Othello

Working with one of the best Shakespeare sources, this film manages to be creditable to it's source, whilst still appealing to a wider audience. Branagh steals the film from under Fishburne's nose, and there's a talented cast on good form.

I was especially delighted that in this movie Othello himself was dark-skinned and Desdemona didn't have fair hair like almost always. The cast played very well, too, and I liked the script following Shakespeare's original text so faithfully. But I must say some scenes were acted too erotically for such a character as Desdemona. I have always thought she is very modest, and that's why it is not proper at all to show her in bed with Cassio - although it was happening only in Othello's imagination. At first, I was a little surprised even that a love scene between Othello and Desdemona was shown so openly. But as a whole, I liked the film and especially Desdemona crying in the dying scene.

Othello in fast forward ! No softer moments, no time to savor the dialouge and very little real emotion. Branagh is in fine form and lifts the production beyond the mediocre. Fishburne is a good actor but illicits no sympathy for his Othello and Irene Jacob is a total waste as Desdemona she did not even seem to know what she was saying!) Oliver Parker redeemed himself with IDEAL HUSBAND but Othello is a take it or leave it adaptation.

shakespeare's plays have a way of transcending time. The language somehow breaks the time barrier. but perhaps it is the actors who really do that. after the disappointment in Romeo and Juliet (the version with Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio), was hesitant take on another modern rendition of Shakespeare. To my surprise Othello was great! Iago's character was played so well by the Kenneth fellow! even thoough Iago is really evil and despicable, the character was played so well that it does what shakespeare intended for the charater to be, a pleasure for the audience to hate. i have to say that fishburne's performance here was really good as well. i recommend this for shakespeare scholars and lazy students (who refuse to read the book) alike.

I like the full versions of Shakespeare on film and will happily put in the effort for the reward. However I do like the cut versions (Richard III, Romeo & Juliet etc), yes they are for the short of attention MTV generation, but is that a bad thing? It's good to get a new generation into these plays. In this version Brannagh gives an effortless performance (he can do shakespeare in his sleep) and Fishburne is great as the main character tortured by the betrayal and lack of honour of those around him.(although at times i was listening for the "Shaft" theme song - he did play it a bit street-tuff at time!). A cut version yes, but it looks beautiful and is more accesible than other versions.