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comedy  emma thompson  kenneth branagh  shakespeare  shakespeare cinema  

Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing

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Actors: Kenneth Branagh, Kate Beckinsale, Brian Blessed, Richard Briers, Richard Clifford
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Category: DVD

List Price: $14.98
Buy Used: $4.99
You Save: $9.99 (67%)



New (43) Used (33) Collectible (1) from $4.99

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 289 reviews
Sales Rank: 2095

Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 111 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6

MPN: MGMD1002756D
ISBN: 0792854322
UPC: 027616869548
EAN: 9780792854326
ASIN: B0000714BZ

Theatrical Release Date: May 7, 1993
Release Date: January 7, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Similar Items:

  • Henry V
  • Twelfth Night
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream
  • William Shakespeare's Hamlet (Two-Disc Special Edition)
  • Hamlet

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Young lovers hero and claudio soon to wed conspire to get verbal sparring partners and confirmed singles benedick and beatrice to wed as well Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 01/15/2008 Starring: Kenneth Branagh Keanu Reeves Run time: 111 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Kenneth Branagh

Amazon.com
Kenneth Branagh's 1993 production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is a vigorous and imaginative work, cheerful and accessible for everyone. Largely the story of Benedick (Branagh) and Beatrice (Emma Thompson)--adversaries who come to believe each is trying to woo the other--the film veers from arched wit to ironic romps, and the two leads don't mind looking a little silly at times. But the plot is also layered with darker matters that concern the ease with which men and women fall into mutual distrust. Branagh has rounded up a mixed cast of stage vets and Hollywood stars, among the latter Denzel Washington and Michael Keaton, the latter playing a rather seedy, Beetlejuice-like version of Dogberry, king of malapropisms. The DVD release has optional full-screen and widescreen presentations, Dolby sound, optional Spanish and French soundtracks or subtitles.--Tom Keogh


Customer Reviews:   Read 284 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars Love of Language   October 24, 2008
Pat Shand (Freeport, NY USA)
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



5 out of 5 stars DVD Much Ado About Nothing   October 18, 2008
Terry D. Sparks
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.


5 out of 5 stars Great Movie   October 13, 2008
blood_bought_saint (VA, USA)
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!!!



5 out of 5 stars Great!   August 29, 2008
K. Walker (Mesquite, TX United States)
Wonderful movie! Now to find the Flying Karamazov Brothers' rendition of the Merchant of Venice.


1 out of 5 stars Much Ado about...Nothing   August 28, 2008
Garland Griever (New York)
0 out of 3 found this review helpful

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!


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