The Merchant Of Venice (2004)

27 out of 33 people found the following review helpful:

WOW

A Customer from Leeds, England, 13th April, 2005

for those of you who like shakespeare you won't be disappointed, for those of you who don't, think back to Romeo and Juliet. this film has the same impact. the acting is tremendous. the cast is a mixture of famous and infamous people from the theatrical world. the scenes are played tremendously well and it is easy to understand, even for those who would sooner watch the bourne supremecy.

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14 out of 18 people found the following review helpful:

watch this

A Customer from blackpool, 15th April, 2005

if you like shakespeare this is really for you colourful, decadent lush costumes for the visuals, then there is the quality of acting from all the players spoken with understanding and feeling portia truly was outstaning pacino as expected was superb antonia played by jeremy irons was really self piting and played for the sympathy vote with the younger more hip guys like bassiano who surely would dump him as a friend if he really was broke. even if you have never seen this play before this production is very easy to follow and understand.

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9 out of 13 people found the following review helpful:

Its pretty to look at, but its not The Merchant of Venice

skeadugenga from , 3rd October, 2005

This is a stunning film to look at. It also has some brilliant acting, notably the judgement scene which is really tense. But the text has been so hacked about that anyone who has a fondness for Shakespeare, or this specific play would do well to avoid the film. While we get 'The quality of mercy is not strained' intact, one of the most beautiful passages in Shakespeare 'On such a night' has been chopped out completely. And Shylock particularly is not always audible. A real shame.

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4 out of 6 people found the following review helpful:

Atmospheric and accessible!

monique from Kent, England, 19th May, 2005

I watched this for the location and wasn't disappointed. Having visited Venice twice, I found the imagery in this film very evocative of the place, but it went further and set the scene with beautiful lighting and sumptuous costumes that offered a view of the city as it was, at it's height. The text, while not always word-for-word clear was accessible and the story (which I didn't know) shone through. Being Shakespeare, there are always several stories at once, farce (with My family's Kris Marshall showing he can do more than sit-com) tradgedy and drama. Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons were perfectly cast and the scene where Shylock demands his pound of flesh had me gripped in a way other Shakespeare has not. A wonderful entertaining piece with so much to recommend it.

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Shakespeare, Pacino & Irons - what more do you want?!!!

A Customer from Coalville, Leicestershire, 25th August, 2010

Virtually following the Bard's play word for word and part filmed in Venice - this is a dream for any fan of great literature. Historical accuracy abounds, from the abuse of the Jewish people to the bare-breasted prostitues. If you prefer quality over dumbed down then this is the version for you. Your senses will be so overwhelmed by the quality of the production you won't even notice the running time of the movie. I wanted to give the movie a five-star rating but two things held me back. Firstly, Portia. I felt she was overwhelmed by the luminaries around her in the production. Secondly, the ending. We don't get to see Antionio receiving the news that some of his ships made it. It would have just rounded things off nicely for me.

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*** May contain spoilers ***

The Merchant of Venice

A Customer from Pershore, 11th February, 2010

A top period drama written by the Bard. I am not a great fan of William Shakespeare mainly because I find his script difficult to follow at times. However, I had seen the Merchant of Venice on the stage some years previously which helped. I therefore knew the story but, fortunately, quite forgotten the ending other than I knew that Shylock, who was magnificently portrayed by Al Pacino incidently, did not get his 'pound of flesh'. I felt the film was well shot and the period costume of the day very authentic. I was pleased to see that some of the filming was done in Venice which gave the film yet another degree of authenticity. For me, Pacino as Shylock was at his best when trying to have Antonio honour his 'bond'.

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ENJOYED IT!!!!!!

RedICritic from , 3rd February, 2010

From my college days, Shakespeare was not the easiest reading until I took a creative writing course and our teacher helped us understand Othello; now one of my favorites. I wondered if I'd understand the old english of this classic. But since Al Pacino was in this film, I was curious how he would dramitize his part. Bitter, controlling, vendictive - consumed with the money changing greed of a lifetime, Pacino played an old Jewish merchant consumed with retribution from a bitter life and the loss of his daughter who ran from his stifling control. But justice has many diminsions and one must be aware while treading on it's sharp knife's edge. PS: Pay particular attention to the beautiful expressions of love towards the end of the movie. These lines are timeless.

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not as good as i'd hoped

YFCGIRL from , 30th July, 2009

Having studied this at school about 15 years ago and enjoying the experience I thought wow that would be good to watch never seen it before so I guess my expectations where very high having enjoyed much ado & 12th night so I was disappointed although the acting was great and the costumes rich the pace seemed to slow and something about the film just didnt draw me into the play as much as i had hoped & expected however it was till an ok film and others should enjoy I think i've come to the conclusion I prefer to watch Shakespeare as a play live rather than any other form

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