I read 'King Lear' for Advanced Higher English, and thoroughly enjoyed the play. However, I just couldn't bear this film. As a student of Film Studies also, this was really more than I could stand. Poorly acted, confusing, awful music, and terribly produced and created, I was very disappointed, especially as it is such a fantastic play, and there have been wonderful film interpretations of Shakespeare in the past. It's just a shame they couldn't quite do a decent interpretation of this one. Maybe its a call that Baz Luhrmann should call.
All in all very disappointing. If you can cope with almost three hours of Olivier as a raving lunatic and everyone else as confusing clones of each other, then go for it. Otherwise, ignore at your peril.
All in all very disappointing. If you can cope with almost three hours of Olivier as a raving lunatic and everyone else as confusing clones of each other, then go for it. Otherwise, ignore at your peril.