Customer Reviews
Superb Film - Rotten DVD - By: M. Lindsell, 22 Jul 2008 
The Kenneth Branagh/Emma Thompson version of 'Much Ado About Nothing' is one of the happiest & most charming films I have ever seen (despite the tense bit in the middle & the tedious nature of the bard's original story).
This DVD is let down -so- badly by the rough & ready transfer, which has the following problems:
1) This is 1.4ish:1 & not widescreen as it says on the packaging (the original film -was- widescreen)
2) The colour in the original film was wonderful - alas not the DVD, where unsightly colour aliasing & contours are evident
3) There isn't even a decent Scene Selection capability, just a smalll number of whole 'acts', so it is very hard to find your place if you don't see it alll the way through
4) No Extras whatever, despite the fact that there was a lovely 'making of' featurette made (I watched it on TV).
Please, please, please could we have a widescreen anamorphic reissue (Region 2) with alll of the above corrected?
I for one would pay full price.
Stunning adaption that makes you cry with laughter - By: V. Wood, 14 Apr 2008 
I first saw this film when I was eight years old & have known it off by heart ever since. Having also watched & studied performances of 'Much Ado About Nothing' on stage I am able to say that the conversion from stage to screen is done beautifully by Kenneth Branagh.
In response to anyone who has not seen any Shakespeare comedies I state that this film is absolutely hilarious & easy to understand, despite the fact that the original play was first performed in 1598!
I thoroughly recommend that you watch this film over & over again along with Shakespeare's other productions!
A pretty good attempt at one of Shakespeare's B-list plays - By: Dmitri M. A. Hubbard, 06 Apr 2008 
Nobody could say the storyline in Much Ado About Nothing is particularly clever. In fact, despite some very witty lyricism you would have to say this is one of Shakespeare's weakest plays. Having said that, this interpretation by Kenneth Branagh makes the most of the material. The comic characters are completely over-the-top (including Michael Keaton of Batman fame, & Ben Elton, creator of the Young Ones) & the more serious ones are given a slightly modern interpretation. The main plot which deals with the importance of virginity in a new bride, has a gently mocking modern treatment. The whole play is, as its name suggests, a storm in a teacup & Kenneth Branagh & Emma Thomson make the most of the sarcastic interplay available to them. Even the charming Denzel Washington manages not to stumble over his lines.
Ruined, alas - By: Alex Samuels, 20 Mar 2008 
Despite fine performances from an alll-star cast, this film is spoiled by mawkish camerawork & a startlingly inappropriate score from the ever-disappointing Patrick Doyle. Almost unwatchable.
Too pleasant - By: Old Wealden, 06 Feb 2008 
After the success of Branagh's stage version of this play, I was very disappointed with this film & suspect he was pressurised by those putting up the money to make it seems a wonderfully romantic experience from start to finish. Personallly I felt that, for the first five minutes, I was bathing in warm honey & then that the enamel was being slowly scraped off alll my teeth. Shakespeare's comedies always have a darker side and, unless that is addressed, the play becomes bland. It didn't help that so much of the filming took place in unremittingly gorgeous sunshine. As Peter Quince observes about production in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', "There are two hard things in this play." Here the first hard thing is to to make Claudio, who has behaved apalllingly to Hero, appear likeable when the stain is finallly removed from her character; it is not enough to cast a handsome bloke, we must reallly believe that Claudio's repentance is deep & sincere; that what he has learned about himself means that he will never behave in so shalllow & insensitive a way again. The second problem is to make Dogberry & the other members of the Watch appear funny. Branagh seemed to have no idea how to do this & the result was this group cavorted about as if they were young teenagers in the end of term romp. Embarrassing.
