As You Like It Film Review

As You Like It Film Review

As You Like It Film Review                    

Kenneth Branagh’s As You Like It (2006) is nothing like the play witten by William Shakespeare, the movie is unique and it shows a better picture and understanding of the play as the play is meant to be acted out, not read. The film has different setting and culture that somewhat changes the play a bit, but doesn’t really affect the storyline. I like what Branagh did there, because it is really creative, and since Japan used to have all the social classes, it really fits into the society of this Shakepearean play

In the beginning of the film, you can tell from the opening caption that this story takes place in Japan, instead of France. The time period is not in the 16th century, which was in the original play, but in the 19th century. These changes affect the play in many ways including costumes, props, music, and the overal effect, but it shows a different aspect of the shakespearean play with a more modern style. It may be different, but it is more lively and realistic to us as it is more modern.

Since the setting of the movie is in Japan, the style, the music and the costumes are more in the Japanese fashion. Since the characters are like immigrants in Japan, they have their own clothings, usually suits and dresses from the 19th century, and in the festivals or events, they wear traditional Japanese kimono. The music has the magic to let you notice the setting right away. From the start of the movie, there are no trumpets that sound as what they do in the castles, but Japanese music which sucks you right into their society. You get a totally different experience from just reading the book, and feel the excitement from the creativity of setting.

The film is very different from the book, and destroys all your imaginations of the original play. Instead of being in French castles and fighting for kingdoms as in the Shakespearean play Macbeth, Kenneth Branagh put them in Japanese country side and let them...