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From Amazon.co.uk
If you think stuffy old Shakespeare could be livened up with some ninjas, Kenneth Branagh (Hamlet, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein) has heard your call. Adapter/director Branagh has set the pastoral comedy As You Like It in feudal Japan, where the characters are still British (they live in a community established by Western merchants) but now have reason to dress up in lush Japanese fabrics and engage in sumo wrestling. Due to a feud between two noble brothers, Rosalind (Bryce Dallas Howard, The Village) is banished and ends up disguised as a man in a nearby forest. There she tests the faith of her beloved (and also banished) Orlando (David Oyelowo, MI-5), who can't recognize her because she looks like a Dickensian ragamuffin.
Meanwhile, a variety of other star-crossed lovers romp around the forest and zen gardens, sparring about love and melancholy. Branagh, never a subtle director, takes every opportunity to squeeze in slapstick and action (like the aforementioned ninjas), but he also keeps the language clear and the movie is beautiful to look at. The strong cast includes Kevin Kline (who previously frolicked in a movie adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream), Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2, Frida), Romola Garai (I Capture the Castle, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights), and Adrian Lester (Hustle, Love's Labors Lost). --Bret Fetzer
Product Description
Adaptation of the William Shakespeare play, brought to the big screen by Kenneth Branagh. Rosalind (Bryce Dallas Howard) is the daughter of a duke (Brian Blessed) living among a community of Westerners in 19th century Japan. When her father is suddenly banished, the frightened girl is forced to flee for the Forest of Arden lest she risk being executed by her malevolent uncle. Joining Rosalind on her journey to the forest is her sympathetic cousin Celia (Romola Garai), who helps to pass her incognito kin off as a man in order to avoid detection. Later, Rosalind's clever ruse begins to serve a dual purpose when she determines to use the disguise to gauge the devotion of another exile, Orlando (David Oyelowo).
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 51 people found the following review helpful
By Neil S. Hall
Format:DVD
Kenneth Branagh's film of As You Like It received a pretty cool critical reception as I remember. Amazon reviewers don't appear to be overwhelmed either. I came to it with low expectations but enjoyed it far more than I ever hoped I would.
Yes - the 19th century Japanese setting is a bit of a problem. It is hardy what one expects to encounter in this play. The (Sumo) wrestling scene is frankly comical - I don't think Shakespeare intended us laugh hysterically at this point! More worryingly, Branagh tries to carry the Japanese setting over into the Forest of Arden. The main problem is that this is one of Shakespeare's most English plays. There are more songs in this play than in any other he wrote, though few of them make it into the film. We only get one verse of Under the Greenwood Tree and that is sung to a faux-Japanese arrangement that I, at least, find too incongruous to swallow. A bit like eating sushi with roast potatoes and gravy! But Shakespeare was a music lover - he knew what he was doing. The songs are an integral part of the play's atmosphere - but not here. However, the famous Pretty Ring Time makes it in by the skin of its teeth. The film ends with a very fizzy and up-beat arrangement of the song - an arrangement which (thankfully) owes more to Lionel Bart than to anything from the Far East.
So - that's the bad news. The good news is that the Japanese setting, with its immigrant communities, creates the impression of a "melting-pot" in which all cultures have a right to exist. Thus, the roles of the de Boys brothers are taken by black actors. David Oyelowo's Orlando is fine. And Adrian Lester finds much more in the role of Oliver de Boys that do most actors.... Read more ›
Yes - the 19th century Japanese setting is a bit of a problem. It is hardy what one expects to encounter in this play. The (Sumo) wrestling scene is frankly comical - I don't think Shakespeare intended us laugh hysterically at this point! More worryingly, Branagh tries to carry the Japanese setting over into the Forest of Arden. The main problem is that this is one of Shakespeare's most English plays. There are more songs in this play than in any other he wrote, though few of them make it into the film. We only get one verse of Under the Greenwood Tree and that is sung to a faux-Japanese arrangement that I, at least, find too incongruous to swallow. A bit like eating sushi with roast potatoes and gravy! But Shakespeare was a music lover - he knew what he was doing. The songs are an integral part of the play's atmosphere - but not here. However, the famous Pretty Ring Time makes it in by the skin of its teeth. The film ends with a very fizzy and up-beat arrangement of the song - an arrangement which (thankfully) owes more to Lionel Bart than to anything from the Far East.
So - that's the bad news. The good news is that the Japanese setting, with its immigrant communities, creates the impression of a "melting-pot" in which all cultures have a right to exist. Thus, the roles of the de Boys brothers are taken by black actors. David Oyelowo's Orlando is fine. And Adrian Lester finds much more in the role of Oliver de Boys that do most actors.... Read more ›
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By English Rose
Format:DVD
I should have been warned when I looked at the DVD sleeve, declaring that the play was written by Kenneth Branagh AND William Shakespeare - a bit of hubris that the gods of theatre rightly punished. The conceptual stuff was all over the place; it was supposed to be set amongst the European trading community in 19th Century Japan, but, once Duke Senior had been ousted by Ninja warriors, we went back to 16th Century Europe - well, England, actually, and a Renaissance court. The "Japanese" concept was just used to give some pretty sets, and litter the Forest of Arden with over-large Japanese love-notes.It also required the audience to believe that Orlando would best a sumo wrestler who only needed to sit on him to crush him to death! Oh, and it made for pretty wedding dresses - but what on earth was the point??? It didn't even do what it said on the tin!
