The Tempest Shows Political Conspiracies and Love Ambitions in this First Clip

"The Tempest" is one of William Shakespeare's last plays to be written alone and this wondrous piece will be remade for the big screen by Julie Taymor (Frida, Titus). This thriller watcher read this piece of literature for the first time last semester and the story has many intriguing themes of ostracization, naivety, revenge and, of course, love. The play, in its originality, is a story of a father's love for his daughter (Prospero) and for his daughter's (Miranda) young love for Ferdinand (Reeve Carney). There are also many comparisons between the immortal power of the written word and to magic, which is used by an older, wiser Prospero. Prospero is often compared to an aging Shakespeare, who seeks to understand his legacy.

Really in need of a remake, The Tempest's first trailer shows many of these themes mentioned above and more. The play's antagonist, the Caliban (Djimon Hounsou), is shown in the two minute clip below and so is the fool Trinculo, played by the English lout Russell Brand. In the clip, there is much infighting as Prospero, or in this case Prospera (Helen Mirren) confronts his/her brother Antonio for the throne of Naples. Other characters also conspire for the throne. Watch the clip below.

The synopsis for The Tempest is here:

"In her big-screen adaptation of Shakespeare's mystical thriller 'The Tempest,' Academy Award-nominated Julie Taymor brings an original dynamic to the story by changing the gender of the sorcerer Prospero into the sorceress Prospera, portrayed by Oscar winner Helen Mirren. Prospera's journey spirals through vengeance to forgiveness as she reigns over a magical island, cares for her young daughter, Miranda, and unleashes her powers against shipwrecked enemies in this exciting, masterly mix of romance, tragicomedy and the supernatural" (Trailer).

Release: December 10, 2010 (Theatre).

Director/writer: Julie Taymor.

Cast: Helen Mirren, Russell Brand, Reeve Carney, Alfred Molina, Chris Cooper, Alan Cumming, David Strathairn, Felicity Jones, and Ben Whishaw,.

The trailer for The Tempest is here:



Sources:

The Tempest at Trailer Addict

"The Tempest" is not as compelling as Shakespeare's other brilliant work "The Merchant of Venice," but is still very insightful and memorable for its early messages on colonization and others mentioned above:



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