My review of Titus the movie

To be honest, in order to fully appreciate Titus, you have to read Shakespeare’s original play Titus Andronicus. If you haven't read Shakespeare lately this film might no make sense.  On the other hand, even though it can’t quite stand on its own, the movie is a nicely acted effort to immortalize Shakespeare’s early play on the big screen. In an effort to make the play more appealing to our time, and perhaps to save money on expensive period setting and wardrobe, the film weaves in and out of modern scenes of car filled streets, extras dressed in black suits and hats, villains unleashing their obsessions to rock music in front of rows of computer gaming machines. The modern effect of the movie failed to shed light on the corruption of government and the personal abuse of power to kill. Because graphic violence is difficult to show on stage, Shakespeare describes its impact through verse that the characters speak in response to what happens. I feel like Roger Ebert pretty much hit the nail on the head with his statement about this movie: “It’s what the play deserved.” That’s exactly right. The original play by William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus is a gratuitously violent and overblown. And I love it. I loved every minute of this flick because of how true it stays to the original intentions of its author. Shakespeare knew  that theater-goers relish a guilty pleasure. As someone who was raised around the arts and has been to Broadway several times I can honestly say violent stage productions tickle a certain fancy of mine. Yes, comedy and love productions hit the heart and are easy for me to relate my own life to. But violent plays satisfy a side of me that will never be seen unless I want to go to jail!