Comparison of Shakespearean Adaptations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Comparison of Shakespearean Adaptations - Essay Example The 1996 film entitled â€Å"Twelfth Night† and the more recent adaptation of the Shakespearean story, entitled â€Å"She’s the Man†, are two great movies showing how the story is told in the modern era. The two films use different techniques which are obviously made not only for entertainment but for different audiences as well. In this paper, the films will be compared and contrasted according to audience, plot, telling of the story, revelation of character, conflict, opposing forces and camera angles. â€Å"Twelfth Night† did not change much of the Shakespearean story when it comes to the setting and the use of the old English language. This makes the film look and sound very Elizabethan. It has been created for audiences who appreciate the great works of the genius and would rather watch adaptations set in a theatrical manner. The film presents the performers having long and boring conversations that viewers really have to listen intently for them to b e able to follow and understand the story. On the contrary, â€Å"She’s the Man† has been created for the modern viewer who appreciates not only the story but also the use of technological advancements. The conversations are short and scenes change more often than the former movie. There is a lot of editing made which makes the film more interesting and there is also a modification of the story to match modern settings for it to be more believable, considering the modern culture in America. â€Å"Twelfth Night† tells the story of a woman, Viola and her identical twin brother, Sebastian, who thought they have lost each other in a shipwreck. To get to the man she loves, Viola acts as a man and names herself Cesario. She then becomes the trusted friend of Count Orsino, the love of her life. However, the count was hopelessly in love with the beautiful Olivia and he asks his new friend to persuade the woman for him. Contrary to what was expected, Olivia fell in love with the disguised Viola. Meanwhile, Sebastian has come to town with a friend who rescued him during the shipwreck and when Viola/ Cesario was fighting with another admirer of Olivia, Sebastian’s friend came along, saving the pitiful young woman. When the admirer went after Cesario, he found Sebastian instead who courageously fought Olivia’s admirer. When Olivia came out, the other men dispersed and Sebastian and Olivia were left behind. Overwhelmed and naturally attracted by Olivia’s beauty, the man followed the woman to the priest without question and they got married. However, just after a few moments, Count Orsino and Cesario came and all the characters met at the front of Olivia’s house and the twins came to realize that they both survived the shipwreck after all. Count Orsino learns that his trusted friend loves him and proposes that she become his mistress and the comedy ends with the conflicts being settled. â€Å"She’s the Man† pres ents a different story without getting rid of all the important elements of the story. Viola is a part of a women’s soccer team at Cornwall which gets cut. Due to her love for the sports, the young lady cannot accept what happened and proposes that they join the men’s team. However, that is not allowed. Meanwhile, trying to escape his mother, Viola’s identical twin brother tells her his plans and asks her to do something for him in order to cover for his absences in school. Viola then comes with the bright idea of taking the place of his brother while he is away in order for her to get to the soccer team and she does so quite successfully. However, she fell in love with his roommate, Duke who was so deeply in love with the school’s hottest girl, Olivia. The woman on the other hand falls in love with the sensitive Viola/Sebastian but since s/he showed no interest in the woman, Duke asks