From Touchstone Pictures comes William Shakespeare\u2019s final masterpiece The Tempest, arriving on Disney DVD on November 2. Helmed by Julie Taymor, the award-winning director of the theatrical production of \u2018The Lion King\u2019, Taymor filters Shakespeare\u2019s timeless comedy of revenge, romance and reconciliation through her unique visual prism with an all-star cast, led by Oscar\u00ae winner Helen Mirren and also starring Russell Brand, Reeve Carney, Tom Conti, Chris Cooper, Alan Cumming, Djimon Hounsou, Felicity Jones, Alfred Molina, David Strathairn and Ben Whishaw.<\/p>\n
In Taymor\u2019s The Tempest, the director brings an original dynamic to the Bard\u2019s 400 year old story by changing the gender of the traditionally male sorcerer Prospero into the sorceress \u2013 Prospera \u2013 portrayed by Helen Mirren.<\/p>\n
The spectacular fantasy comes to life as Prospera\u2019s journey spirals through vengeance to forgiveness as she reigns over a magical island, cares for her young daughter, Miranda, and unleashes her powers against shipwrecked enemies in this masterly mix of romance, tragicomedy and the supernatural.<\/p>\n
After a harrowing shipwreck, the members of a royal court are washed ashore on various parts of a mysterious island. Their fateful arrival on this particular island is no coincidence. The exiled Prospera (Mirren) has used her magical powers to guide the ship here to settle a score with the very men who banished her from her homeland.<\/p>\n
Abetted by her sometimes unwilling aides, Ariel (Whishaw) and Caliban (Hounsou), Prospera puts her former tormentors through some dangerous and often hilarious adventures. However, when the king\u2019s son, Ferdinand (Carney), meets her daughter, Miranda (Jones), it is love at first sight\u2014a kind of magic that even Prospera is powerless to control.<\/p>\n
Shakespeare fans, theatre enthusiasts and literary buffs alike won\u2019t want to miss the chance to own The Tempest on Disney DVD, exclusively packaged with bonus features including commentary by Julie Taymor, a Russell Brand rehearsal riff, a Mistress Mine music video as well as annotated Shakespeare experts commentary. The Tempest will be available for purchase at retail as a 1-Disc DVD for $39.95 RRP.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
From Touchstone Pictures comes William Shakespeare\u2019s final masterpiece The Tempest, arriving on Disney DVD on November 2. Helmed by Julie Taymor, the award-winning director of the theatrical production of \u2018The Lion King\u2019, Taymor filters Shakespeare\u2019s timeless comedy of revenge, romance and reconciliation through her unique visual prism with an all-star cast, led by Oscar\u00ae winner<\/p>\n