“This modern retelling of William Shakespeare’s final masterpiece is an exciting, mystical and magical fantasy with Academy Award winner Helen Mirren (Best Actress, The Queen, 2006) leading a star-studded cast including Russell Brand (Get Him to the Greek) and Alfred Molina (The Sorcerer s Apprentice). Exiled to a magical island, the sorceress Prospera (Mirren) conjures up a storm that shipwrecks her enemies, and then unleashes her powers for revenge. Directed by the visionary Julie Taymor — and complete with exclusive bonus features and an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design (Sandy Powell, 2010) — The Tempest, with its innovative twist, is a supernatural dramedy filled with Shakespearian villains, lovers and fools that will leave you spellbound.”
I think that Julie Taymor is one of the most artistic directors today. I was excited to watch The Tempest because I knew that it would 
be visually stunning. I was not disappointed. This movie was visually incredible, especially on Blu-ray. The special effects were amazing, as well as the great costume design. I was not surprised that the costumes were nominated for an Academy Award last year.
One thing that was very interesting as well is the fact that the main character in this movie was changed to a woman. In the play by Shakespeare, the main character is a male named Prospero. In the movie version, the main character has been changed to Prospera. I am a huge fan of Helen Mirren and
loved seeing her in this film. I think that Helen Mirren can just about act anything. In my opinion, I thought she gave the best performance in the film.
There are also a lot of ‘big’ names in this film. Some of them were Chris Cooper, Alfred Molina, David Strathairn, Alan Cumming, Djimon Hounsou, and Russell Brand. I will admit, I got a good laugh at hearing Russell Brand of all people reciting Shakespeare.
I will say that this movie is definitely not for everyone. If you a fan of Julie Taymor’s work or you are a fan of Shakespeare, I think that it would be worth checking this movie out, especially on Blu-ray.
The Tempest is now available on Blu-ray and DVD. It is available in stores and online. It is rated PG-13 for some nudity, suggestive content, and scary images.
