There are old classics that have been around for decades or even hundreds of years. These stories have stood the test of time and are retold and enjoyed regardless of how long they've been around. Many of these classics tell about themes that many people can understand and relate to no matter where they are from or what time period it is. Themes like love, overcoming difficulties, jealousy, and friendship are timeless. People from all different backgrounds can understand or have even experienced these themes firsthand.
While these classics are unforgettable, many of them have been given a twist or a modern makeover. Some of these stories have been adapted to TV shows and movies too. And with time, there are also remakes of these shows and movies. Some retellings are faithful to the source material, while others might base the new story loosely on the original.
Zombies have been quite popular in TV shows, movies, and video games. So it's not surprising that some modern remakes have added an element of the undead. Warm Bodies is a zombie movie that is based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare wrote many tragedies and melodramas during his time.
Romeo and Juliet is a tragic story of two young lovers from powerful rival families. Shakespeare uses many metaphors throughout the story. When Romeo sees Juliet, he says, "It is the east, and Juliet is the sun." What do you think Romeo is trying to say?
Instead of saying Juliet looks pretty, Romeo is comparing Juliet to the sun. He is saying her beauty is radiant, like the rising sun. Unfortunately, our young couple does not have a happy ending. The story ends with both Romeo and Juliet dying.
In Warm Bodies, the male protagonist, R, is a zombie that falls in love with a human woman named Julie. It seems like impossible love, since they are from opposing groups. The zombies want to eat human brains, and the humans want to protect themselves and destroy the zombies. Their romance develops throughout the movie, and R slowly turns back into a human.
While running away from other zombies, R sustains some injuries. These injuries were later well-recovered. Moviegoers that enjoy happy endings might enjoy this new remake more.
Another legendary story from Shakespeare is Hamlet. It tells the story of a ghost king telling Prince Hamlet to seek revenge. The ghost king says that he was murdered by his brother, Claudius, who is now the new king. Is this story starting to sound familiar?
The Lion King is based on this classic tale. Mufasa's death was orchestrated by Scar, who also happens to be his brother. Once Mufasa was dead, Simba ran away since he thought he was responsible for it. Then Scar took the throne. When Simba grows up, he returns to avenge his father's death. Like Warm Bodies, The Lion King also has a much happier ending. Hamlet is a tragedy filled with many deaths. Prince Hamlet died after seeking his revenge. But in The Lion King, Simba is able to defeat Scar and retake the throne.
While the story of The Lion King is a standalone, its popularity has produced many other storylines and story continuations. Even though Shakespeare wrote all his works more than 400 years ago, he unknowingly still influences our entertainment and media today.
What stories from today do you think will become a classic in years to come?