So one of my supervisors, Mike Jett (3
of my supervisors are named Michael, all 3 go by Mike), pointed out
something interesting to me today. Strange Brew, starring Dave
Thomas and Rick Moranis as Bob & Doug McKenzie, is a retelling of
Hamlet.
That's right, the toque-wearing
hose-heads are really Rozencrantz and Guildenstern, loosed upon the
wilds of Canada. Max von Sydow (of all people), plays the Claudius
analog. Lynne Griffin plays the female Hamlet equivalent. Not sure
who plays Yorick, but Mel Blanc voices Bob & Doug's parents.
And don't forget that the family name
that Max and Lynne share in the movie is Elsinore.
I suppose every story is some other
story in disguise, one way or another. Most science fiction being
produced now is either variations on the Arthurian legends (such as
the Transformers), or Frankenstein's Monster (Terminator series) or
rewrites of magical child myths (pretty much any of the YA stuff out
there).
There is the classic quote that only 12
plots exist (or 1, or 30 or some other number). I suppose it depends
on how you define each one, how you slice the diamond, what facets
you look at. Maybe that's why I like character so much more than
plot. Because there are more than 12 characters in fiction, quite a
few more.
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