An Earthquake in Stratford Trivia Quiz

Answer: Juliet becomes a cow monster

Juliet becoming a cow monster may be the strangest point in a film that includes dismemberment by motor vehicle, along with gratuitous amounts of nudity, sex and violence. The film does have a "happier" ending than the play: Tromeo and Juliet discover they are siblings, but they get married and have kids anyway. What is truly disturbing is that this one of the more normal films directed by Kaufman. Toxic waste is a key element in the "Toxic Avenger" series by Kaufman. Radioactive marijuana is central to "The Class of Nuke Em High" (1986). And the kabuki superhero is from "Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD" (1990). If you are looking for a good version of "Romeo and Juliet" try either Franco Zeffirelli (1968) or Baz Luhrmann (1996).

Answer: Angelina Jolie

Ms Jolie played Gina Malacici, who falls in love with Rosario Capomezzo, played by Nathaniel Marston. The film is a "Romeo and Juliet" remake set in the present day Bronx. It was directed by acting couple Joseph Bologna and Renee Taylor (Fran's mom on "The Nanny"). It is one of Jolie's very first film roles, and probably the sweetest and most innocent character she has ever played on screen. "Love Is All There Is" received mixed reviews, and while it isn't the worst remake of "Romeo and Juliet", there are numerous better ones.

Answer: Vampires

"Hamlet the Vampire Slayer" (2008) is a hybrid of the 1603 play by Shakespeare and the 1992 film "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". The film stars - well, nobody anyone has ever heard of, and was shot on a budget of $5,000. Claudius is a vampire, Ophelia is even crazier, and the whole thing ends in a cheerleading dance-off. Apparently this was made under the belief that if you put vampires into a film, people will automatically want to watch it. For a great version of "Hamlet" check out Laurence Olivier in 1948, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Answer: Sam Worthington

Worthington, who has won multiple awards for his acting, did "MacBeth" shortly before becoming an international star in "Avatar" (2009). He can also be seen in "Terminator Salvation" (2009) as Markus Wright. Wright's "MacBeth" is set in contemporary Melbourne, amid the criminal underworld. The text of the play is used, spoken by Australian actors in Australian accents. The film was generally panned for its excessive violence.
While both Orson Welles (1948) and Roman Polanski (1971) took great liberties with "MacBeth" as well, either version is better than Wright's.

Answer: Ted Lange as Othello

Yes, Isaac Your Bartender both starred in and directed "Othello". Veteran character actor Hawthorne James played Iago. While best known as a TV actor, Lange had done stage work, including "Macbeth" and "Romeo and Juliet". He became interested in "Macbeth" while taking a Shakespeare course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Congressman Fred Grandy (formerly Gopher) helped Lange access the Folger Shakespeare Library so he could do research for the film.
By 1989, Grandy was serving in the US House of Representatives. Bernie Kopell was busy making another "Get Smart" film.

Answer: Jean Luc Godard

Godard produced a unique version of "King Lear" set in a post-Chernobyl apocalypse world in which the world's artworks had to be restored. Godard played a professor obsessed with photo-copying his hand. Burgess Meredith played the Lear role, and Molly Ringwald played Cordelia, who was tormented by goblins. Woody Allen had an uncredited role as Mr. Alien. To make this film even more bizarre, Quentin Tarantino put it on his acting resume early in his career, despite the fact he does not appear in the movie. For an excellent film based on Lear, watch "Ran" (1985) by Akira Kurosawa.

Answer: LL Cool J

LL Cool J plays "Master Player" Ray Adams, who has the job of taming Evangeline "Eva" Dandridge, played by Gabrielle Union. LL Cool J has been in the entertainment business since 1985. While he is probably most famous as a rap star, he has done numerous film and television appearances over the years, including "SWAT" (2003) and "Last Holiday" (2006).

In 2009, Cool J became a regular cast member of "NCIS: Los Angeles". The film is a modern re-telling of "The Taming of the Shrew". The play has seen numerous adaptions - Franco Zeffirelli did a take with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in 1967, and "Ten Things I Hate About You" is a teenage version with Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger.

Answer: Rockin Eve

"Get Over It" is a teenage version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" starring Kirsten Dunst, Ben Foster and Shane West. Martin Short plays the director of the play. As in all Shakespeare-based comedies, the road to true love is not smooth, but there is a happy ending.
In another intersection between rap stars and Shakespeare, Sisqo (of "Thong Song" fame) has a supporting role. The film also stars Carmen Electra as a dominatrix named Mistress Moira. When Shakespeare wrote, "For who would bare the whips and scorns of time," I doubt this is what he imagined.

Answer: Henry V

Babakitis made this version of "Henry V" because he claimed that previous versions had "whitewashed" the Lancastrian king. The fact that the director put the word "Terrorist" on the film's posters to describe Henry seems to indicate he has no love for the character. He shows this by delivering a monotone, wooden performance in a film with poor video and sound quality.
If you are looking for a good version of "Henry V" try either Laurence Olivier (1944) or Kenneth Branagh (1989). While they are very different interpretations, both are excellent.

Answer: Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren is one of Britain's most acclaimed actresses. She began acting in 1966, and has won numerous honors for her acting over the years, including an Academy Award for playing Queen Elizabeth in 2006, and being named a Dame Commander of the British Empire. "The Tempest" (2010) stars Mirren as Prospera, the wife of the Duke of Milan, whose husband has been murdered by her brother-in-law Antonio.

She is exiled to an island with her daughter Miranda (Felicity Jones). After 12 years, she finally has a chance at revenge when Antonio shipwrecks on the island.

The film was generally panned when it was released. While most reviewers praised Mirren, they felt the supporting cast (especially Russell Brand) created too much confusion. "Misjudged, un-poetic and tedious - like a pompous production of 'Mamma Mia', without the Abba songs," was the take of British reviewer Christopher Tookey.

The principal filming was done in Hawaii.