I saw Vanessa Redgrave do a female Prospero ten years ago. Mind you, she was shit, so Mirren has everything to play for. The Tempest is my least favourite Shakespeare though

I'll agree with you on most points Prospero, except your first. imho, when you are surrounded by 4 guys, who are (by the looks of it) talking shit; it's open season. The muscle dude is a hothead, but I think what he did was well within limits (notice he stepped away and cooled off the minute another guys stepped in to stop one of the original antagonists from continuing). As far as I'm concerned he was defending himself. Could those guys have done him any harm? Well, maybe not given what we saw here, but maybe they could have. How was he to know before the action started? Just an idle threat from 4 unknowns.

Spin your first sentence around: *why* were 4 skinny preppy boys who were no match for a muscular badass hassling a muscular badass? My answer: they thought they had him because of sheer numbers. Any one of them could have walked away and stopped being an asshole, but they presisted. Why? Ego? What does that mean about their state of mind? Borderline mob mentality? How far are they willing to go to ride it out?

Having been there myself: when you have 4 guys hassling you (I don't care who you are), your options shrink pretty damn fast and yes, simple demonstrating your *will* to use quick and brutal violence, can break the spell and get you out of trouble.

Hate to say, it, but I side with the meathead on this one.

Boom, that's great. Props to Prospero! Thank you for this.