Movie Review: TITUS (1999, Twilight Time)

Movie Review By Greg Goodsell

Directed by Julie Taymor

Where to begin …? Titus Andronicus (Anthony Hopkins), next in line as the Emperor of Rome returns from a 10-year campaign against the Goths. Dragging along the Queen of the Goths Tamora (Jessica Lange) and her three sons, Alarbus (Raz Degan) Demetrius (Matthew Rhys) and Chiron (Jonathon Rhys Meyers), Titus wastes no time in executing Alarbus in revenge for the death of his own sons in the battle. Titus then declines becoming the leader of Rome, and gives the title to Saturninus (Alan Cumming, looking for the entire world like Pee Wee Herman). The still very much alive Tamora and her sons are hatching a mad scheme of revenge, and shocks polite society by marrying Saturnnius. Meanwhile, Titus’ daughter, Lavinia (Laura Fraser) and her husband Bassianus (James Frane) are set upon by Demetrius and Chiron. Bassianus is thrown down a pit and Demetrius and Chiron slice out Lavinia’s tongue and chop off her hands after raping her(!). There are more double crosses and gory deaths – this film adaptation of the William Shakespeare play is nearly THREE HOURS LONG, people … Titus and his henchman kill Demetrius and Chiron, bake them into meat pies and feed them to his adversaries and most everyone dies a slow, agonizing death.

Movie Review: Coriolanus (2011)

Directed by Ralph Fiennes

Starring Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler and Brain Cox

Coriolanus is a film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s tragedy which goes by the same title. Its basically a centuries old tale which is retold in a modern setting of a ficticious geopolitical Roman Empire. Our main character, Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes), is a hero of Rome and the states greatest and most feared military warrior. Although praised for his efforts in combat, he has a poor reputation amung the citizens, they dont like or trust him and he feels the same about everyone else. Eventually his extreme views ignite mass rioting in the streets. Manipulated and out-maneuvered by politicians and even his own mother Volumnia (played by Vanessa Redgrave), Coriolanus is eventually banished from Rome. Soon thereafter he offers his services to his sworn enemy Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler), as he vows vengeance against the state which betrayed him. At Tullus’ side they quickly march towards Rome as Roman politicains scramble in an attempt to stop the eventual toppling of their empire by their own ex-patriot.