Shakespeare Uncovered

In this series some fine exceptional, directors and producers tackle, in each episode, a play by William Shakespeare. The hosts include some of the greatest actors of my time.

The plays are looked at in some detail (in the time allotted) and if you don't know the Shakespearean play under advisement you come away with lots of opinions that may help you enter the wonderful world of William Shakespeare and adopt (perhaps divergent) opinions of your own.

Well, it's fine to have episodes hosted by Jeremy Irons or Derek Jacobi, but they're missing something vital: Shakespeare is considered the greatest writer in the English language. Fine. So where is the writers' viewpoint? I know actors have greater profiles, but can't they somewhere find a writer with a high profile who can be personable and speak authoritatively about Shakespeare the writer from a scribbler's POV?

This is a serious lack.

I found this entire mini-series, documentary good for those already familiar with Shakespeare. However, if someone was to watch this series without some fluency with the writings of William Shakespeare, it might not be very intriguing. It does not express the full plays, but gets more into the writer, and historical influences that went into his productions. All of the commentators/narrators did a very fine job, but none as well as Jeremy Irons. But then, I am prejudiced to find him to be a magnificent actor and documentary narrator due to his other great performances/narrations. Shakespeare's writings have influenced much of todays stories, and this is clearly shown through this series.

Three series - 18 episodes

this is a documentary series that cannot be missed wither you are a Shakespeare snot or just beginning with the name.

With each episode we encounter a specific play in no particular order. The narrator is usually an actor the has played one of the main characters in that particular play.

Even if you have seen the versions of the plays, they are shown again as film bites of the highlights and then discussed. We get more than just the history of the writer and even the play. It is compared to today and to the time of the play.

Naturally if I was to pic the presenter I would mor than likely have picked a different actor. However, I may have lost the chance to see what this actor had and other historical presenters' worth have to show me.

I would really have liked to see Helen Mirren narrate the Tempest. La tempête (2010).

Be sure to watch an earlier attempt of this type in Playing Shakespeare (1982).