Much Ado About Nothing

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Summary: The Comedic Genius of William Shakespeare
Review: Much Ado About Nothing is a classic comedy written by William Shakespeare, the greatest playwright of all time. Written over 400 years ago, it is a popular read among many play lovers. The basis of the play remains relevant in today's society. Shakespeare attempts to explore the different types of love: the realistic and the romantic.

He portrays the realistic love through Beatrice and Benedick, who have uniquely equal relationship. They enjoy slandering one another, as well as debating each other. In their heads, they wish nothing more than to bring the other person down, yet in their hearts, they truly and deeply love each other. Their friendship and intelligence was the attraction for the relationship. They have a solid foundation for marriage and love. They are a true representation of what a marriage should be: a union of two equals.

Shakespeare also portrays the romantic love through Hero and Claudio, who are two lovesick puppies with a naive idea about love. They were both attracted to each other through looks. Their love is based on nothing else, which is not a good foundation for marriage. Marriage should be based on personality or intellect. Beauty can fade with time, yet the inner person will remain the same. You should never enter marriage without first knowing the likes and dislikes of your mate. Two people who have nothing in common cannot have a good and healthy relationship. When two people are united through marriage, they must first realize that the other person is equal with them in every way.

I have personally realized through Much Ado About Nothing and other life experiences that marriage is not about the physical attraction, but rather it is a union of two people who love and respect each other. Without mutual respect, a marriage cannot last. A couple must realize that they are two individuals with ideas and feelings. They may disagree on various issues, but no one person is better than the other. In order to make a marriage last, a balance must be found between couple: a balance of ideas and personality traits. Much Ado About Nothing is an important example of love, and I recommend reading this play if any doubts arise about the meaning of true love.

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Summary: A Little Bit About Love
Review: Much Ado About Nothing, written by William Shakespeare, was a well written play. It was, for the most part, very understandable. Although, I personally thought it was a pointless story. It is about two young couples and the different types of love that are experienced in life. It was not a waste of reading, because it kept my full attention, but it literally is much to do about nothing!
Shakespeare's purpose for writing this is to show the readers and the audience who sees the performance the real meaning of love. Love is not always what it seems to be. It is portrayed in this play that real love is 'puppy love'. The type of love that Claudio and Hero have seems to be based on looks and what the people around them think. They are not close personally. It gets to the point that Claudio jumps to the conclusion that Hero is cheating on him, without talking with her first. The real life love that is talked about in this story is the Beatrice and Benedick relationship. They act themselves when they are together, even having disagreements like real people. Although they deny the fact they love each other, by the end of the story they are ready for the world to know.
I've learned from reading this play, the real meaning of love. One should not love for the physical appearance of a person but for their personality and what is inside. As corny as it may sound, it is the truth and what everyone needs to know. People also cannot jump to conclusions. That messed up Claudio and Hero's relationship for a big part of the play. They need to acknowledge the other person and have enough respect for them to approach them before assuming.
I would definitely recommend this play to anyone who loves a good laugh. There are many scenes I did not mention that made me smile and makes the story worthwhile!

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Summary: about nothing except love
Review: Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare is a romantic comedy about two kinds of love. Realistic love and romantic love are both illustrated by two different couples. Benedict and Beatrice illustrate the kind of love that cannot be easily broken, realistic love. Claudio and Hero represent the type of love that is based mainly on appearance and can be hurt very easily. I believe that this is positive reading because it can teach us a whole plethora of life lessons that can still be applied in our daily lives, while at the same time adding a little bit of comedy to get the point across in a humorous way.
I believe that William Shakespeare's purpose for writing this is to show how wacky people can get when love is in the air. Some examples of this premise can be clearly seen through the relationship of Benedict and Beatrice. In the beginning of the story they hate each other because they had some past issues they had. Once Benedict hears a conversation between Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato when they said something about Beatrice loving Benedict he became the most anyone has ever seen. That is the same case with Beatrice she overhears a conversation where someone said Benedict loves Beatrice and now she is love struck as well.
I stated earlier that this book had many Life lessons that one could learn. One of the lessons that I personally learned is that outward appearance is good and everything, but that should not be the basis for a marriage relationship. If looks are the basis for a relationship then that relationship will most likely fail.

