This is a very enjoyable movie but with other Branagh Shakespeare that I've seen it isn't perfect. There always seems to be "something" lacking. Much Ado was too fluffy - it has some serious themes that Branagh didn't seem to bring out as was concentrating on the "fun" (the BBC version is the best I've seen so far). Henry V was earthy and all the rest of it but for me it was pale beside the Olivier version. This is not because I dislike Branagh's realistic approach, it was good, but because I just don't think Branagh himself can act well enough for the part - but perhaps it is "personal taste". Love's Labour's Lost was a failure, a bit tedious, and weakly acted at times. I watched the Beeb version just after and learned that this actually is a very witty, very clever great play but I wouldn't have known it from the Branagh musical. I haven't seen the Hamlet yet.
Branagh doesn't that I can see act in As You Like It? I was delighted with Kevin Kline's Jaques which he does far better than whoever in the BBC version and he's certainly the star of this play. I was a bit disappointed by Touchstone - wish he had been a more serious character as I think the clowns tend to be - Bolam did it better in the Beeb version. I didn't feel Brian Blessed was right for the banished Duke although OK for the villainous Duke. It was weird that the former looked like a Saxon king whilst the latter was a Japanese equivalent. The Japanese connection was entertaining at times but a bit strange as in spite of the info Branagh has to give at the start to explain the location - there weren't enough Japanese actors to make it work. However, it's a pleasant bit of fantasy with nice acting that should be accessible especially to those who aren't really Shakespeare fans whilst enjoyable if not perfect for those that are!
Branagh doesn't that I can see act in As You Like It? I was delighted with Kevin Kline's Jaques which he does far better than whoever in the BBC version and he's certainly the star of this play. I was a bit disappointed by Touchstone - wish he had been a more serious character as I think the clowns tend to be - Bolam did it better in the Beeb version. I didn't feel Brian Blessed was right for the banished Duke although OK for the villainous Duke. It was weird that the former looked like a Saxon king whilst the latter was a Japanese equivalent. The Japanese connection was entertaining at times but a bit strange as in spite of the info Branagh has to give at the start to explain the location - there weren't enough Japanese actors to make it work. However, it's a pleasant bit of fantasy with nice acting that should be accessible especially to those who aren't really Shakespeare fans whilst enjoyable if not perfect for those that are!