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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: Turner Home Entertainment
Salesrank: 9762
Released: January 18, 2000 |
| Our Price: $13.72 |
| Used Price: $12.94 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Shakespeare's classic tragedy of jealousy, deceit, conspiracy, & murder. Othello's great love for Desdemona proves to be too much to bear.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: R
Release Date: 18-JAN-2000
Media Type: DVD
Description of Othello:
Oliver Parker, a stage and film actor (Hellraiser), made his directorial debut with this scaled-back version of Shakespeare's play about the paranoid Moor, Othello (Laurence Fishburne), and his manipulative friend, Iago (Kenneth Branagh). Parker gets the story so lean he starts running a little short on the author's subtext, and if it's possible to overemphasize the banality of Iago's scheming and Othello's malleability, he does so. The director throws out what is universal in the story and makes it all seem merely ordinary, human, and unfortunate, which is the opposite of what watching Shakespeare should be. In the end, it's hard to care what these characters have done to one another. Branagh's Iago is a little flat and unfocused, while Fishburne is excellent as a quieter Othello than we're accustomed to. With Irène Jacob (Red) as Desdemona. --Tom Keogh
Othello Reviews:
Branaugh's Othello Rocks 
2009-06-26 - Without losing the Elizabethean venacular, this version of Othello rocks. The actors have the Shakespearean language roll off their tongues as smoothly as if they were reciting "Old KIng Cole." Perfect for a high school classroom if you can get away with the R-rated fantasy scenes.
English teacher gives this DVD a "D" 
2009-05-22 - I had heard such good things about this production, but upon viewing the DVD I am left wondering why.
Yes, the sets and costumes look great, but if you are planning on showing this movie to your students after reading the play, be warned. It is pretty explicit. There is full frontal nudity and very suggestive sex scenes. I would not feel at all comfortable viewing this with a classroom of teenagers.
Besides the overt sexuality, I found fault with Branagh's rendition of Iago (which many reviewers here seemed to praise). There were too many asides for my liking. It was like watching an episode of "Moonlighting" (If any of you remember that TV show from the 80s) where the character is constantly speaking into the camera. Rather than letting the Audience gain insight into Iago's thoughts (which is what I believe Shakespeare intended in the soliloquies), Branagh's performance became grandstanding IMO ("Look at me. Aren't I clever.").
I know that good productions of "Othello" are rare. I was told that this version was the best one. Sad to say: if this is the best one, just stick to the book. Don't include this DVD for classroom enrichment.
Great Service 
2009-04-27 - Excellent film. My order was exactly what I asked for and it was delivered very fast. Thank you so much for your wonderful service.
othello review by bp walker
2009-04-11 - Excellent performances made available to me. A better brochure or written introduction would have been helpful.
dvd
2009-03-31 - Great movie if you appreciate Shakespeare. It is so fananating to watch. Great Shakespearean workmanship of actors. Thanks for quick and easy sales and delivery. A++++++++++
