Trailer for Julie Taymor's "The Tempest"

Well I guess I can see why the reviews have been so mixed, because I have no idea what I just watched. No, really, what the hell was that? The costumes look great and the actors seem solid enough, but those special effects, especially the dogs and CRAZY BIRDMAN BEN WHISHAW are all over the place. I really, really loved Taymor's last stab at Shakespeare (Titus) so my hopes were pretty high for this one, but this trailer really isn't doing a lot to bolster my excitement in the face of the reviews.

Epic first poster for Julie Taymor's "The Tempest"

I know it sounds silly to say that a poster has "energy" to it, but I really like the feeling that this poster gives off. I'm pretty enamored with Taymor's previous big screen treatment of the Bard (Titus), so here's hope that she brings the same sense of controlled chaos to her creativity. As a play, "The Tempest" is one of Shakespeare's fastest plays in terms of the time it covers (several hours at most). So while I don't expect the film to unfold in some sort of 24-esque real time, I'd love it if the film's editing contains as much fire as the poster. The ensemble is terrific (despite Geoffrey Rush and Jeremy Irons' departures from the cast), led by the generally reliable Helen Mirren. Mirren is just about everywhere this year on screen, so here's hoping that this is one of the projects that sticks when it arrives in theaters this December.

Julie Taymor talks "The Tempest" at Cannes

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Despite the collapse/resale of Miramax, Taymor's next major Shakespeare adaptation, The Tempest, is due for release in December thanks to Touchstone Pictures. Like Titus, Taymor explains that her vision is not necessarily grounded in a time period, but rather in what suits the specific characters. As someone who was blown away by how seemingly easy Shakespeare's prose was to understand under Taymor's vision in Titus, I can't wait for this film. Now if only some official stills or a trailer could make their way to the Internet soon...

First set pic from Julie Taymor's "The Tempest"

I could not be anymore excited for Julie Taymor's adaptation of the Bard's magic-infused comedy. Okay...that's a lie. I'll probably be more excited once I read the play (thanks, Shakespearean Exclusions gen-ed class!). Out of her three previous directorial efforts, Taymor has made two phenomenal films, 2002's Oscar-winning Frida, and 1999's Titus, based on Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus. Through stunning examination of historical context and the text itself, Taymor turned what many consider Shakespeare's worst (or at least most unsophisticated) play, and made an enthralling, dynamic piece of work, combining sets and costumes from different eras seamlessly. Here's hoping that Taymor's second go-round with Shakespeare will be more like her first two features, and less like the beautiful-yet-sometimes-trudging Across the Universe (2007). In the photo you'll see comedian Russell Brand, Alfred Molina, and Djimon Honsou, each in distinct outfits (or lacktherof). Now that Taymor's films tend to gain a hint more of an audience, and her impact on Broadway has been felt, could this be a major contender for 2010's Oscar race? Or will it go the dreaded way of Bright Star? Here's hoping for the former.