pilfered_words

Just finished re-watching the Hollow Crown’s version of Richard II. (The first time I saw it was when it had just recently come out, and I didn’t know the play nearly as well as I do now.)

 

I have to say, I’m not very impressed. It’s not bad, but I just recently saw the RSC version, and there is just no comparison. 

 

There are too many dramatic close ups with music swelling (dramatically) in the background and Richard or Henry moving (dramatically) in slow motion. There are a lot of cut lines, including many essential lines. I don’t even mean essential for plot reasons, who cares about plot. I mean that the way the text is cut up, the language feels choppy and uneven. 

 

And then there are the other changes, like eliminating Pomfret and substituting the Tower, which also breaks the damn meter. Seriously, what was that about? Was it a “we can’t afford to film in too many different locations” thing? And somewhere in there, “Lancaster” was substituted for the name of a castle or something, and it also broke the meter. ARG.

 

Also, the Christ and crucifixion imagery was so heavy-handed, good heavens. It feels like being hit with a heavy crucifix on the head.

 

… ok, but here’s the thing. Richard II works if, and only if, you start out being outraged at Richard and rooting for Henry, and end the other way around. And, yeah, that happens.