“There are no new stories.”
Ah, yes, that old trope. Tarantino took all of his ideas
from Asian films, Kurosawa borrowed all of his plots from Shakespeare,
Shakespeare ripped off everything from Homer, and I suppose then Homer fashioned
all of his stories from the cave drawings of that great prehistoric storytelling
duo, Thog and Uk.
I’m not sure I believe it, honestly. I can buy that there
are no new stories, thematically, certainly, but as Aristotle told us a very
long time ago, there’s a lot more to drama than just plot. Character, setting,
etc., but also there’s the unique voice of the storyteller. Even sometimes when
an auteur is deliberately ripping off a plot, they can come up with something
brilliantly new. I’m not talking about remakes or movie versions of 1970’s
sitcoms here, I’m talking about reworking a classic drama by making it a
comedy, modernizing it, or setting it on an entirely different world.
Of course, in the case of Shakespearean theater: ONION ARTICLE
Here are just a few of my favorites:
Clueless (Film, 1995. Plot based on Jane Austen’s Emma.) How
does one modernize Austen, with so much of her plot depending upon out-of-date
caste systems? Why, set it in a high school, of course. A hilarious modern take
on an already witty tale. Young Alicia Silverstone is spot on as the shallow
but completely adorable Cher, a girl obsessed with matchmaking, makeovers and
clothes. The lower-class farmer is now a skate punk, the nanny is a teacher,
and the ‘secretly engaged gentleman’ is gay. Pitch perfect.
Throne of Blood (Film. 1957. Plot based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth.)
Akira Kurosawa takes on Shakespeare, and sets it all in 15th century feudal Japan. Starring the incomparable Toshiro Mifune. Nuff Said.
His Dark Materials Trilogy (Books. The Golden Compass,
The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass, by Philip Pullman. Plot based on Milton’s
Paradise Lost.)
I love these books. They are usually housed in the
children’s section of a bookstore, but, as I’ve mentioned in previous posts,
they are no more children’s books than the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Parallel
worlds. Talking warrior polar bears. Parents trying to kill their children.
Trips to Hell. Epic battles with God. You know, typical kids’ fare. Read these,
they’re terrific.
Young Frankenstein (Film. 1974. Plot based on
Frankenstein.) There are many genre and film spoofs out there, but let’s face
it, this is one of the best. It's certainly Mel Brooks’ strongest film. Also, it remains funny
after many, many viewings.
The Gap Cycle (Books. The Real Story, Forbidden
Knowledge, A Dark and Hungry God Arises, Chaos and Order, and This Day All Gods
Die, by Stephen R. Donaldson. Plot based on Wagner’s Ring Cycle.)
Donaldson takes an opera, and turns it into a space opera. I read his Thomas Covenant books when I was 14,
and these books when I was in my 20s, and honestly, I’m not sure if I’d have the
patience for either series today. That said, I’ve recently read all of the extant
Song of Ice and Fire books, so perhaps I would. Be forewarned: the Gap books
are terrific, but harsh, especially the first book, which sets up the whole
story, but provides you with no relief or redemption. No, as in all of
Donaldson’s books, redemption is very hard-earned, mostly because he has his
characters commit seemingly irredeemable acts, and then spends several dense
books having them attempt to crawl into the light. Sound painful? Perhaps – but
these books are also nail-biting, addictive, well-written and complex.
O Brother, Where Art Thou (Film. 2000. Plot based on
Homer’s Odyssey.)
This one is a family favorite, and one of the most fun of
all the Coen Brother’s films. It's set in the deep south during the great depression, and stars a
never-livelier George Clooney: if you haven’t seen this flick, run home and
rent/stream it now. Very quotable. Plus, that soundtrack!
Other goodies:
Scotland PA. (Another Macbeth)
Roxanne (Cyrano)
My Fair Lady (Pygmalion)
West Side Story (Romeo and Juliet)
Bridget Jones’ Diary (Pride and Prejudice)
What are your favorites? Again, not remakes, but reimaginings? ( And I’m really sorry for
using that word.)
Cheers!
Q
