie Nielsen meets Robbie the Robot on a planet that looks like a Yes album cover.  And, yes, this is based on The Tempest.  Fred M. Wilcox directed.