Film Review of Tim Blake Nelson's "O". This is a film review of the movie "O", an updated version of Shakespeare's "Othello", I had to do this for english class a few months ago

Essay by ugotwormsHigh School, 12th gradeA+, May 2002

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English Movie Review for "O"

Of all the updated classic films and adapted story portrayals, Tim Blake Nelson's "O," an updated spin of Shakespeare's Othello, would catch the eye of any classic

literature fan, and also appeals towards younger audiences.

Contemporary versions of Shakespeare's plays have often changed the settings, but kept the characters, plots, and language more or less intact. The updated "Hamlet," or

"Romeo and Juliet," for example, appealed to young, pop culture audiences, nonetheless using Shakespeare's original words. English teachers everywhere must be grateful.

"O" was like a Cliff's Notes version of Shakespeare, with broad summaries of plots and characters, translated into contemporary language even the slowest student can understand. I am not partial to this format: It's better because it is more understandable, but all the intellectual vocabulary is being left out.

The movie was not bereft of its elements. Dramatic irony is basically the entire story, with symbolism and an adequate setting played intriguing roles in this movie adaptation.

There was an element of symbolism used that was not in the original story; the beginning of the movie had doves, and a single hawk, and when the hawk came, the doves left. In the end of the movie, we find out what and who the doves and the hawk represent.

What better way is there to help portray a Shakespearean play besides an outstanding score? Wait. What score? Maybe it was that I was so into the story that I didn't hear the music, or that the movie was simply lacking it. An orchestrated soundtrack works extremely well with the by-the-book plays put to film, such as "Macbeth," but, in an updated film, the music must also be brought to current standards.

The film was rated "R" for "drug use" and "sexual situations." This...