AS YOU LIKE IT

Starring:
Bryce Dallas Howard, Romola Garai, Adrian Lester, David Oyelowo, Alfred Molina, Kevin Kline, Richard Briers and Brian Blessed

Director:
Kenneth Branagh

Running Time:
127 mins

Out to buy on DVD 10/03/08

"Life is a stage"

When Duke Frederick (Blessed) banishes his brother Senior (Blessed) from Court by force, his daughter Celia (Garai) and his niece Rosalind (Howard) join the Duke in the forest of Arden. Before they leave however, Rosalind meets Orlando (Oyelowo) and instantly falls in love but the two are parted and Rosalind is forced to flee, dressed as a boy calling herself Ganymede. Weeks later the two meet again in the forest but Orlando, blinded by love thinks Rosalind is but a Shepard boy and asks his advice on how to gain Rosalind's love.

Modern day adaptations of the great Bard's work have become once again but can Shakespeare still be relevant in these modern times?

The influence of the works of William Shakespeare on modern movies has never been so popular. After the astounding success of Baz Luhman's 'Romeo + Juliet', Shakespeare became box office friendly again and his plays would go on to transferred from their original Tudor or medieval setting into the modern world. 'Richard III' set in World War II, 'Hamlet' set in the Victorian era, 'Love's Labour's Lost' as a musical and 'The Taming of the Shrew' and 'Othello' and 'Twelfth Night' set in a High School, Shakespeare's work is proved to be still contempory with a modern audience but can a slightly updated adaptation of 'As You Like It' resonate with an audience?

Kenneth Branagh is a director and actor who has become associated with adaptations of the Bard's work. After bringing 'Henry V', 'Much Ado About Nothing', 'Love's Labour's Lost' and 'Hamlet' and starring in 'Othello', the British thespian lives and breathes Shakespeare. His fifth adaptation 'As You Like It' continues his love affair with the playwright and as ever he brings the story to a modern audience with great gusto and magnificent vision but the production isn't without its problems however.

Moving the story to 19th Century Japan and the Western colonisation of the country, Branagh brings an Asian backdrop to the Shakespearian story but then never utilises it properly. Uprooting the story and placing it in the country of the rising sun is all well and good but the complete lack of Japanese actors in the production makes the move meaningless. Instead Branagh has gathered together a mix of British and American talent to bring the story to life but because of the underused setting, the film seems flat and un-involving. This is made worse by the use of the original dialogue, which seems out of place in the more modern setting.

These shortcomings take nothing away from the quality of the performances however. While Alfred Molina, Kevin Kline, Adrian Lester, Richard Briers and Brian Blessed are no strangers to the works of the great playwright, it is refreshing to see some young talent given the chance to show that they can join this illustrious party of performers. Bryce Dallas Howard, Romola Garai and David Oyelowo, show a real passion for the material and throw themselves into their roles.

'As You Like It' is another Branagh adaptation that tries to open the Bard up to a modern audience but he doesn't quite make it. While the performances are first rate, it is the unnecessary Japanese setting and the complete use of the original dialogue that will continue to alienate Shakespeare from the audience he wants to introduce it to.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is good and with the film been in black and white, the movie looks fantastic.

BONUS FEATURES

Featurette (3.07 mins)
Director Kenneth Branagh and stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Adrian Lester, David Oyelowo, Alfred Molina and Kevin Kline briefly talk about adapting Shakespeare, the Japanese setting and their characters.

Photo Gallery
View production images from 'As You Like It'

Trailers
Previews of '3:10 to Yuma', 'Earth', 'Pride' and 'Good Night, and Good Luck'

OVERALL

The DVD treatment for 'As You Like It' is very disappointing. The featurette is extremely short and the lack of a commentary track will come as a big disappointment to fans.

DVD


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