44 reviews
Sales Rank: 29724

Format: Box Set, Pal, Widescreen
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Parental Guidance
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 106
Discs: 1

EAN: 5017239111334
ASIN: B00004CP55

Theatrical Release Date: May 7, 1993
Release Date: October 12, 1994
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: This is brand new and sealed BUT IT IS ONLY 1 CASSETTE OF THE FILM AND NOT THE MAKING OF IT.It is the widescreen and hi-fi stereo version.(V5)

Similar Items:

»	Twelfth Night [1996]
»	KS3 Much Ado About Nothing (Key Stage 3 Success Guides)
»	William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream [1999]
»	Henry V [1989]
»	Love's Labour's Lost [2000]

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.co.uk Review
Much Ado About Nothing is probably the most satisfying, and certainly the liveliest and most charming, of Kenneth Branagh's Shakespeare films. The witty badinage between Branagh and his then-wife Emma Thompson, as Benedick and Beatrice, is as bright and sunny as the golden sunlight that shines on the Tuscan villa where the picture was shot. This production--and don't ask about the plot, just remember the title--is an ebullient celebration of art and artifice, culminating in a joyous dance, and performed at a brisk pace by an all-star cast, including Denzel Washington, Robert Sean Leonard, Keanu Reeves and Michael Keaton. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews: Read 39 more reviews...

2 out of 5 stars

Superb Film - Rotten DVD July 22, 2008
The Kenneth Branagh/Emma Thompson version of 'Much Ado About Nothing' is one of the happiest and most charming films I have ever seen (despite the tense bit in the middle and the tedious nature of the bard's original story).
This DVD is let down -so- badly by the rough and ready transfer, which has the following problems:
1) This is 1.4ish:1 and 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 and contours are evident
3) There isn't even a decent Scene Selection capability, just a small number of whole 'acts', so it is very hard to find your place if you don't see it all 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 all of the above corrected?

I for one would pay full price.

5 out of 5 stars

Stunning adaption that makes you cry with laughter April 14, 2008
I first saw this film when I was eight years old and have known it off by heart ever since. Having also watched and 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 and easy to understand, despite the fact that the original play was first performed in 1598!

I thoroughly recommend that you watch this film over and over again along with Shakespeare's other productions!

4 out of 5 stars

A pretty good attempt at one of Shakespeare's B-list plays April 6, 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, and Ben Elton, creator of the Young Ones) and 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 and Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thomson make the most of the sarcastic interplay available to them. Even the charming Denzel Washington manages not to stumble over his lines.

1 out of 5 stars

Ruined, alas March 20, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

Despite fine performances from an all-star cast, this film is spoiled by mawkish camerawork and a startlingly inappropriate score from the ever-disappointing Patrick Doyle. Almost unwatchable.

3 out of 5 stars

Too pleasant February 6, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

After the success of Branagh's stage version of this play, I was very disappointed with this film and suspect he was pressurised by those putting up the money to make it seems a wonderfully romantic experience from start to finish. Personally I felt that, for the first five minutes, I was bathing in warm honey and then that the enamel was being slowly scraped off all 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 apallingly to Hero, appear likeable when the stain is finally removed from her character; it is not enough to cast a handsome bloke, we must really believe that Claudio's repentance is deep and sincere; that what he has learned about himself means that he will never behave in so shallow and insensitive a way again. The second problem is to make Dogberry and the other members of the Watch appear funny. Branagh seemed to have no idea how to do this and the result was this group cavorted about as if they were young teenagers in the end of term romp. Embarrassing.

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