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35 out of 37 people found the following review useful: Fantastic, 22 November 2005 Author: Wandering_Lilly
The romance was off beat and Kate was a little strange but it just goes to show that 2 complete opposites can be perfect for each other in every way. They just needed someone to - corny line coming up - Complete them.This story shows that love can change people for the better and meeting a person who is not like you in the outside world but has exactly the same insecurities and needs on the inside is a rare and beautiful thing.They should make more dramas like this.This is one retold Shakespeare story i would watch again and again.I hope it wasn't just me but i thought Rufus looked remarkably HOT in that skirt.
16 out of 16 people found the following review useful: It's what Shakespeare would have wanted!, 24 January 2007 Author: annieoz from Sydney Australia
Great pairing of two wayward psychoses in this TAMING. How can you not fancy a man who'll not only turn up to his wedding wearing high heeled boots, eye shadow and nail polish but but who then has the chutzpah to take on the resultant triplets? No wonder Kate is so smug at the end.Shirley Henderson is a fabulous fruitcake, bolting on to her THE WAY WE LIVE NOW characterization even more aggression, plus much fruitful searing and wonderful body language. She'd be at home in Sicily if she didn't get knocked off first.Rufus Sewell crosses every obstacle in presenting Petruchio as a remotely possible twentieth century human being and even makes you think you'd invite him to a dinner party (possibly a major mistake).The rest of the casting was equally choice (my heart was especially taken by Twiggy) and the wit was sharper than a serpent's tooth!
16 out of 18 people found the following review useful: The Most laughter i have Had in many Many years, 21 November 2005 Author: michaelgpgallagher from United Kingdom
From the very outset, I was "dubled up" with laughter induced only by what I saw and heard from this excellent piece of work. The fact that "venom has no smell" made the complete picture of this all so fantastic. The photography, the cameras use of motion in a single frame was so French................ I LOVED EVERY SINGLE NANo SECOND.. Recommend this Paly for T.V. A Must for everyone who knows the Play, watched the Dramatics, seen it as it was written and how it has been so magnificently transfered to a modern day with so much, Oh So much of the original. Want to see this again and again.......I would never have thought that someone could take the brilliance of Shakespeares Taming Of The Shrew and be able to put this kind of production to the small screen. The character Tomlinson played was just so much of what I viewed as the asides on stage and on screen yet brilliant in every move and word he uttered
8 out of 8 people found the following review useful: Brilliant use of music, 28 November 2005 Author: Claire Jones from Bedfordshire
I don't know if anyone else noticed it, but for me it was the music which really turned this adaptation into something special. Well done to Hal Lindes whoever he is for composing the original music, but also to the person who edited it to maximum effect. It made the film so much fun. Of course, the two main actors, Shirley Henderson and Rufus Sewell were excellent too, even though it was difficult to believe that a future PM could behave as badly as she did, or that she could get married and go on honeymoon without the paparazzi swarming all over the place! How nice to see a new single play on TV with no gruesome murders or police in the cast. Bring back Play for Today!
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Brilliant, just brilliant!!, 22 January 2007 Author: prose from Adelaide, Australia
I can't help thinking that the reaction I had to this tele-play (hilarity, surprise, horror, disgust, warm & fuzzies) was probably identical to how Shakepeare's original play was received in its day. Firstly, the casting was exquisite - Rufus Sewell was a big surprise to me, but perfectly cast as the boisterous and unpredictable Petruchio; Shirley Henderson spent much of the play enraged, but wonderfully (I'm stealing her word, 'Swivel'!!); and Stephen Tompkinson performed to his usually high standard as the sad manager to Katherine's sister, played by Jaime Murray.What can I say that hasn't already been said? It was flawless, and like the other episodes of 'Shakespeare Retold', this play captured the feeling, the mood, the bawdiness of the original play, and in turn created an emotional response in the viewer which many stodgy and underdeveloped performances of the stage-play may not be able to reach.And another thing......... I'd never thought much of Rufus Sewell, but in this he's something of a honey!!!