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Summary: Much Ado About Theatre
Review: Shakespeare's, Much Ado About Nothing, was cleverly composed and delivered in his Old English style of dialogue. It is excellent reading not only for teachers and parents, but also for students as well. I enjoyed the Dover Thrift edition because it is unabridged from the original text and it is exceedingly important to read versions that are as close to the original as possible. The dialogue is very swift and simple to follow.
The action in this play is the result of "love battles" between the characters, Count Claudio and Hero and Signior Benedick and Lady Beatrice. It all began with the hate that Don John had for his legitimate brother and prince, Don Pedro. In the prince's close group of young lords, were Count Claudio and Signior Benedick. Conrade and Borachio were followers of the wicked, Don John. Don John then proceeds to wreck the one important relationship that his brother tried to promote- that of Claudio and Hero. Count Claudio courts the Lady Hero and gains her affection, but through a turn of events, Don John induces Claudio think that Hero has been a wench with the gentleman, Borachio and a myriad of other men in Messina. Paying Borachio handsomely for wooing the servant, Margaret, supposed to be Hero, Don John takes Claudio and Don Pedro to view it from the lawn of the governor's mansion. Then, disgracing Hero in the midst of their wedding party, Claudio is freed from blame and Hero is forced to be claimed dead for her own good. Signior Benedick, being a very cynical lord, tried to woo the Lady Beatrice (Hero's cousin), but she spurned him each time. With a few playful schemes from Don Pedro's party, Beatrice and Benedick are in love permanently. The story plot descends with the capturing of the men who took place in the cabal against Hero. Count Claudio is then forced to mourn and weep for the "loss" of his true love. Hero's father, Leonato, the governor of Messina, commands Claudio to marry his niece who is an identical copy of his deceased daughter. All this agreed upon, Claudio finds out that Hero is still alive and they are married.
Shakespeare, in writing this play, tried to convey to all audiences that love will make people do very silly, giddy things. Benedick had been "the unmarried man" who would not stand for the thought of marriage let alone take part in it, but at the end, he falls in love and is engaged to Beatrice. In the course of the play, Benedick is made a fool of because of what he does for love. With the course character and disposition that he had, it would not have been expected that he would write frothy poems and sing silly love ballads to "sweet Beatrice". Also, Shakespeare let his audience in to the fact that women were not very trusted in his day. In England at that time, men were allowed to be libertines if they wished, but they were only accustomed to marrying virgins. Such was in the case of Hero and Claudio. The Count accused her of improper behavior, everyone else believed it and ignored her version of the story. No matter what answer she gave to the Count's questions, the group only believed Claudio.
In reading this play, I have learned to place comic relief in my own compositions, whether they be poems, novels or short stories. Dogsberry, a very drunk, very unstable comic relief, stumbles upon grand discoveries as Messina's only constable, without even knowing the treasure he has uncovered. This was the case when he arrested Borachio and Conrade on the charges of slander and being "lying knaves". His mixed up dialogue and incredibly stupid actions, cause the reader to enjoy the plot even more.
I recommend this play greatly to all avid readers because of it's incredible art of language and dialogue, knit together by its creator. This play could also be linked to scripture. God says that Satan is the author of all confusion, just like Don John was in the story. Don John caused everyone to doubt the innocence and stability of everyone else, including themselves. I think this play is phenomenal and that everyone should read it.

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Summary: It was about nothing but I sure liked it
Review: I have really enjoyed this book because it had characters that I found funny and yet still kind of serious. This book had all of the makings of a classic love story and all of the elements of a comedy. The classic love story is displayed by two characters named Claudio (a man) and Hero(a woman). Claudio is a Count and Hero is the only child of a rich land owner Leonato. Hero and Claudio show an image of unrealistic love. Their friends Benedick and Beatrice display realistic love with all of the ups and downs that life has. Even though they were obviously in love they would not let on to each other their feelings for the other one. Instead they showed hatred to each other with querulous tongues. All together this foursome creates the hilarious yet serious love story of the book. As you can see from this review it is truly a story about nothing but also a story about everything because we all struggle with the love in all of its forms in our own life.
If this is your fist time to read Shakespeare this is a good book to start with because it is written in a way that makes it seem like a modern book.

