I've actually really liked all of the Branagh productions (at least so far).
His "Hamlet" was a masterwork (although, for what it's worth I also liked the abbreviated Mel Gibson version). He just seems able to set the proper tone for the films as a whole and then for the scenes within the films. I know that sounds simplistic but there's no other way I can describe it... "Much Ado About Nothing" was permeated with a sense of whimsy (as is appropriate for Shakespeare's "Three's Company" episode) while even the humorous scenes in Hamlet were shadowed. I suppose it might just come out of the love he has for the work... but whatever it is, he nails it. As an aside I find most Shakespeare rather annoying to read - pretty much any play for that matter. I'm sometimes picked on for that but I always see the script as something not for me to see - it's the performance that should grab me (I think). People don't often read film scripts, after all. Those that do are seen as geeks. But with plays (especially Shakespeare) there's this intellectual elitism present (or seemingly so) that you must enjoy reading the plays. I'm not sure what I'm saying... but there it is. ;^) Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:151062 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
