Prospero and is daughter Miranda have been stranded on an island for twelve years after his brother, Antonio, disposed of him there in order to claim his birthright as Duke of Milan. Prospero has a vast amount of knowledge and can wield magical powers, with the aid of spirit, Ariel.
Sycorax had been a witch that has been exiled onto the same island for abusing her magical powers. Caliban is Sycorax’s son and was the person who taught Prospero how to survive on the Island. However, as the years went on, Caliban began to feel more like a slave to Prospero than son and began to harbor feelings of hate. Prospero and Miranda also begin to resent him in return.
Prospero causes a tempest to a occur, and this causes a nearby ship to become shipwrecked on the island. His bother Antonio is on the ship as well as King Alonso, his bother Sebastian, his adviser Gonzalo and his son Ferdinand. Prospero separates the survivors so Alonso and Ferdinand are separated form each other.
The film then divides into three storylines:
Caliban becomes friends with Stephano and Trinculo, who are drunks, and they attempt to go against Prospero and his dictatorship of the island.
Prospero attempts to set up Miranda and Ferdinand and both fall in love quickly. However, he begins to worry about their relationship and thus uses Ferdinand as his slave.
Sebastian and Antonio divulge a plan to kill Alonso and take his place as King. However, Prospero deploys Ariel to prevent this and inform them of their betrayal to Prospero.
Prospero later reveals to Ferdinand that he accepts his betrothal to Miranda and they celebrate by passing blessings onto the couple. However, Prospero remembers the threat of Caliban on his life and sends of goblins to chase after them. Prospero then has a change of heart and begins to forgive the people who caused him this pain. He forgives Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian for their deception and sends them back to Naples on their ship, with Miranda and Ferdinand on board. He forgives Caliban too and frees Ariel.
The major characters have a final farewell party, at which Prospero details his life on the island for the past twelve years and breaks his magic staff, confessing that he is now free.
