Rating: 
Summary: Much ado about something
Review: This truly is great. Between the beautiful scenery, the wonderful reparte between Branagh and Thompson, and the beauty and acting of Beckinsale et al, I wholehweartedly recommend this production as a wonderful living breathing example of the wit, charm, and elegance of William Shakespeare.
Rating: 
Summary: Fine addition to the canon
Review: Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more. Men were deceivers ever;
One foot on sea, and one on shore, to one thing constant never.
So sigh not so, but let them go and be you blithe and bonny,
Converting all your sounds of woe into hey nonny nonny. This little piece of iambic heptameter (seven beats instead of the usual five)--Shakespeare's version of "turn that frown upside down"--recurs throughout Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. It begins the film--being read by Emma Thompson's Beatrice to the other characters--and afterwards is sung twice (to music by composer Patrick Doyle)--once solo, and at the end by a full chorus. Its simple statement summarizes the action within: there is a conflict after which forgiveness is given, leading to a happy ending. Kenneth Branagh burst on the movie scene in 1989 with his action-packed Henry V. In 1991, he paid homage to Alfred Hitchcock and the film noir genre with Dead Again and he soon followed with Peter's Friends, a fine entry in the "old mates reunion" genre of The Big Chill and Return of the Seacaucus Seven. Then he returned to his "first love," Shakespeare. Much Ado About Nothing is not the best adaptation of the play that I have seen (that has to go to the BBC version from 1984; the acting is perfect all around), but it is the one most focussed on bringing out the fun inherent within. Branagh as director does tend toward the overly dramatic (like the opening scene where the soldiers arrive), but seems to know when to tone things down for the quieter, more romantic scenes. His choice to film in Tuscany and use its wondrous landscape to full effect was ideal. The Hollywood-based members of the cast are surprisingly good. Denzel Washington (Don Pedro) gives a natural line-reading that belies his lack of experience with the bard while accenting his natural ability. Branagh (Benedick) and then-wife Emma Thompson (Beatrice) are obviously comfortable with the language--respectful when the poetry calls for it and more natural when bantering or simply moving the plot along. In fact, the only detriments to this film are Keanu Reeves' scowling turn as Don John and Robert Sean Leonard's overdone Claudio. Leonard is not bad, per se, he's just stage-acting on film--overemoting for the back row while in extreme close-up. Of Michael Keaton as Dogberry, I'll only say that I wonder if he thought he was in Much Ado About Beetlejuice. He's obviously trying very hard, but doesn't fit with the tone and seems as if he has walked in from a different film entirely. Branagh differs from previous Shakespearean film actor/directors (like Laurence Olivier and Orson Welles) in that he presents the plays not as art but as mainstream entertainment. He believes that they should be appreciated by everyone, not just so-called scholars. He succeeds, mostly. His Much Ado About Nothing is by far the most accessible of his Shakespeare films and is a fine addition to the canon.
Rating:
Summary: Bringing Shakespeare to the People
Review: An exuberant Shakespeare movie adaptation courtesy of Kenneth Branagh, who by now knows how to do Shakespeare movie adaptations in his sleep. This is one of the best of the bunch, with an all-start cast featuring thespian talent from both sides of the Atl antic. Filmed on location in Italy we get to drink in the lush Tuscany scenery, even though the set-piece nature of Shakespeare is sometimes comes across as rather undynamic in the motion picture format. Overall this is a highly successful endeavour, wit h Branagh once more proving that Shakespeare â€" in the right hands â€" doesn’t always have to be lofty, intellectual and about as interesting as watching the tide come in.
Much Ado About Nothing is nicely paced and is a good movie for the whole family. Typi cal Sunday afternoon watching, in fact. Denzel Washington, Richard Briers, Emma Thompson, all do their stuff with great results. Extra points for Kenneth Branagh’s acting performance which is inspirational, Michael Keaton who adds a whole new dimension to the conc ept comic relief and Kate Beckinsale who, in addition to being a talented thespian, is just plain drop-dead gorgeous. The only real question mark is Keanu Reeves who looks uncomfortable in his role as the villain.
In all, a good movie, and just right for Christmas viewing.
pÃ*
Rating:
Summary: One of Shakespeare's Wittier Comedies
Review: Much Ado About Nothing emerges as one of the funnier and more clever of Shakespeare's comedies. It is, as Beatrice would say, "as merry as the day is long." I personally enjoyed the wit and cynicism of Benedick and Beatrice in particular as well as the complete and utter chaos concerning Hero and Claudio's proposed union that ensues due to the chicanery and wickedness of the Machiavellian, Iago-like Don John. The thematic dichotomy of marriage and misogyny resonates throughout the entire play. Much Ado shrilly reverberates in today's society as marriage has become a feared and loathed institution by many as we look at our mates with increased scepticism of the other's fidelity with the comical fear of being made a cuckhold and having the infamous horns grown on our heads. Shakespeare makes this serious theme into a witty and enjoyable comedy: one that ranks at #4 on my Comedy list - just below The Comedy of Errors, The Merchant of Venice, & The Taming of the Shrew. A must read for all Shakespeare aficionados - BEFORE seeing the movie.
Rating:
Summary: An airy, elegant delight, except for one performance...
