As You Like It (2006)

Director Kenneth Branagh’s decision to transfer Shakespeare’s comedy to 19th century Japan is distracting as it lends nothing to the story itself. Oh sure, the Japanese screens, kimonos and sumo wrestlers lend a certain exoticism to the tale but not much other than that. Even the stunning “Japanese” countryside which plays an important part is actually the English countryside. Rosalind (Bryce Dallas Howard) flees to the forests of Arden with her cousin (Romola Garai) and the court fool (Alfred Molina) to avoid retaliation from her wicked uncle (Brian Blessed) who has usurped the throne from his brother (also Blessed). Masquerading as a boy, she toys with the youth (David Oyelowo), also banished, who loved her as a girl but does not recognize her in her male guise. The rich dialogue often makes no sense given its new and unintended surroundings and with a couple of exceptions (Janet McTeer, Alfred Molina) indifferently acted. Kevin Kline gets to give the famous “All the world’s a stage …” soliloquy. Patrick Doyle’s score is quite lovely though the final musical fling seems stagey.