Much Ado About Nothing

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Starring: Kenneth Branagh
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Type: DVD
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Release Date: 2003-01-07
Running Time: 111 minutes
Full of "sparkling merriment" (The Hollywood Reporter), this sexy, sunny comedy positively sizzles as one set of lovers battles against a dirty trick, and another set simply battleseach other! Adapted by Oscar® nominee* Kenneth Branagh and featuring an all-star cast, this charming romp "casts the battle of the sexes in the form of an elegant dance" (The New York Times). A military war has just ended, but the "merry war" between Beatrice (Emma Thompson) and Benedick (Branagh) rages on! Can their friends trick them into making love instead? For that matter, can another couple's devotion survive the evil Don John's (Keanu Reeves) vicious lies? It's up to the blundering constable (Michael Keaton) to save the day so that the course of true love may yet run smooth! *1989: Director, Actor, Henry V; 1992: Short Film-Live Action, Swan Song; 1996: Adapted Screenplay, Hamlet

Love of Language
I think this adaptation of "Much Ado About Nothing," I think is one of Shakespeare's best comedies, is a great film. It can function as a sort of introductory bit of Shakespeare, because this play mostly consists of characters exchanging witty banter, and the actors (Keanu Reeves very much aside) brought such life to the already hilarious words. From the straight forward interpretations of Beatrice and Benedick (Emma Thompson and director Kenneth Branagh, respectively), to the wild but captivating take on Dogberry (Michael Keaton), this movie bursts with wit and life that most film adaptations of the bard's work has lacked.

I thought Keanu Reeves was a horrible choice to play the villainous Don John, for a couple of reasons. One, because Reeves--sorry, Reeves lovers, if there are any of you--he quite simply can't act. Two, he's supposed to be the brother of Don Pedro, who is played (nicely, I might add) by Denzel Washington... who, to say the least, looks nothing at all like Reeves. Whatever the reasoning was behind that, Don John plays a mercifully small role, leaving all the big stuff to better characters played by better actors. The story is quick and punchy, bursting with witty banter and love of the English language. It brings a story of love, trickery, and friendship to the table and, like all comedies, comes complete with a big old happy ending that will surely leave a smile on your face.

7/10

DVD Much Ado About Nothing
This is an excellent Hollywood presentation of Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing. Emma Thompson is an excellent actress. I would definitely be careful not to show it to children or young teens as there is a fairly explicit sexual scene in it unless you totally fast forward that scene.

Great Movie
A great movie to watch. It's kind of shallow in the plot, but very witty and comical. The acting is excellent, and it's definitely worthy of imagination of Shakespeare himself... as if these people were watched while he penned this play.

For those worried about being able to follow the archaic language, don't worry. The movie has subtitle options and it's by far one of the easiest to grasp!!!

Great!
Wonderful movie! Now to find the Flying Karamazov Brothers' rendition of the Merchant of Venice.

Much Ado about...Nothing
It's as the title implies..nothing this film did nothing for me. None of the actors really seemed to sparkle or stand out (maybe that guy from House but barely). This movie also features Keanu Reeves in one of his worst acting roles since Bram Stoker's Dracula. It seems to me I get Shakespeare's dramas better than I get his comedies.The lines are supposedly witty and funny, funny to who an audience from ol' Willie's century? Maybe, or maybe the performance was too dumbed down to make it either but I digress.
There are some scenes I find totally pointless and dumb. The opening shot of the menfolk returning homes from a battle or something riding thier horses over the hill to some extremely corny triumph music "RIDING HORESES YAH! WOO look how cool we look riding slow-mo on our horses while making constipated faces. And another shot of the men and women getting ready to go greet each other by getting cleaned up, they show [...] shots of both sexes (though I think they linger disturbingly longer on the women) just for the sake of having [...] shots. And be warned the lighting for the mens shot has you seeing a little more than you want to.
Tell me when there's a good Shakespeare adaptation I can rave about Ciao!