As You Like It

I recently saw, and reviewed this play performed as Shakespeare may have done it at the restored Globe theater, and I was bowled over by the subtlety and richness of the story. Compared to this play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Taming of the Shrew" are rough sketches on how to do high comedy. While "Midsummer..." has one memorable speech at the end, "As You Like It" seems to have a half dozen, most spoken by the perennial Sad Sack, Jacques, played by the lead actor, Kevin Kline. The only regret here is that Jacques does not have as big a part for Kline as he had in "Midsummer..." I loved the Globe performance, but this filming by Kenneth Branagh is done from an entirely different perspective.It is done in castles and forests and farms and on rivers, not on the bare stage. Even more, it is set in the late 19th century Japan, but almost all the principal characters are English, representing a family living in a trading enclave in Japan, and the family has essentially "gone native". In the extra material interview, Branagh says he moved a few of the scenes around, in order to make the character of Duke Fredrick more prominent. That is fine with me, because Duke Fredrick, and Duke Senior, are played by Brian Blessed, one of my favorite actors from "I, Claudius."A Branagh addition which is evident from the opening scene is business he tacked on to the beginning. I am loathe to say what it is, since it is nothing Shakespeare wrote, so it will be a surprise, even if you know the play. This addition works well, but it does have the feel of an extension added to a house once built.I will speculate that the reason Branagh thought to put it in a Japanese venue is the wrestling scene in the first act. There is nothing quite so imposing as a sumo wrestler, so the difference between lithe Orlando and the huge professional Sumo wrestler makes the outcome even more surprising than in the Globe, however, I think the Globe production had a much better polished choreograph for the wrestling match.Aside from Kline and Blessed, there are two other "old hands", Richard Briers and Alfred Molina, who gets the plum role of the Touchstone, the fool. In general, the voices all sound as if there is more authority behind them than at the Globe. That may be a benefit of multiple takes, which are not possible with a filming of a live performance.As far as the DVD goes, its "extras" are nominal. I don't miss them. Shakespeare's major plays are so well documented that you can hardly miss anything with a well annotated script. If you love Shakespeare, watch both. If budget is a constraint, I recommend the Globe performance.

I haven’t seen any other performance of As You Like It and so I’m obviously not an expert but I think the decision to set Arden in 19th century Japan and cast African-Americans as Orlando and Oliver was a brilliant one. An often pondered modern enigma is how to engage with the founders of Western civilization when so many citizens of the modern West have ancestors who were either excluded from Western civ or are descendant from non-Western peoples.It seems like Branagh has achieved a small but genuine success in answering this question in this production. Yes, Shakespeare may be a dead white male from Elizabethan England but his wit, wisdom and inspiration belong to all cultures. One doesn’t need to find or create an Asian Shakespeare. His message is universal. Hence one can easily stage As You Like It in nineteenth century Japan and lose nothing of the comedy.Well acted, staged and directed I found As You Like It a welcome addition to the Shakespeare oeuvre from Kenneth Branagh. Worth seeing by all devotees of the Bard.

This is my first review at Amazon.com despite being a customer for countless years, but I felt compelled to add my praise to what is undoubtedly a very polarizing version of "As You Like It". Like other reviewers, this is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, for reasons that were not clear even to me until today. And like others, I was initially taken aback by the Japanese setting and conglomeration of styles and cast (I watched this on an airplane and initially thought I had chosen the wrong movie!). But as it went on, I fell in love with the diversity and power of the production. I had just come back from one of the most difficult trips and days of my life, and the theme that shone through most clearly to me in the movie--finding joy even in adversity--was just what I needed. The thought that this modern production of words penned by someone dead for 400 years uplifted me in a way I can hardly describe. It showed that some things--love, poetry, kindness, humor--can transcend all time and space. By the end I felt held in a place of pure joy, which I think is what has always drawn me to the Forest of Arden. If you are a purist, I can't promise you will love this, but if you want to be truly enraptured by the passion and wit of Shakespeare's words I cannot recommend it more highly.

non avevo visto il film in oggetto, veramente ben congegnato e originale la ambientazione in Giappone. il teatro del No è vaeramente atto a veicolare un'opera così teatrale come As...