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Summary: A Must See for A Shakespeare Fan!
Review: This movie is one of the favorite of mine! Wonderfully done... costumes, scenery... so rich with color you almost feel you are there in the story. A cast so chock full of my favorite actor and actresses... it's heaven on earth! No one can pass off those Shakespearian lines like Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh! The bantering between those two is priceless... The original script is followed so closely! Wonderful! You have not lived unless you have seen this movie at least 10 times ... :o) So... "sigh no more..." and watch the movie! Enjoy! Oh... just a caution... the reason it is rated PG-13 is because at the very beginning there is a scene of the armies of men and groups of women washing and clothing themselves in which is seem many a bare bottom.. (Only back nudity though... not frontal.. just a caution) ...

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Summary: Much Ado About Something...
Review: A warning: watching this film is apt to take away from your pleasure in watching any other film of a Shakespearian play. Simply, it's beautiful. The cast is a surprising ensemble that works incredibly well together (except, alas, for Keanu Reeves, who despite his best efforts, cannot act - luckily, the role doesn't require that he do so), the cinematography is beautiful, and the joy of watching Shakespeare done by good actors is that you actually understand the wordplay and the plot. Furthermore, there is no one star of the show (perhaps two, if Benedict and Beatrice are counted as the leads), so you don't get as sick of Brannaugh as you usually do in his mind-numbing epics (i.e. Hamlet - wherein near the end you feel like screaming, "There's a knife right there! Get it over with!). Finally, Emma Thompson and Denzel Washington are wonderful; Thompson is so consistently exquisite in all of her movies that Britain should put out an insurance policy, and I am very embarrassed to say that, of all of Washington's excellent films, I love this one the best. I have never seen Shakespeare done better in a movie.

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Summary: Very romantic and joyful Shakespearean comedy adaptation
Review: One of Shakespeare's most popular and romantic comedies is brought to screen and I can't imagine seeing one that was more fun, full of life and happiness, and simply charming than this one. I haven't read the play myself but seeing this makes me want to.

The opening itself cries out heroism and revelry, as the sight of Don Pedro and his men returning on horseback from wars, the women quickly going to their baths within their chambers at the same time the men bathe outside, until both sides greet each other. Don Pedro and his men accept the hospitality of Leonardo for ten days. In the process, Count Claudio is instantly smitten by Hero, Leonato's daughter, while a war of acid wit is played out between Benedick and Beatrice, Hero's cousin. Indeed, when speaking against the merits of love, Beatrice says, "I had rather my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me." To which Benedick replies, "God keep your ladyship still in that mind so some gentlemen or other escaped a predestinated scratched face." "Scratching could not make it worse than for a face such as yours were." And so it goes.

Here, in this idyllic garden-like setting, the protagonists seek to put Cupid out of a job. Don Pedro promises to speak to Hero and Leonardo on Claudio's behest, while those four conspire to match Benedick and Beatrice. The way they do it as amusing and harkens to its theatrical roots even though it is set in a nice outdoor atmosphere. What's just as priceless is the reactions of both targets when they overhear. It all comes down to both sides putting aside their pride, contempt, scorn

However, in every garden of love, there is a serpent, and it is Don John, brother of Don Pedro. He plots with his lackeys Bracchio and Conrad to sabotage the matching of Hero and Claudio, and the way he does it is insidious from the effects.

Shakespeare's lines are well-preserved in this adaptation and as such the witty and memorable lines flow like an effervescent stream. "She speaks poniards and every word stabs. If her breath were as terrible as her terminations, there were no living near her. She would infect to the North Star." That bad, huh?

Kenneth Branagh indeed does go a bit OTT as Benedick, but he is by no means the only strong player in this Shakespearean adaptation. Emma Thompson proves every bit as his sweet Beatrice, but looking at this film is a bittersweet reminder of when they were still together.

It's wonderful to see Richard Briers (Leonato) in a prominent role as such a loving father to Hero. After Good Neighbours ended, it seemed a shame for him to be forgotten to the US in the 1980's, but thanks to Branagh's Shakespearean adaptations, Briers has been resurrected once again.

