Shakespeare's classic Othello has been remade many times over the years, both on the big screen and on stage. Two of the greatest known recreations of the play were made by Tim Blake Nelson ("O") and Oliver Parker (Othello). Both of these directors attempted to appeal to audiences of different people. Parker attempted to appeal to Shakespeare lovers; Nelson has gone down the road of appealing to young people (much like the 1996 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet). One of the constant ideas in both cases is that the interpretation follows many of the original themes and ideas such as racism, misogyny and jealousy. Both films take different approaches to recreating the work and have significant similarities and differences in doing so. Oliver Parker takes Shakespeare's work and recreates it for the big screen, but stays true to the original plot to appeal especially to those who appreciate Shakespeare's work. Although scenes were removed and scenes added that were not present in the actual play, Parker attempted to make the adaptation of Othello more film-like while retaining critical details. For example, Parker used the oath between Iago and Othello in a more dramatic light, drawing attention to the fact that the two are growing closer and closer with the staging. According to Roger Ebert in a personal review. Parker did not do the play due justice, in part because Iago “in enlisting Roderigo in his conspiracy, [he] sets a tone and uses body language that appears homosexual; seems to be in a comedy of his own” (Ebert). Meanwhile, Nelson's version of Othello targets young people by incorporating an aspect that might resonate with its target audience: high school. The entire setting is moved to a modernized environment... to the center of the paper... after (modernized or not), and the actors bring life to the characters that words might fail to give normally, the film is a successful adaptation . In this way, both “Othello” and “O” achieve these qualities despite their personal flaws. Both have their own styles, and there's a lot to give Parker and Nelson credit for, as Shakespeare's work is difficult to recreate or reimagine without dismantling it beyond recognition. Works Cited Bourne, Amanda. “The film or book portfolio.” Film Criticism – “O” by Tim Blake Nelson. Marymount University, February 21, 2013. Web. January 14, 2014. Ebert, Roger. "Othello." Ebert Digital LLC, December 29, 1995. Web. January 14, 2014. Fassbender, Michael. "Oliver Parker's Othello." Humanities 360. HELIUM, INC, February 21, 2011. Web. January 14, 2014. Yahoo Contributor. "Comparative study between Othello and O (by Tim Blake Nelson