FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Plustown A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Kaydan Christian A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

oOoBarracuda Oliver Parker directed the 1995 version of William Shakespeare's Othello starring Laurence Fishburne in the titular role. This version also boasts the acting talent of Kenneth Branagh as the antagonist. Enraged that he has been passed over for a promotion, Iago develops an elaborate plan to strike revenge against the man who passed him over, Othello. Presenting the danger of isolation as a master manipulator takes advantage of another man, Othello plays out a cautionary tale of power and struggle.Iago (Kenneth Branagh) is furious that his loyalty and civility has been overshadowed by another, and he instantly begins devising an elaborate plot to seek revenge against Othello and bring about his downfall. Becoming obsessed with his master plot, Iago develops a narcissistic addiction to bringing about Othello's downfall.The highlight of this film is the acting of Kenneth Branagh's Iago. He plays the role in a deliberate calculating method, just as the character begs to be played. Laurence Fishburne's turn in the titular role was excellent as well. the action is centered around Fishburne, but he is a secondary character to that of the manipulator Iago. Fishburne plays this distinction well and the film prospers from his lead role.Days ago after my initial viewing of this film, I thought it was wonderful; after taking some time to process it, however, I think it was pretty forgettable. Initially, I thought the wall-breaking of Branagh was a fun way to engage the audience, but otherwise, I wasn't much engaged. As good as Branagh's Iago was, it was played differently than I imagined from the Shakespeare original. He was much closer to the Desdemona (Irène Jacob) character than I ever thought he was in the play. This may be the most faithful adaptation of Othello, but the characterization was different than I ever expected.

Fluke_Skywalker Scheming, seduction passion and betrayal. All of the elements of Shakespeare's classic tragedy are here, but they add up to only a rather tepid melodrama thanks to a bland leading lady, a flat supporting cast and the ham-fisted and uninspired direction of Oliver Parker.Thankfully, there's Lawrence Fishburne and Kenneth Branagh. The former skillfully portrays the Moor's decent from charming hero to jealous madman, while the latter deliciously steals the show as the plotting and treacherous Iago. This may not be the best version of 'Othello' put on film, but it's worth watching thanks to the performances of its two leads.

Christopher Van ... or was Honest Iago actually smirking at the end, as he died?Loved how the Bard's iambic pentameter just rolled of Fishburne's tongue, with excellent clarity and emotion.And how Branagh made Honest Iago seem to celebrate his own evilness...This is a wonderful film.I have often thought that Shakespeare is inherently not film-friendly: He uses words to create pictures in our minds, which creates a perennial battle with the camera, which only knows to show us what we need to think and feel. Every effort to film Shakespeare ought really to be celebrated. It is not an easy thing to do.

C Dallas Laurence Fishburne is awesome in this excellent rendition of Shakespeare's tragedy. Very well done, I definitely enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good traditional enactment of Othello. Of course, like any Shakespearean tragedy you can expect everybody to die at the end (if that ruined the story for you, then you haven't seen enough Shakespeare). However, the framing, colors, and very presence of the actors was well played out, and I give it an A+, five stars.