Waste of time

From my favorite movies..

Dreadfully Boring

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

I'd always heard that this movie is supposed to be really bad. I heard it was cheesy and simplified a more complex story. However I disagree. While some of the dialogue is cheesy,most ninety's teen movies had the same type. However I don't feel they simplified the story. If they had stayed true to the source material most people would be totally lost if they hadn't seen or read the play. Making it center around basketball instead of an army so that teens could understand the character dynamics better was a smart move. I'm 25 years old and, I don't think I know but maybe 10 people my age who could tell you what a moor is, so the overt racism in the film was as necessary. The saving grace of this film though is Josh Hartnett. While is his character could have used more development, his acting from start to finish is superb. The way his jealousy slowly creeps its way into everyone's life is a little chilling. Well that's my first ever review.... Of "O" lol. I nervous writing it since i hadn't don't it before and didn't wanna sound pretentious or dumb but i hope its help for some of you.

Unfortunately, the authors of Othello were not aware of the vast differences between races, black and white. To say that a high school student would be aware of these differences is absolutely ridiculous, regardless of whether or not the kids are jealous. Blacks score, on average about 84 on IQ tests, whites 100, but are better athletes and football players. Blacks have different social norms, backgrounds, families, DNA, crime rates, you name it. The kids would become aware of this, later on. How many can say that the way they were in high school, i.e. friends, dates, was the same as when they were 21 or 31, is not true. To say that the reason Negroes do not mate with whites is "jealousy" is absurd. There is good reason for segregation.

This movie had potential to be good. Instead of Othello being the military captain of Venice, he's the star player on a basketball team named Odin. Okay, acceptable, and a sweet name. Michael (Cassio) is invited to share in Odin's VIP award instead of Hugo (Iago), which makes him angry, and he plans to break Odin and Dessy (Dezzy? Desi? Whatever, Desdemona) with Roger (Roderigo). This is typical, this is what I expected: not creative whatsoever, but still acceptable. Unfortunately, they ruined it by trying very hard to make it "edgy". If you are like me and hated 10 Things I Hate About You, you will hate this movie more. The insufferable Julia Stiles is back as Desi and ruins yet another perfectly good Shakespearian character. Desdemona is supposed to be sweet and innocent, not another Godforsaken feminist nuisance. Hugo is boring, typical "my parents don't pay attention to me at home cut cut cut" r-tard who does drugs and swears. Michael is an incredibly unlikable wimp. Emily is weirdly ugly and looks about forty years old and has negative personality. The only, and I repeat ONLY, good thing in this entire movie is Odin. His acting is pretty decent, he is very emotional, and his facial expressions are excellent. At least there was one good actor in this movie. The problem is the horrible jumping from scene to scene every ten seconds, which is more annoying than it sounds, and all the characters' initial charm in the play is completely gone. I find myself looking forward to everyone getting murdered because they are all so unlikable. ESPECIALLY Desi. Stiles is probably the worst actress to ever exist, and the fact that she is constantly given the same stupid roles to play only emphasize that fact. However, when Desdemona is supposed to tell her father that she loves Othello, she simply says "We've been dating for four months daaaad GAWD it's none of your business even though I'm sleeping with him and greet him by taking my clothes off ever since we started dating". She doesn't even LOOK at Odin in the movie, it makes the audience feel like their relationship is purely physical. In short, all the characters were ruined except Odin/Othello, the acting is atrocious, they screwed up the story, and almost ruined the entire play for me like The Taming of the Shrew was prior to this. Avoid this garbage at all costs.

"'O' is Odin James (Mekhi Phifer), the school's star basketball player and future NBA hopeful. He has the adoration of all, including the team's coach (Martin Sheen) and Dean's beautiful daughter, Desi (Julia Stiles). Odin's troubled friend Hugo (Josh Hartnett), the coach's son is deeply resentful of his father's preference of Odin on and off the court. When Hugo plots a diabolical scheme to sow the seeds of mistrust between 'O' and Desi, it sets in motion a disturbing chain of events which erupts into a firestorm of breathtaking intensity. 'O' is a stunning tale that will stay with you long after its final, powerful frame," according to the promotional synopsis.And, like it promises: "O" features, "Hot young stars, a hip, driving soundtrack, plus a provocative tale of jealousy and betrayal combine to create this controversial modern-day version of Shakespeare's classic, 'Othello.'" The Shakespearian plot is still good, after all these centuries. But, the transference of these events to a "high school" setting doesn't work. As a whole, the actors do not look or act between 14-18 years old; at one point, Mr. James says they're eighteen (a wise age to pick, from range available). Granted, with retention and steroids, many athletes look much older, presently - still, "O" doesn't balance this with age appropriate casting (or behavior).Making the age matter worse is a script which really doesn't really ring true. This story, with its controversy likely related to violent real-life teenage mass murderers, doesn't possess the degree of teen angst and alienation necessary to bring that slant to the tale. And, it doesn't fit the "Othello" plot.The cast and direction are very good, though… why didn't somebody suggest a college setting? ***** O (5/26/01) Tim Blake Nelson ~ Mekhi Phifer, Josh Hartnett, Julia Stiles