As You Like It

"Those who are able to get caught up in the drama will have a blast...It's certainly better than those old BBC versions...  Joel Pearce, DVD Verdict
"...attractive, intelligent...Branagh's direction is fluent, surefooted...and Howard is very good.  Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Editor's Note Alfred Molina and Kevin Kline take significant roles in this adaptation of William Shakespeare's AS YOU LIKE IT. The production is helmed by Kenneth Branagh, who continues to bring the Bard to the big screen after his successes with MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, HAMLET, and HENRY V.

	Adrian Lester
	Alfred Molina
	Bryce Dallas Howard
	Kevin Kline
	Christian Andersson - Art Director
	Kenneth Branagh - Director
	Kenneth Branagh - Screenplay
	Kenneth Branagh - Executive Producer
	Neil Farrell - Editor
	Patrick Doyle - Original Music By
	Roger Lanser - Cinematographer
	Simon Moseley - Producer
	Tim Harvey - Production Designer
	William Shakespeare - Based On Play By

Ultimate DVD
4 stars out of 5 -- "Branagh delivers an entertaining and accessible adaptation of the Bard....Howard is endearing as Rosalind..." 11/23/2007 p.110

Variety 8 of 10
Kenneth Branagh's fifth foray into Shakespeare alights in the sheltered gardens of HBO, where the whimsical, romantic "As You Like It" seems better suited than, say, withstanding the challenge of a theatrical release. Filled with some of the bard's more memorable lines but also one of his most convoluted plots, this latest adaptation takes notable liberties -- beginning with situating the action in 19th-century Japan -- not all of which work. Still, it's a handsomely mounted production that will surely be welcomed by English majors the world over, especially those who would rather watch their homework than read it...Assembling a top-notch cast, Branagh opens with a haiku that helps explain the location shift, centering on a community of European traders residing in Japan...If there's a weak link in the sprawling ensemble, it's Howard. Rosalind is a tricky role given her gender-bending fits of exasperation, jubilation and cunning, and at times those swings simply feel beyond her...This adaptation nevertheless represents an ideal HBO project -- offering major stars an opportunity to engage in classy work that would likely possess marginal appeal if forced to meet the ruthless demands of weekend box office or network ratings. - Brian Lowry