‘Most exhilarating’ Shakespeare adaptation with ‘great cast’ is a must-watch
Fans of the Bard should catch this classic movie
A Shakespeare adaptation with an impressive A-list cast is streaming on Apple TV+ now, after others have enjoyed a period TV series with legendary stars and a Charles Dickens drama.
This movie came out in 1993 at the height of period and historical adaptations across film and television, including Pride and Prejudice, Frankenstein and Dracula captivating audiences.
Many have praised this particular film on IMDb, with one person posting a 10/10 review titled: “Shakespeare at his most exhilarating.”
The user went on to say: “Comedy or not, this is the best Shakespeare film in years and is a candidate for being the best of all time.”
They also described the film as presenting Shakespeare’s work “cleanly and clearly”, making it a “verbal delight”.
A second top-rated review read: “Personally I loved the movie, from the opening credits to the last brilliant tracking shot.” They concluded: “It is a revelation and pure joy.”
A third 10/10 review stated: “Truly Wonderful! A great movie!” The audience member explained: “Brilliant! Kenneth Branagh's version of the timeless William Shakespeare classic is a great rendition of the film, making it accessible to everyone, even those who do not like Shakespeare.”
A fourth top-tier review was titled: “Stunning and witty--Shakespeare at his best.” The user noted: “Kenneth Branagh has done so much for Shakespeare...I've almost become a complete zealot of his work.
“This screen adaptation of one of Shakespeare's lesser-known comedies is absolutely divine.”
Much Ado About Nothing (1993) was written, directed and starred the inimitable Sir Kenneth Branagh, who brought to life Shakespeare’s classic tale of deception and love.
The film followed a couple Hero (played by Kate Beckinsale) and Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard), who are planning to get married, however, Don John (Keanu Reeves) conspired to prevent the nuptials.
At the same time, Benedick (Branagh) and Beatrice (Emma Thompson), who seemingly hated each other, found themselves falling in love after being brought together.
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Along with Thompson and Branagh, the movie also starred Denzel Washington, Richard Briers, Michael Keaton, Imelda Staunton, Brian Blessed, and Ben Elton, among others.
This version of Much Ado Nothing has received particular praise for bringing Shakespeare to a wider audience than ever before.
Yet another top-rated review stated: “Brilliant! And sure to make people interested in Shakespeare once again.”
The user continued: “It's one of the most delightful adaptations of Shakespeare ever made. Personally, I am a great fan of Shakespeare, but it seems that the film must appeal even to those who normally don't like the Bard.
“Kenneth Branagh is at his best both as producer and performer. I admire his imagination and ingenuity, which he applies to his work.”
Someone else wrote: “Apart from Roman Polanski's quite disturbing Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing is possibly the best film adaptation of a Shakespeare play I have ever seen.
“Director Kenneth Branagh managed to make an appealing film, without straying too far from the play. In fact, I think this is his best film as a director.”
Yet another person declared it to be the “Best Shakespeare film ever” and elaborated: “It is perfect in virtually every way, and I think Branagh displays a marvelous [sic] and rare understanding of the textual material.
“This is an immortal classic that I've seen a dozen times and that I am certain I will continue to watch on a regular basis for the rest of my life.”
This was just one of several Shakespeare adaptations that Branagh made, including Henry V, Hamlet, Love’s Labour’s Lost and As You Like It.
Much Ado About Nothing (1993) is streaming on Apple TV+ for a fee now