I wasn't going to comment on Titus, particularly, but I thought in case someone who wasn't a film theory and/or Shakespeare maven wanted to know about it, I'd leave a somewhat normal review, for this completely abnormal film.
First, I was interested in seeing this because of 1. Anthony Hopkins and 2. I'd read that this play is regularly rated as Shakespeare's worst by contemporary reviewers, but was also by far his most popular play in his own lifetime. I would be interested to know how many of the reviewers who gush over this play, also hold their noses up at modern slasher films (or would fall all over themselves, explaining how Titus is something much more meaningful.) I do agree with those that said (let's see if I can do it in less than 5000 words though) this lacks Shakespeare's more subtle plotting and language in his better known plays, but the raw power and intensity of the story in Titus is also very compelling. And it is quite cool, in AH's final scene, when he starts out as "Remains Of The Day" Sir Anthony at the beginning of the scene (serving dinner no less), and ends the scene as "Hannibal Lecter" Hopkins. Hannibal Lecter on crack, even. Booyah.
Re: Jessica Lange, she's never been to my taste, so me not being impressed is probably just me. And Alan Cumming is always such a delightful freak of nature. I'm more than half convinced he's an alien life form. He very wisely chooses roles that suit an alien freak perfectly.
First, I was interested in seeing this because of 1. Anthony Hopkins and 2. I'd read that this play is regularly rated as Shakespeare's worst by contemporary reviewers, but was also by far his most popular play in his own lifetime. I would be interested to know how many of the reviewers who gush over this play, also hold their noses up at modern slasher films (or would fall all over themselves, explaining how Titus is something much more meaningful.) I do agree with those that said (let's see if I can do it in less than 5000 words though) this lacks Shakespeare's more subtle plotting and language in his better known plays, but the raw power and intensity of the story in Titus is also very compelling. And it is quite cool, in AH's final scene, when he starts out as "Remains Of The Day" Sir Anthony at the beginning of the scene (serving dinner no less), and ends the scene as "Hannibal Lecter" Hopkins. Hannibal Lecter on crack, even. Booyah.
Re: Jessica Lange, she's never been to my taste, so me not being impressed is probably just me. And Alan Cumming is always such a delightful freak of nature. I'm more than half convinced he's an alien life form. He very wisely chooses roles that suit an alien freak perfectly.