Rating: 
Summary: Fake
Review: As a big fan of Shakespeare who was disappointed by the remake of Romeo and Juliet, I rented this movie in the hopes of seeing a decent modern version of a play by a great writer. Unfortuantly, I was disappointed yet agin. Irene Jacob over acts in this film so much it unbelievable. Fishburne's acting is fake. None of the actors in this film seem to be giving it their full effort. Every line in the film seems so generic and too modern for this film. Not one for the Shakespeare collection.
Rating: 
Summary: A perfect film adaptation of one of Shakespeares best plays
Review: As with most Shakespeare tragedies, it is difficult to make the magnificent play "Othello" into a film without making it seeming overly dramatic and haughty. This film is neither,and draws you in from the first scene taking place on a dark night in Venice.When a director takes on a Shakespeare play, he has a slight advantage in that he already has an incredible stroy to work with that he does not have to (and should not) alter it at all.
The daunting part is finding actors who can play these characters, who have been read about and loved for centuries.
Laurence Fishburne's Othello is more sympathetic and noble than many would imagine the play's Othello to be. This works out nicely, as the viewer feels for Othello the entire time, and fears his downfall. Fishburne makes a remarkable transition in the film, and his love for Desdemona is very convincing.
Desdemona (Irene Jacob) is the picture of innocence and love. Irene Jacob and Laurence Fishburne have a great on-screen connection.
Kenneth Branagh (who plays Iago) brings yet another eye-catching Shakespeare character to the screen. He plays Iago with restrained anger and hate...you can see it bubbling through his calm demeanor. If you enjoyed this film, you must rent Branagh's other Shakespeare films such as "Much Ado About Nothing" if you are in the mood for a comedy, or "Henry V" for an emotional epic. Rated R for Sexuality and some violence
Rating: 
Summary: Branagh and Fishburne are Superb!
Review: Branagh is the modern day master of Shakespearian plays with yet another outstanding addition to his already abundant collection of Shakespear adaptations. Fishburne is again excellent in this challenging part as he always lives up to my expectations. I can't believe these two guys haven't won an Oscar yet. Definitely a must movie for any of their fans as well as Shakespear lovers abound.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: Branaugh as Iago is amazing. A subtle, devious, multi-faceted character whose "I am not what I am" line perfectly captures his duplicitous nature. Fishburne is powerful and focused as the straight-ahead title character, wise to the world yet surprisingly naive about affairs of the heart, he is easily manipulated by Iago. The scenery in Venice and Cyprus are glorious. The minor characters (Cassio, Roderigo, Emilia) are well cast and acted. This is a great version, cinematography and sound are excellent -- not just the filming of a stage play. You'll watch it over and over.
Rating:
Summary: othello a-ok
Review: Fishburne, Branagh, and the other actors are brilliant-as usual. The action was well presented, and the costumes are very well done. The only thing I didn't like was the few times the director chose to switch around the words, putting things where they're not supposed to be. In school, we are encouraged to read along to something like this, and that is impossible to do so when it changes from the book version. But I shouldn't carp on the negative when there is so much positive. If you like Shakespeare, please buy this movie! If you hate the Bard of Stratford, buy it anyway. You'll be surprised.
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly excellent
Review: For anyone with even the slightest appreciation of Shakespeare this movie is one to watch. The performances are strong without being overbearing. The emphasis always seems right and the flow is almost perfect. Fishburne surprised me as the Moor, his presence and sensitivity were just right. I had previously not given him credit for this much depth as an actor, but his interpretation is excellent. Branagh's tone is light and scheming and in essence the perfect Iago. Jacob's Desdemona was presented with such clarity that one might almost forget they were listening to old English. I had not expected a lot from this movie and came out feeling it to be the among the best screen adaptations of Shakespeare to date.
Rating:
Summary: Required to watch......
Review: For school I was required to watch this since we read the play Othello. I didn't think the movie was that good because some of the acting when it was supposed to be sad I was laughing my head off. Only unless you understand the Shakespeare language well this movie isn't worth it. The movie lacks good acting in my opinon and could of done better especially with Dedsdemona and some of the love scenes which were absolutely pathetic.
Rating: 
Summary: Too much was cut!
Review: Half the lines were cut out, which made this movie not live up to it's potential. Shakespeare's words have been in print for over 400 years and to leave so much out is a shame. Fishburne is superb as Othello, and Branagh excellent as Iago, but if they'd stuck more to the original script, it would have been an incredible movie.
Rating:
Summary: Great Adaptation--Wonderful Cast
Review: I am confused with many of the editorial reviews on the site. This incarnation of Othello is, in my mind, nearly perfect. Sure, it can't encapsulate everything Shakespeare intended, but it stays true to his themes of jealousy, obsession and power, and featured fantastic acting and production values. What can I say about Othello that hasn't already been said in dozens of dissertations already? As one of the "big four" (Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear and Othello) it has remained a benchmark for tragedies for centuries. Some people might scoff at the film's intent to make Shakespeare accessible to the lay viewer, but it truly doesn't hurt the story or interfere with Shakespeare's always delightful prose. In short, the movie outperforms any preconceived notions one might have. The cast is wonderful. A pre-Matrix Lawrence Fishburne stars as the Moor, Irene Jakob as Desdemona, and the infallible Kenneth Branaugh as Iago, Shakespeare's most complex and calculating villain. Often in Shakespeare plays, the villain is more interesting than the hero, and that is certainly true here. Branaugh steals every scene he is in with his coldly malevolent performance, and his asides to the audience are drenched in dread and rage. One can nearly pity the man, he comes off as so tortured. It is perhaps the best performance I've ever seen out of an actor, period. Fishburne was pretty much a nobody when the film was made, but that doesn't stop him from holding his own with Brannaugh and churning out the iambic pentameter. He hits his marks very well and is very convincing when it comes to acting with passion. Irene Jakob is not necessarily the choice I would have made for Desdemona. I would have chosen someone with a more coquettish personality. However, the fact that her loyalty is beyond question actually enhances the story by showing how obviously and irrationally jealous Othello becomes. The production is first-rate. The sets, sounds, costumes, etc. are fantastic. One really gets a you-are-there feeling (as corny as that sounds) by watching the movie. After overstylized (and awful) postmodern Shakespeare interpretations, it is refreshing to see the world as Shakespeare himself envisioned it. Unfortunately, the approach to involve the lay person does have a single weakness, and that is the excessive sexuality. Can we just take it at someone's word that people are deeply in love and leave something to the imagination? Sexing up Shakespeare (no pun intended) in this way just seems purely sensational, the only really problematic aspect in the film. There are those who would call Shakespeare the greatest writer and thinker in history and there are those who would call him a hack. Thankfully, those of us in the first category can enjoy this olive branch to the second. Truly entertaining and important, and with a respect for its source and its audience, this Othello is hard to beat.
Rating:
Summary: Fishbourne was flawless
Review: I found the movie was wonderfully done. Fishbourne's performance was brilliant. I am concerned about those who reviewed the movie and gave all the accolades to Kenneth Branaugh while mentioning the lead role in passing. Isn't the play called Othello? I'm also still wondering how Orson Welles, could be considered to have rendered playing the role of a black character better than a black man. Regardless, I loved the movie and would recommend it to any Shakespeare enthusiast.
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