Powerful

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

The acting in this movie is really good.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The film represented the play quite well because of how they spoke, what they wore and how they managed to include the soliloquies, if it didn't have the soliloquies it is even harder to understand. As much as I think the actors played their roles well and I think it was done well there are moments when it is hard to understand, but it may just be how they spoke back then is a difficult 'language' to understand.

There are several Shakespeare "rom-coms" which are just fun to watch: Twelth Night, As You Like It, and of course, Much Ado About Nothing. Branagh, of course, has been filming Shakespeare intermittently for many years, and this is one of his best merging of excellent camera- work with the Bard's droll humor.Of course, many, including my own family, hear "Shakespeare" and a dark dread passes through their hearts; this is unfortunate, as there are some exquisite adaptations (think Zefferelli's "Romeo and Juliet," Branagh's "Henry," Joss Whedon's 2012 B&W fun "Much Ado About Nothing").There is nothing in this film which is difficult to follow or understand, and there are almost 120 minutes of pure pleasure, not just in the casual and confident manner in which the words are spoken, but in the movements and reactions of the actors. In short summary: two young people fall in love (of course), and then an impediment is thrown into their path: another man spreads a rumor that the woman has been unfaithful, which causes the boy to spurn her at the altar. Of course, a scheme is devised to make things right, and of course such scheme is successful, to the dancing delight of all.Emma Thompson is revelatory as a cynical, smart-talking sarcastic cousin of the betrothed, and Denzel Washington is acceptable, though not noteworthy, in the "best friend" role. I would strongly urge reluctant viewers to jump in with both feet: it is worth the time, and you will (guaranteed) find yourself smiling.

Shakespeare, as it should be interpreted for the big screen. I must admit, this one is my personal favorite. And being a Kenneth Branagh fan, I think this is a real masterpiece. His performance is also remarkable. One could easily assume he was in love during the filming of the movie...:) Some people complain about the "wooden" Keanu, I think he was perfect for this role, as his character suppose to be grim and yes, wooden too - in perfect contrast to the rest. Every single bit of this movie feels right and in place. All the actors just... fit. The easiest and simplest test is to watch it several times. I did and I loved it. Thank you Kenneth Branagh, for the wonderful experience.

Not my favorite Shakespeare play, lacking the rich, playful complexities of some of the Bard's other comedies, I've always felt on a pure plot level this feels more simplistic, ill-logical and forced than most of the works by the greatest writer in the English language.That said, Branagh's adaptation has some sensational elements. The best of all is the relationship between Branagh and Emma Thompson (then married in real life) as Benedick and Beatrice. As they showed in their brief time together in Branagh's "Henry V" the two are both magnificent at making Shakespeare feel human, spontaneous, modern and above all fun. Both create terrific characters – two bull headed intellectual wits who obviously belong together, but who managing to use their words and wit to keep tripping themselves up, like some Shakespearian version of the best of Tracy and Hepburn. The star studded cast all do good work, although the much lesser known Richard Biers is perhaps the most wonderful in his simple, warm human reality as Leonato. The film looks great, filmed on an estate in Tuscany with beautiful grounds and that Tuscan light forming a backdrop too our story. But, in the end, the play's the thing, and much of the other character's stories. well acted as they are, feel too melodramatic and heavy handed for the fun, light feel of the film (Robert Sean Leonard and Kate Beckensale both do excellent work as Claudio and Hero, but their storyline's over-dramatic swings are hard to overcome). The score also feels over-the-top, especially in the more dramatic sections, which in turn adds to the feeling that there's something too uneven in the tone. The comedy (e.g. Michael Keaton's very weird but entertaining Dogberry), is so broad, that it's hard to put it in the same film with the over- sober tone of the story of the young lovers. None-the-less there's a lot to like if one overlooks some unevenness in both story and presentation.