Review: Kenneth Branagh has always had a fondness for stylization and stunt casting in his adaptations of Shakespeare, and one of his casting choices in Much Ado About Nothing is a serious irritant: Keanu Reeves, though looking malevolently handsome in black leather and beard as the villainous Lord John, recites the Bard's verse like a bored eighth-grader who was just smacked in the head with a volleyball. Reeves not only undermines the film as a whole, he also makes his fellow Americans in the cast--Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton and Robert Sean Leonard--look bad by association. This is really too bad, for Washington and Leonard's performances are thoroughly respectable, and Keaton is hilarious as the addled Dogberry. In general, Branagh bathes the production in warm Tuscan light and infuses it with an airy, gracious, warm spirit. He and then-wife Emma Thompson give faultless performances as Benedick and Beatrice, both giving lasting lessons on how to play light comedy and speak Shakespearian verse. Their repartee is so brilliant that it's too bad they didn't have a chance to do Noel Coward before their divorce. Personally, I will always think of Branagh and Thompson as the perfect theatrical couple, on a par with Lunt and Fontanne or Cronyn and Tandy, however dysfunctional their actual marriage.
Rating:
Summary: Much Ado About Keanu Reeves
Review: I agree with many of these reviews that Branaugh did a great job with this work, but many downplay Reeves's role moreso than they should Keaton's. Reeves was playing a very flat character which gave him very little to work with. John the... Brother of Don Pedro (lol) was a self-said villain in this story, and never changed his viewpoint at all. It's not that Reeves couldn't act this character, it's because all of the other characters change at some point and give a better atmosphere to the story. Keaton, however, should have enunciated his malapropisms better. When watching it, I could barely hear his lines, unless he was screaming out that, 'Let it be known, I am an ... lol Sometimes I referred back to the play to know what it was he was mumbling. His portrayal was good, but his delivery? Geh, too soft-spoken. The humor was wasted on that role due to his boring recital of the lines. His lines are devoid of emotion where he should have shown that he was confident in what he said. All in all, it was a good movie. I really enjoyed seeing how Reeves took nothing which would barely be more than anything with the role of Don John and made it into where I enjoyed seeing his evil presence bent on thwarting love. Keaton's only saving grace was to ride away on invisible stallions. It and the proclomation of his lack of integrity were the only parts when I laughed.
Rating:
Summary: Very Nice & Easy To Understand
Review: I recently read Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" during my freshman year in high school. I was surprised at how readable it is (even without Folger's aids on every other page). The story is very easy to follow and delightfully refreshing! There are some interesting themes in the novel including: women's rights (ironically), true love comes in all packages, male chauvanism, and more hidden deep. My teacher thought it was the perfect segway into "Romeo and Juliet" another of Shakespeare's works. Its a great way for one to 'wet their hands' into Shakespeare's, and Folger's edition of the play is marvelous in doing so due to the fact its one of Shakespeare's simpler plays to comprehend and ponder.
Rating:
Summary: A deeper understanding of Shakespeare
Review: I'd always avoided Shakespeare. This movie, which I watched with my daughter when she was in high school, made me understand how powerful Shakespeare is when heard, not just read. The American actors were not as naturally tuned into the play but the overall effect of the story, the setting, the whole cast is wonderful. I love the tapestry of intertwined stories, the humor and the observation--and much Ado about Nothing brings out my feminist side.. Branagh did a marvelous job directing this. And Emma Thompson is a satisfing Beatrice...magical timing.
I have it on tape which my daughter stole when she went off to college... now I have it on DVD, so she did me a favor.
Rating:
Summary: Much Ado About Everything
Review: The intricate characterization that is posessed in each person is intense. Don John, the bastard brother, however turned evil beneath our eyes. At least, to mine. Perhaps there is an imagery I did not pick up on.
Hero was a delicate flower who had a quiet mischieveous maid at hand, Margaret. Her quick evilness was a surprise, and completely expected at the same time. It was unlike Shakespeare (at least in my readings of his plays) to have a maid be a villian. Margaret's character intrigued me the most because of her sincerness toward Hero but, her obvious greed in regards to foil play against Hero.
The quadrant of love that was in the play enveloped me to read more and more. Although Hero and Claudio were to be the hero and heroine, Beatrice and Benedick provided much more fun. B&B play a very well matched up intellegence, humour and humanity in pale comparison to Hero and Claudio (and probably any Shakespearean duo).
Don Pedro, Hero and Claudio do everything in there power to bring B&B,the non willing duo to say 'I Love You' to the alter. The plan ultimately succeeds.
That bastard, Don John was far more interested however, in getting Hero for himself. So in tern, he gets Borachio to set up a 'date' between Hero and an unknown lover for Claudio to 'stumble' upon, with the help of Borachio.
Read this fascinating play where humour meets dark, the beginning before Shakespeare goes tragic. The play fuses both emotions terrifically. The play is great and is open to great conversation.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely wonderful movie!
Review: This is the play that should be taught in high school along side the standard Shakespearian fare. This movie in particular is a very nice interpretation of this play. The costumes are wonderful and the actors (with the exception of the wooden Keanu Reeves) do a marvelous job with their roles. Keep an eye out for Keaton's sceen stealing presense! Branagh and Thompson are simply brilliant as Bennidick and Beatrice. Their word play comes off in a very natural way. If you are looking for a light hearted version of Shakespear I cannot think of a better way to go!
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