With this, her first film, Broadway director Julie Taymor("The Lion King") lays claim to becoming the heir to master filmmaker, Federico Fellini! What she has created is not only the best film of 1999, but also the most visually stunning film in years. Every scene is a dramatic painting come to life. Before even a word of Shakespeare's text has been uttered, Taymor has given us one of the most exciting opening scenes in all of film. (She did the same thing on Broadway, with her opening scene for "The Lion King.") Given the fact that Titus Andronicus is one of Shakespeare's worst (and bloodiest) plays, it's even more surprising how all concerned(director, actors, musical director, set and costume designer,etc.) have turned it into this film masterpiece. In spite of the fact that more bodily parts are hacked off in this film than in any war or horror film in memory, all of the actors turn in some of the best performances of their careers. Anthony Hopkins gives us a Titus who is more over-the-top than Hannibal Lecter. Jessica Lange is perfect as Tamora, the Queen of the Goths, and Tony-winner Alan Cummings is at his best as Saturninus. However, an actor who is new to me, Harry Lennix, just about steals the film from the pros. Who is he? Although the film is almost 3-hours long, you'll be glued to the screen for every exciting minute. Brava Taymor!

An interesting phenomena is occurring -successful Broadway directors are getting behind the camera and creating amazing film. Julie Taymor, director of Broadway's incredibly successful adaptation of the The Lion King, brings us a near flawless film version of Shakespeare's most violent work, Titus Andronicus. Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange and Alan Cumming all give incredible performances in a film that was completely overlooked by the Golden Globes but hopefully not by the Oscars. Jam packed with cunning, deceit, vengeance, hatred and murder, this film is like Quentin Tarantino in Shakespearean verse. Not to be left unmentioned is that this is the most unusual but stunning visions you'll see put on screen this year.