To modernize Shakespeare is not always the best guarantee the depth of such a light comedy will be kept and even amplified. In this case the set is a real labyrinth, house and gardens, and we are sort of lost in all these corridors and rooms, bedrooms, kitchen, living rooms that are constantly, on all sides communicating, making any privacy impossible. But we get used to it.The plot is more or less kept but princes, lords, counts and other noble people in modern garb in the modern world with cars and mammoth fridges and all modern comfort and commodities sound slightly folkloric. But here too we get used to it.That was a comedy and still is, especially since the private cops are pathetic when they protest because they are called asses, which is not really an insult since they are nothing but mules for their princes and other noble people. But what about the rest of the plot?Two young women. One wants to get married with a young man who at first is quite willing but some slandering goes on and the young man accuses the young woman of not being a maid any more. Love goes along with a lot of pain, as is well known. So she is announced as being dead after fainting in that tense situation, with the complicity of the local priest who was supposed to perform the wedding ceremony. We already know about that since we all know Romeo and Juliet. But it is a comedy. So everything will have to find some epiphany.The second young woman is in love with a certain Benedict. But Benedict has sworn he will never marry, though that woman attracts him because she professes the idea that she will never marry. Never attracts never and two negatives make a positive. This young woman is the cousin of the first one and Benedict is intelligent enough to swear he is going to accuse and confront the man who she was to marry and who accused her falsely. But no duel will take place because in the meantime the private security mules have been able to discover the plot and to arrest a couple who had been paid to spread the slandering rumor. So everything will end up well and they will be happy ever after. And two weddings in one day! Isn't that an achievement?One of these comedies Shakespeare loved though the modern rewriting and shortening or densifying makes it a little bit easy, light, rather simple in a way. Apart from that lightness it is brilliantly set and performed though maybe slightly stiff as for the main Lord and clownish as for the private security asses. I must say too that the black and white made it nicely archaic and retrospective. Does the black and white add anything to the play? I am not sure but we get used to it.But what is missing will you ask? Just the magic of the Renaissance, the distance in time that is not visible, hence we feel the stiffness of the nobility too much, especially when some are courting the maids, which is not courting but rather philandering. It sounds like "A Sentimental Journey" by Laurence Sterne. Slightly anachronistic. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

Well It lives up to it's title I guess. There is in fact much ado about nothing. It's an adaptation of a Shakespeare play, so I'm not going to complain about things like characters being overly cheesy, characters making rather rash and stupid decisions, and characters monologuing to themselves. That being said, lets talk about the movie. It's just okay, nothing super amazing for anyone who doesn't love Shakespeare. The relationship and betrayal plot lines didn't do that much for me. The only thing really making this worth watching is the writing. Its written in old English and it never ceased to amaze me that someone had to write that. But yeah, besides that not really worth watching and I can't really recommend it.

I love this play, and have seen many versions. I was even in a production in New Jersey.This is an unimpressive version of a great story, and the great moments come from the "writing"as the kids are saying nowadays. The leads may not be terrible actors, but they sure failed to move me here. Even Dogberry was pretty blah and that character can really uplift a failed production. Amongst an uninspiring cast, Don Pedro's character was the best of the bunch. I didn't mind listening to him at all. Even his moments with Claudio and Beatrice were bearable. The music was okay. There were some interesting staging choices, but that doesn't make this worth watching.I really can't get behind this film, and would recommend going to the theatre, or renting the other film versions.

The film was shot in Santa Monica (Los Angeles County, CA, US), in modern dress, with computers, pistols, automobiles, and live cell phone video.Leonato, the governor of Messina, welcomes back Don Pedro and his comrades, Benedick and Claudio, from a successful campaign, and hosts them for a time. Claudio and Leonato's daughter Hero take a liking to one another quickly. Benedick and Leonato's niece Beatrice take a dislike to one another and argue heatedly.Claudio and Hero's marriage is arranged quickly, while friends decide to deceive Benedick and Beatrice into thinking that each is in love with the other. Don Pedro's brother Don John arranges for Borachio and Conrade to bear false witness that Hero was untrue to Claudio. The marriage is stopped during the ceremony. Hero is rejected as an adulteress by her prospective groom, by her father, and by Don Pedro. Beatrice does not believe it. The priest at the ceremony counsels cooling down and investigating.Since this is a comedy, one knows that most of the issues will be resolved with a good dose of wit.-----Scores-----Cinematography: 8/10 Greyscale (the vast majority of pixels are neither black nor white) is not my favourite, and never will be. Despite that, most of this film is beautifully shot; I took off 2 points for camera shake.Sound: 7/10 There is a whole lot of mumbling going on. I was hoping for crisply spoken and perfectly miked dialog.Acting: 7/10 Amy Acker, Sean Maher, Clark Gregg, and Reed Diamond were delightful. I expected a bit more from some of the other actors.Screenplay: 9/10 The modern visuals with a dose of modern musical instruments coupled with the original text was an interesting mix. Perhaps this is not for everyone, but I liked it.