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful: It's crazy but it works, 23 January 2008 Author: kcla from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
In this retelling of Shakespeare's play, Katherine (Shirley Henderson) is an abrasive and loathsome Parliament member in line to become the PM. But she won't get there unless she softens her public image. Friends and family gently suggest marriage, which she scoffs at. Then she gets stuck in an elevator with Petruchio (Rufus Sewell), a bankrupt and feckless earl who just happens to be in need of a rich wife. To everyone's surprise they actually fall in love.The real gem of this adaptation is in the full-on, guns blazing performances of the lead actors. Shirley Henderson and Rufus Sewell are actually playing up types they've played before. Henderson is known for playing quirky, outsider leading lady types, while Sewell has been somewhat typecast in noblemen roles. Here they have taken those familiar caricatures and raised the lunacy level up about ten notches. What's surprising is just how well it works.Henderson is great, as expected. Her physical diminutiveness is a nice contrast to her Katherine's venomous tongue and quicksilver temper. But it is Sewell who impresses most. Here Henderson's portrayal is over-the-top, full of hisses and snarls. It could be quite challenging to create chemistry with and a lesser actor may have been steamrolled by the ferocity. But here the writer makes Sewell's Petruchio delightfully unhinged. Played charmingly by Sewell, he may even be more socially challenged than Katherine. Together he and Henderson have a demented chemistry that works. Just watch the elevator scene where they first meet. The supporting cast is of course excellent. With special mentions to Twiggy (the former model) and Jaime Murray, playing Katherine's mother and sister respectively, for bringing life and humor to what may have otherwise been bland characters.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Brilliant Retell of a great story, 5 August 2007 Author: Ross from United Kingdom
----spoiler---Simply wonderful retell of this clever Shakespeare comedy. I loved every minute of this new version. This isn't just because of the perfect casting but also the very good script. This writer had absolutely everything right. Rufus Sewell, a favourite of mine anyway, is just amazing in this. I'd never before thought of him in women's clothes but he looks completely stunning even to the mini skirt and highheeled boots - he has great legs! The wedding is amazing! Shirley Henderson is a perfect match for him as the objectionable MP. It's not just full of laughs but plenty of warmth and tenderness too as the unlikely couple sort themselves out to become a completely likely couple. You really feel for all the characters including Kate's flashy sister with an out-for-the-main-chance student lover half her age, her mother and Bianca's long-suffering manager (played so poignantly by Stephen Tomkinson). Best of all are the final snapshots of "the future" which set the seal (threefold!) on this delightful tale.I could watch this over and over again. It's the best of the 4 retells on the Shakespeare Retold DVD which also contains retells of Much Ado, Midsummer Night's Dream and Macbeth. It also far outshines the quite good old musical Kiss Me Kate using the same basic story but which I found a bit boring but for the music.I note Rufus Sewell and Shirley Henderson also starred as "husband and wife" in Charles II, another marvellous piece of TV.
3 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Charming and entertaining, 28 August 2006 Author: aerosparked from United States
I'm not a big fan of Shakespeare. Never got into the whole phenom. If it weren't for the fact that Rufus Sewell was starring with Shirley Henderson, I probably would not have bothered watching this.But I'm glad I did. It's completely charming, captivating, odd, and extremely entertaining. Rufus and Shirley are seriously the wildest characters I've ever seen put together on television. The strangest thing is, the chemistry actually worked. By the end of the film, everything just felt right. I smiled and clapped for these characters, because despite the odds, they found and accepted each other.This is the second time I've been introduced to Rufus Sewell, and I do hope to see him lots in the future. I've never seen a man dressed in drag still look that attractive.
3 out of 5 people found the following review useful: dear god, i loved it, 22 November 2005 Author: me-687 from United Kingdom
Granted it may have taken a few liberties with the plot, But in this day and age were children aren't even reading let alone Shakespeare, its good enough to get the idea/plots roughly into their heads surely. I loved it, stupidly loved it. At the end I was hyperventilating with joy. i haven't experience a TV induced high like that since North and South but even that was less extreme! normally when you want couple to get together all you get is a kiss, when they get married and have triplets and she gets her dream job well that just about make my week. of course the fact their married with children no more means their relationship will last than if they didn't. so really there is no reason to see that as a benefit, but i do! wasn't their honeymoon villa amazing-want it want it now i thought both Rufus and Shirley were fabulous hell everything was. Oh god I have no emotional backbone.Ah well, now you all think I'm mad I'll go of and watch it again (yes I videoed it -a good plan with hindsight)
Excellent film, shouldn't be missed, 15 June 2008 Author: (pl-trexe)
I really loved it. Not always you can find a so entertaining adaptation, specially of a Shakespeare's play and a comedy!. Laugh and a serious interpretation and reflexion about love and marriage without boring the audience is what this film gives you. A smart script, excellent music and good photography, there's no doubt why this film is so loved by so many people. This film has brilliant actors that keep your eyes on the screen with good lines,sarcasm and fantastic performances. Easily recommended, excellent for those who appreciate Shakespeare's plays and intelligent comedies.Time watching it is time laughing.
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