Drama > Branagh, Kenneth Drama

Nothing much wrong with this do!

Advantages: Cinematography, stellar cast, faithfulness to original
Disadvantages: Keanu Reeves' wooden villain

...to teach the story of Much Ado About Nothing to traditionally disinterested 13 year -old SATs students. Though, it sticks ridgidly to the original text it does so in a way that makes the text come alive using a combination of excellent acting, high production values and judiciously selected moments of slapstick. The comic moments are genuinely funny and the shoes of the relatively small parts of Dogberry and Verges are filled impressively by the ...
...am sure this joke owes much to Monty Python). Indeed the cast list is of the highest calibre from Shakespearean veterans such as Kenneth Brannagh to Hollywood A-listers in the form of Kate Beckinsdale. Keanu Reeves is typically wooden and Claudio has the charisma of a comatose gnat but there are the only real smudges on this multi-faceted diamond! The story of 'Much Ado' is fairly easy to follow but it gives you a chance to enjoy the word play ...

matt_1509 18.04.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Much Ado About Nothing (DVD)

Henry V. DVD ... 'Cry God for Harry!'

Advantages: Educational, entertaining and historical.
Disadvantages: Iambic pentameter isn't for everyone. Almost no extra features.

Henry V is available on DVD in a 1989 production directed by, and starring, Kenneth Branagh. This is a direct and edgy story about England’s war with France in which the flower of the French aristocracy were slaughtered in the mud of Agincort beneath a rain of arrows from English longbow men. Derek Jacobi is the chorus who introduces the stage on which this ‘muse of fire’ will burn, and it is a modern one with electric lights and props. I’ve seen ...
...who favoured his company in Henry IV Part One, has now rejected his lower connections and assumed the mantle of royal responsibilities. Derek Jacobi appears on the White Cliffs of Dover to introduce a scene in which three English lords, Scroop, Richard, and Grey, are revealed to be traitors. Henry pretends to be on good terms with them, and then sentences them each to death. The working class subplot continues with Bardolph, Nym, Mistress Quickly, ...

FlameDruid 15.01.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Henry V (DVD)

Hamlet film

Advantages: great story, with great actors
Disadvantages: need to know the background of the story and a bit of old english

I think Kenneth brannagh is the best 'Hamlet' since Mel Gibson, he is very funny, interesting and weird in this production. With Kate winslet as his girlfiend, they both make a good pair as they both turn mad...(not to give the plot away) i would recommend this version to anyone who needs to watch 'hamlet' for school use, private use or any other purpose.... Although every version has a different way of portraying hamlet's character, in my opinion, ...
...is in old english, you should know the background of the story and a bit of old english, otherwise it is easy to understand. I believe it is one of Shakespeare's best plays. It also sticks to the original play very well but in alot of ways it is better. Also, nominated for 4 oscars so then you know its good!! ...

pleasedtohelp 21.01.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Hamlet (DVD)

1930 meet Mr William Skakespeare

Advantages: It's funny, good to look at, enjoyable and fun!
Disadvantages: I don't know how acurate it is and if you hate musicals i wouldn't bother watching it.

I have to admit, i didn't buy this DVD, I won it but after watching it for the first time i think i would have bought it anyway. ~ Plot ~ The story evolves around the king and his three friends, who take a vow of no women, booze and little food for three years in order to concentrate on their studies. Then who happens to show up, a French Princess and her three friends (Yes, just so happens that there are equal numbers) and all of the vows go out ...
...there's lots of disguises, trickery and a funny sublet to comment on the main story line but you might just be a little bit shocked when the characters start to sing and dance. Yes, that's right folks, Kenneth's turned it into a musical. ~ Music and Dance ~ The play is set in the glitz and glamour of the 1930's, with the second world war as a more sober back drop, and so the musical numbers reflect this. If you listen to Branagh's commentary on the ...

sarahbethy 17.04.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Love's Labours Lost (DVD)

My name is Jude Law

Advantages: Entertaining, fun to watch, great acting, smart adaptation
Disadvantages: Always compared to previous version or play

I watched this movie on the plane and it was a really entertaining piece of cinematography. The first good sign for me was that movie lasts under 90 mins. This is my rule of thumb for a good movie. If director is not able to tell me the story within an hour and half or he is too sentimental to all the shots they made and is hesitant to cut some it is most likely I would feel a bit uncomfortable. I know it is very amateurish rule of thumb but it works ...
...a remake of the movie from 1972 where main roles were played by Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. Jude Law got an idea to reinvent it and the team around remake did it in a brilliant way. I cannot compare it to the original as I didn't watch it but, according to what I've read, it seems that they escaped common traps and made a sleek, modern movie with universal and eternal themes coming to fore. Every remake draws people into discussions which ...

JohnCheese 15.01.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Sleuth (DVD)