New on DVD & Blu-Ray : THE TEMPEST (2010)

Synopsis: In Julie Taymor’s version of The Tempest, the gender of Prospero has been switched to Prospera. Going back to the 16th or 17th century, women practicing the magical arts of alchemy were often convicted of witchcraft. In Taymor’s version, Prospera (Mirren) is usurped by her brother and sent off with her four-year daughter on a ship. She ends up on an island; it’s a tabula rasa: no society, so the mother figure becomes a father figure to Miranda (Jones). This leads to the power struggle and balance between Caliban (Hounsou) and Prospera; a struggle not about brawn, but about intellect.

Genre: Drama, Fantasy

Worldwide Box-Office: $346,000

Number of Discs: 1 (DVD & Blu-Ray)

DVD & Blu-Ray Special Features :

• Mr. Trinculo
• An Interview with Shakespeare
• What's Past is Prologue: Making Julie Taymor's Radical New Tempest
• Audio Commentary with Director Julie Taymor
• Annotated Shakespeare

What to Expect : A visually stunning adaptation of Shakespeare's play that will test your patience. On the other hand, it does make up for it through Helen Mirren's delightful performance as a character that was originally male in the Bard's play. Indeed, Julie Taymor ("Frida", "Titus") loves to reach out beyond creative limitations. Here she crafts a provocative piece of cinema that ultimately tries just a little too hard. Still, uneven as it is, if you're willing to take a chance with this movie, it might just surprise you. Nominated for the Best Costume Design Oscar.

Release Date : September 13, 2011

Run Time : 110 Min.

Studio/Distributor : Touchstone Pictures

Rating : PG-13 for some nudity, suggestive content and scary images.

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