The Blessed Brian - sorry, Brian Blessed - was believable as both Dukes, dark and light, but the forest itself was far too pretty, making a nonsense of Orlando's comment "I thought that all things had been savage here." Kew Gardens is probably more dangerous. Amiens' speech about Jaques mourning a wounded stag - a mirror of the usurpation by Duke Frederick of his brother's rights -is completely cut, and in its place, we get the short comment from Duke Senior to Jaques about hunting venison of - "I know you like it not." Worse, when they actually come to eat, the Duke lifts the lid of the pot to prove to Jaques that it is meat-free, turning the melancholy philosopher into a sort of 16th Century vegetarian hippy.... Read more ›
The Blessed Brian - sorry, Brian Blessed - was believable as both Dukes, dark and light, but the forest itself was far too pretty, making a nonsense of Orlando's comment "I thought that all things had been savage here." Kew Gardens is probably more dangerous. Amiens' speech about Jaques mourning a wounded stag - a mirror of the usurpation by Duke Frederick of his brother's rights -is completely cut, and in its place, we get the short comment from Duke Senior to Jaques about hunting venison of - "I know you like it not." Worse, when they actually come to eat, the Duke lifts the lid of the pot to prove to Jaques that it is meat-free, turning the melancholy philosopher into a sort of 16th Century vegetarian hippy.... Read more ›
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By V. Appleton
Format:DVD
I watched 'As You Like It' with a shakespeare novice and fully expected them to hate it. They really enjoyed the film and in fact it opened the world to shakespeare that my friend probably wouldn't have even entertained the idea of before. It is enjoyable and the setting is lovely. I agree with the other reviewer that setting the film in Japan didn't quite sit right. Overall an enjoyable film and a good film for Shakespeare virgins to watch!
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By akaihige
Format:DVD
This is definitely a film for Shakespeare lovers, but not Japan lovers. As always, Kenneth Brannagh does justice to this great bard, but not unfortunately to Japanese culture. It's an interesting concept, setting this play in a trading enclave in feudal Japan, and may have worked if more was made of it, rather than just alluding to it with predictable and ill-informed cultural cliches. Good Shakespearean preformances by some heavy-weight regulars, but not enough to live up to my expectations of the film's use of its supposed Japanese setting.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By LittleJohn1
Format:DVD
Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of As You Like It is set in 19th century Japan. I'm not sure why as I don't believe it adds anything to an understanding of the play but it does allow Ken some interesting visual flourishes in the early scenes. Once the action shifts to the Forest of Arden the Japanese setting become largely irrelevant. As often with Branagh's Shakespearean adaptations he combines English actors with American stars in this case Bryce Dallas Howard and Kevin Kline. Having studied this play for my degree I have to say that it has added greatly to my understanding and enjoyment of the play and Branagh's abbreviated text works very well. At the centre of Branagh's production are two superb performances from Bryce Dallas Howard and Romola Garai. Howard is simply superb as Rosalind and Garai matches her every step of the way as Celia. If you doubt how good Howard is just watch her performance in Act IV Scene 1 especially the moment when she declares that her affection for Orlando 'hath an unknown bottom, like the Bay of Portugal'. Rosalind is perhaps the finest female character that Shakespeare ever created and Howard does her proud.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
something missing
Well the samurai setting is unfathomable for starters - a case of let's plonk ol' shakey in a different period/culture for the hell of it... Read more
Published 2 months ago by D. Sedgwick
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well Done
I rather liked this take on As You Like it. it shows the adaptability of Shakespeare when you can take one of his plays and set it in Japan and it still works. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. Angela H. Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars
Some great performances
The Japan theme is undoubtedly a little odd, but there are some terrific performances here from a fabulous cast.
It's also a rather beautiful film. Read more
It's also a rather beautiful film. Read more
Published 9 months ago by William
5.0 out of 5 stars
A happy rural idyll
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. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mrs. K. M. Hunt
4.0 out of 5 stars
The forest of all possibility
Recently, I have watched a number of Shakespeare plays. I have enjoyed Branagh's productions.
Particularly the amazing Henry V [DVD], when he gives the famous speech at... Read more
Particularly the amazing Henry V [DVD], when he gives the famous speech at... Read more
Published 16 months ago by L. Power
5.0 out of 5 stars
As You Like It
Very impressed - the DVD arrived at my school in India in just over a week after ordering! The children were delighted.
Published 20 months ago by Ebony
4.0 out of 5 stars
As they like it
Every few years, Kenneth Branagh comes out with another Shakespeare movie (plus the Shakespeare-themed "A Midwinter's Tale"). Read more
Published on 1 May 2011 by E. A Solinas
3.0 out of 5 stars
Try it, you might like it
Another Kenneth Branagh Shakespeare adaptation. This time, he makes the sensible decision to concentrate on directing, and leave the comedy to others. Read more
Published on 13 Mar 2011 by Mostly Harmless
4.0 out of 5 stars
Best Adaption yet?
This is really the best version that I have seen of a Shakespearean play turned film yet- and I have seen a few. Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2011 by Alex
2.0 out of 5 stars
easier than reading the book
Good film, helpful to those who struggle with the book as an easier understanding of the plot/story
Published on 7 Oct 2010 by KJ Mansfield
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