Every time I watched or read a Shakespeare masterpiece, I had the notion of an immersion in a completely different world. It’s amazing how Shakespeare give us the opportunity to comprehend his stories and characters by feeling every single word he wrote, but is even more interesting when you can observe them plasmed in a screen.
The Merchant of Venice is a touching story that takes place in Venice during 1596, where a young boy named Bassanio (Joseph Fiennes), sees in the necessity of going to his best friend support by asking for 3000 ducates. Bassanio explained to his beloved friend he was in love with an incomparable beautiful lady named Portia (Lynn Collins), that is not only wealthy in beauty but also was born rich. Bassanio feels really concerned, because in some way he needs to prove he is a virtuous man in every sense. Antonio (Jeremy Irons) sees a deep desire inside Antonio’s eyes and without any doubt he accepts helping him. However, Antonio doesn’t have any money, because he was a merchant and he has all his possession into the sea, he decides to ask for a loan, which was an illegal practice in the Christian’s world. The lending of the capital comes from an old Jewish named Shylock (Al Pacino), who was discriminated for belonging to another Church.
Shylock and Antonio never had a good relationship, due to the fact Antonio knew that he practices usury. Both have several reason to hate each other. Shylock accepts lending Antonio the 3000 ducates, but instead of asking for interests he wants a pound of fresh flesh from the merchant if he doesn’t pay on the date they agreed. Convinced and hopeful of his future earnings, Antonio accepts.
With the gold, Bassanio departs for his beloved future wife Portia. But, there is one test that Bassanio has to solve to have Portia’s love, which is the mystery of the three, caskets. If he chooses the casket with the picture of Portia inside he will gain her love.
Contrarily was the destiny of Antonio who loosed his ships, ending without no earnings. The day of the treat arrives and Antonio has to pay his debt.
Bassanio decides to come back to his town to help his beloved friend. But it was late, Antonio and Shylock were in court, and all was prepared. Would Shylock cut Antonio to have one pound of his flesh? Would Bassanio risks his life to safe Antonio? Don’t you dare missing this fantastic movie, which will take you into a world full of love, moral messages, vengeance and redemption. But remember, appearances can be mistaken.
Bassanio, who is characterized by Joseph Fiennes, represents a romantic, dreamer, instinctive, handsome young boy. He was a peculiar lover of those times, who could give up to everything to have the truly love of his ladylove. He had a good life but it was time to settle down and start living as a real aristocratic man. That’s the reason why he needed a wife. I believe Bassanio was very lucky, he got everything very easily. When he saw himself in troubles he went immediately to talk to Antonio. I think Bassanio and Antonio were in love, but in a hidden way. In fact, when Antonio accepted helping, he kissed him in his lips as a way of grateful him.
Moreover he showed his good fortune when he went to the caskets and chose the correct one and won Portia’s love. Finally, the ring. Bassanio thought he had lost the ring and Portia reprimanded him because of that situation. He felt guilty but at the end he recovered the ring and won, again. I think that Antonio has the good guy role in this movie, because he has love, friendship, money, happiness and so forth. Besides, as I see Shakespeare showed two sides of life, the happy one through Bassanio and his good experiences and the bad side through Shylock and his unlucky incidents.
The Merchant of Venice is a wonderful movie. I enojoyed watching it. In my opinion the director did an excellent job and I really felt that Shakespeare was working with him, because the story, settings and descriptions were very similars to the actual novel. I think this movie is kind of a commedy with a half of a tragedy, but also it has a part of an allegory because, it has a hidden message that Shakespeare wanted to communicate. For example we can find several issues inside the movie, like discrimination, inconsequence, the rol of woman, religion, trade, colonialism, homosexuality, etc. But they are not so simple to recognize. Honestly, I will keep this movie in my collection.
The Merchant of Venice is a touching story that takes place in Venice during 1596, where a young boy named Bassanio (Joseph Fiennes), sees in the necessity of going to his best friend support by asking for 3000 ducates. Bassanio explained to his beloved friend he was in love with an incomparable beautiful lady named Portia (Lynn Collins), that is not only wealthy in beauty but also was born rich. Bassanio feels really concerned, because in some way he needs to prove he is a virtuous man in every sense. Antonio (Jeremy Irons) sees a deep desire inside Antonio’s eyes and without any doubt he accepts helping him. However, Antonio doesn’t have any money, because he was a merchant and he has all his possession into the sea, he decides to ask for a loan, which was an illegal practice in the Christian’s world. The lending of the capital comes from an old Jewish named Shylock (Al Pacino), who was discriminated for belonging to another Church.
Shylock and Antonio never had a good relationship, due to the fact Antonio knew that he practices usury. Both have several reason to hate each other. Shylock accepts lending Antonio the 3000 ducates, but instead of asking for interests he wants a pound of fresh flesh from the merchant if he doesn’t pay on the date they agreed. Convinced and hopeful of his future earnings, Antonio accepts.
With the gold, Bassanio departs for his beloved future wife Portia. But, there is one test that Bassanio has to solve to have Portia’s love, which is the mystery of the three, caskets. If he chooses the casket with the picture of Portia inside he will gain her love.
Contrarily was the destiny of Antonio who loosed his ships, ending without no earnings. The day of the treat arrives and Antonio has to pay his debt.
Bassanio decides to come back to his town to help his beloved friend. But it was late, Antonio and Shylock were in court, and all was prepared. Would Shylock cut Antonio to have one pound of his flesh? Would Bassanio risks his life to safe Antonio? Don’t you dare missing this fantastic movie, which will take you into a world full of love, moral messages, vengeance and redemption. But remember, appearances can be mistaken.
Bassanio, who is characterized by Joseph Fiennes, represents a romantic, dreamer, instinctive, handsome young boy. He was a peculiar lover of those times, who could give up to everything to have the truly love of his ladylove. He had a good life but it was time to settle down and start living as a real aristocratic man. That’s the reason why he needed a wife. I believe Bassanio was very lucky, he got everything very easily. When he saw himself in troubles he went immediately to talk to Antonio. I think Bassanio and Antonio were in love, but in a hidden way. In fact, when Antonio accepted helping, he kissed him in his lips as a way of grateful him.
Moreover he showed his good fortune when he went to the caskets and chose the correct one and won Portia’s love. Finally, the ring. Bassanio thought he had lost the ring and Portia reprimanded him because of that situation. He felt guilty but at the end he recovered the ring and won, again. I think that Antonio has the good guy role in this movie, because he has love, friendship, money, happiness and so forth. Besides, as I see Shakespeare showed two sides of life, the happy one through Bassanio and his good experiences and the bad side through Shylock and his unlucky incidents.
The Merchant of Venice is a wonderful movie. I enojoyed watching it. In my opinion the director did an excellent job and I really felt that Shakespeare was working with him, because the story, settings and descriptions were very similars to the actual novel. I think this movie is kind of a commedy with a half of a tragedy, but also it has a part of an allegory because, it has a hidden message that Shakespeare wanted to communicate. For example we can find several issues inside the movie, like discrimination, inconsequence, the rol of woman, religion, trade, colonialism, homosexuality, etc. But they are not so simple to recognize. Honestly, I will keep this movie in my collection.
