huggibear Are you a Shakespeare fan? That's what this is! A play turned into a movie, which is pretty good. It's interesting to see Denzel Washington in something of this caliber because it is so outside-the-box for him, considering the roles he normally plays. He did quite well, I might add. He was charming! But he's a great actor, so I'm not too surprised. All the characters in this movie have Shakespeare-like plays' incredible mannerisms. It seemed like a play, but in a Hollywood-like fashioned film. A movie well versed with great Shakespearean culture. If you like Shakespeare, you'll enjoy this! If not, watch it anyway to form your own opinion.

sol- Amused by the contempt they share for one another, the friends of a confirmed bachelor and confirmed spinster conspire to make each believe that the other has romantic designs on him/her in this big screen adaptation of one of William Shakespeare's most popular comedies. Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson are both excellent as the two cynics turned lovers, sprouting Shakespeare's witty dialogue in a very natural manner and the fast paced banter between them is easily the high point of the film. The plot is more complicated than just that though with a spiteful friend of the couple also conspiring to break up the engagement of his best friend to a woman that he would rather have to himself. This angle is unfortunately far less interesting than everyone tricking Branagh and Thompson into romancing one another and yet the subplot soon gains centre focus. It also does not help that Robert Sean Leonard, who was so great in 'Dead Poets Society', is awkwardly cast here as the man tricked out of his impending marriage, though the actor who seems least comfortable overall here is Keanu Reeves, who looks stunned and dazed half the time. And yet, while the supporting cast varies in effectiveness, Brian Blessed is always great to have on hand, and with both Branagh and Thompson very much in their element, this is a fairly fun film.

GusF After Laurence Olivier's versions of "Henry V", "Hamlet" and "Richard III" and Kenneth Branagh's version of "Henry V", this is the fifth Shakespearean film that I've watched this year. While I was previously familiar with the three plays on which those films were based, that wasn't the case with "Much Ado About Nothing" so I don't know what cuts, if any, Branagh made to the text. The play is enormous fun, extraordinarily witty and occasionally laugh out funny. However, it also features darker moments and a fascinating exploration of the nature of honour, particularly as regards Hero being publicly and, more importantly, unjustly shamed due to the machinations of Don John. As with "Henry V", Kenneth Branagh excels as both an actor and a director. He is brilliant as Benedick, playing the role with an irresistible level of enthusiasm and charm. He directs the film with great style and flair and it looks absolutely beautiful as he used the gorgeous scenery of Sicily and Tuscany to its full potential. Branagh's then wife Emma Thompson is very bit his equal as Beatrice and their "merry war" is the best part of the film. The most important thing in a comedy based largely on wit and verbal jousting is the delivery of the lines. Branagh and Thompson deliver them as naturally as if they just entered their heads that very second. Overall, the film has a very strong supporting cast such as Richard Briers, BRIAN BLESSED, Robert Sean Leonard, Kate Beckinsale (who is wonderfully natural as Hero) and Denzel Washington (who I wouldn't have imagined as being much of a Shakespearean actor but he does very, very well as Don Pedro). It also features strong performances from actors in smaller roles such as Emma Thompson's mother Phyllida Law, Imelda Staunton, Richard Clifford and Jimmy Yuill. However, Branagh's usually superlative eye for casting let him down badly in the case of Keanu Reeves and Michael Keaton. As with Branagh and Thompson, Reeves' performance is effortlessly funny but, in his case, it wasn't meant to be. He delivers most of his lines in a monotone and just shouts the rest and not in a good, Shakespearean way. It was a bit embarrassing really. To be honest, I have never liked Reeves in any film that didn't have the words "Bill & Ted" in the title. Keaton is certainly better than Reeves, which admittedly isn't hard, but he was still way, way too over the top as Dogberry. His performance seemed to belong in a different film. I also don't see why either he or Branagh thought that it was a good idea for him to play the role in a bad Irish accent, which this Irishman found very irritating. I didn't smile once when Dogberry was on the screen - which I found hard to watch - while I laughed or at least grinned throughout the rest of the comedy scenes. However, it is quite funny to note that, since Christian Bale appeared in "Henry V", both of Branagh's first two Shakespearean films featured Batman!Overall, this is a brilliant film which, like "Henry V", demonstrates Branagh's mastery of Shakespeare but, because of Reeves and Keaton's poor performances, I can't quite give it full marks.9.5/10

brchthethird Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Shakespeare's MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is nothing short of astounding. With one exception, every cast member brought their A-game, resulting in a movie that is overflowing with emotion and humor. Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson play Benedick and Beatrice, Denzel Washington plays Don Pedro and Michael Keaton does an excellently weird interpretation of Dogberry. The only downside is that Keanu Reeves is stuck in the thankless role of Don John, but fortunately the role isn't that substantial. Other aspects of the movie are just as impressive, from the on-location shooting in Tuscany to the score and a few beautiful songs. Shakespeare has rarely been so fun! A must-see for Shakespeare fans and people who like romantic comedies.