Le produit a été livré rapidement et le dvd était en parfait état. L'adaptation de Branagh, en plus d'être relativement fidèle au texte original (presque tout y est) est pleine d'audace et de dynamisme (Je ne vous en dis pas plus pour ne pas vous gâcher le surprise). Certains choix peuvent paraître étranges, mais il y a des étrangetés dans le texte de base également (une lionne blanche dans une forêt (Arden) qui se situe soit dans le nord de la France soit quelque part en Angleterre dans l'original !?!) Ici aussi l'ambiance, l'intelligence des répliques et la force des images sont plus importants qu'un réalisme total. Oh, et le choix des acteurs est très bon, à commencer par la magnifique Bryce Dallas Howard, parfaite dans le rôle de Rosalind (mais un poil moins dans celui de Ganymede, car je trouve son costume / maquillage pas assez poussé) et celui, beaucoup plus surprenant, de David Oyelowo pour Orlando. L'audace et l'inventivité se poursuivent jusqu'à la dernière minute, ou le très fameux épilogue est réinterprété de manière métafilmique avec une mise en abîme assez culottée. Bref, une très bonne adaptation d'un grand classique de Shakespeare, que seuls les Shakespeariens réactionnaires et les pointilleux de la première heure pourront ne pas apprécier.

I still don't know why Kenneth Branagh decided to set As You Like It in Mejii Japan, but the decision resulted in a beautiful film to watch and a perfectly believable setting for the action. I don't think i've ever seen a stronger cast in this play, with Bryce Dallas Howard as a particularly beautiful and lovable Rosalind. Brian Blessed plays both the good old Duke and his usurping brother, and that's fine, too. Kevin Kline as Jacques was a slight disappointment, but perhaps i was hoping for too much from him. His performance is really just fine, but not extraordinary. The word that best sums it all up is 'captivating.' If you've never seen the play before, this is a most excellent introduction to the Forest of Arden.

Una delicia esta adaptación de una de las geniales comedias de Shakespeare. Toda ella desde la impresionante BSO de Patrick Doyle, hasta la ambientación, la dirección artística y el vestuario son una maravilla.Hace tiempo que tengo y disfruto de la BSO y estaba deseando ver la película. No me ha defraudado; la dirección y las interpretaciones son geniales y Rosalind, llena la pantalla... recomendada a todos los amantes de Shakespeare.This delightful adaptation of one of the great comedies of Shakespeare. All her from the impressive soundtrack of Patrick Doyle, to the atmosphere, art direction and costumes are wonderful.While I have and enjoy the BSO and was excited to see the movie. He has not let me down; the direction and the performances are great and Rosalind, full screen ... recommended to all lovers of Shakespeare.

This Kenneth Branagh production is a delightfully different version of a familiar Shakespeare play. It is set in 19th Century Japan which works very well. The Japanese costumes and interior settings are attractive and distinctive, while the exterior scenes in the Forest of Arden are just right for the pastoral background to the story.The play comprises a strong cast, including Romola Garai, Alfred Molina and Brian Blessed (who plays both the usurping and the banished Duke). Kevin Kline makes an excellent Jaques. Orlando and his evil brother Oliver are played by black actors, (David Oyelowo and Adrian Lester).The background music and the well-known Songs which are integral to the play add to the enjoyment and are familiar to all, ('Blow, blow, thy winter wind', etc.)So settle down and watch a play with a happy ending in a beautiful setting, with plenty of acerbic wit and occasional clowning to offset the various romances.The whole production has a very light touch, and the final scenes, with the united couples running happily thru' the woods; the triumphant return of the banished Duke and his retinue to the Palace; and the final image of Jaques and the penitent Usurper left behind in the Forest, facing each other calmly and slightly whimsically, strike just the right note.