Brian Blessed is remarkably restrained, sort of, as Leonato's brother Antonio. That girth, beard, and that explosive toothy grin when he laughs is unmistakably Voltar from Flash Gordon or Yrcarnos from Doctor Who-Mindwarp.

I've only seen Robert Sean Leonard in Dead Poets Society, but he does well as Claudio. And after seeing Kate Beckinsale (Hero) before she turned Hollwood is apropos: "Can the world buy such a jewel?"

Michael Keaton's bad teeth, scraggly hair, and deranged performance as Dogberry the constable is either funny or irritating depending on one's mood. And don't forget what kind of animal he is.

The only one who lets down is Keanu Reeves as Don John, who does have an unpleasant character, but can't act his way out of a sonnet even if it was written for him in 50 pt font. His lines are delivered woodenly. "Any bar, any cross, any impediment will be medicinal to me,... DUDE!" Actually, it would be very funny if he said that in the movie a la Ted, but he doesn't, and the only bar, cross, and impediment here is his acting.

A must for romantics of all sorts. Others beware!

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Summary: Minor Shakespeare - Major adaptation
Review: Much Ado... was never one of Shakespeares best plays. But Branagh really knew what it took when he turned it in to this true masterpiece of a movie. I have seen a lot of fancy plays and movies build over Shakespeares plays, but this one is really THE BEST. When I first saw it in the cinema, my expectations were low, I had seen so many mediocre movie adaptions. But I got wiser, I left the cinema in a fabulous mood. I recommended it to almost everybody I knew, and I even went to see it a few more times myself. My friends still thank me for recommending this gem.

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Summary: An excellent adaptation
Review: "Shakespeare", a name universally reviled by high school students and perennial couch potatoes alike. It would seem that adapting the bard to the screen, in this day and age, is a well-nigh impossible task. Many kudos to Kenneth Branagh, then, for pulling off this feat admirably. Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare's best comedies, engaging in its depiction of classic scenes and always intereting for its perpetual wit and wordplay, which, no doubt, greatly influenced later English "drawing room" plays such as Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. The heart of the play, of course, is the constant back-and-forth verbal war between Benedick and Beatrice. This pair is very well-performed by Branagh and his then-wife Emma Thompson, with the latter, in particular, doing an absolutely faultless job with her character. The pair's marriage was then crumbling and soon to splinter altogether; one wonders how much of the bite and bark necessarily depicted in the interactions between their two characters was easily provoked by this circumstance. Thompson delivers Beatrice's ever-witty lines with precision and charm, and Branagh handles the infamous "overhearing" scene with admirably subtle humor. The acting of the entire cast is quite good. Denzel Washington does a great job portraying Prince Don Pedro and the lesser-known Robert Sean Leonard exudes Count Claudio's juxtaposed personality very well. Michael Keaton, surprisingly, pulls off a quite funny Dogberry, master of the malapropism. The only disappointment in this area is the ill-casted Keanu Reeves: never a great actor in the first place, much less a portrayer of Shakespeare, Reeves gives an almost laughably bad Don John. His role is small, however, and his character fairly insignificant, and it does not detract from one's enjoyment of the film. Branagh did an excellent job directing this film and adapting the text to the screen. If you are one who is wary of Shakespeare's infamous Middle English, never fear: the plot will be clear to you, and you will be laughing to boot. A great job was done adapting the language and humor of Elizabethian England to the context of the modern-day film. Of course, much of the punning and subtle wordplay that takes place in the dialogue will be lost on modern audiences; this is not necessarily their fault, as many of the words used are archaic and they are not given the benefit of printed footnotes. The location and setting of the film is beautiful and serves the play well. Branagh, always a Shakespeare purist, has, thankfully, kept the movie very close to the text of the original play, adding only a few small touches of his own (one being the opening of the film, which actually serves to help the audience understand better what is going on, and another being the addition of an obligatory gay scene, apparently a pre-requisiste for any modern-day Shakespeare film), and deleting Benedick's off-color remark about Jews. A great film that will appeal to Shakespeare buffs and open-ended moviegoers alike.