If you're not used to hearing Shakespeare, reading a synopsis might be helpful.
This would probably be enough:
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/muchado/summary.html
The only thing the summary doesn't make clear is that Don John fought on the losing side of the war. People sometimes miss that.
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Sorry, sometimes my wife forgets that she is not an alien from outer space.
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Yes. The film is incomprehensible unto itself.
shareNot really. The story is pretty straight forward, and the actors convey the proper emotions to sell the story.
Reading the play does make it easier. But newcomers won't be lost.
Straightedge means I'm better than you.
Yes, really, you're just being an apologist for the film. It's incomprehensible. There's no effort put forward to contextualize even the simplest of plot elements in this.
shareI'm not apologizing. It's not my film. It's not my fault you couldn't follow it.
Straightedge means I'm better than you.
Maybe NOT read the play... like someone said. Maybe read the cliff notes...or a synopsis. Or watch Kenneth Brannagh's version. But subtitles might help. Joss Wheedon's version is definitely different. I, personally think he actually "got" the story and the dialog more accurately. And I think he directed some great actors to play the characters wonderfully. At first the "true to Shakespeare" dialog was kind of annoying... but it was done so well, that it became a real joy to watch after a few minutes! Good job, Joss!!
shareI was about to say the same thing. Watch the Kenneth Branagh version to really get the story straight in your mind. Then watch other adaptations. Unless you're used to reading Shakespeare 'straight', it won't help much to read the book.
shareThe thing that doesn't' work for me, with Branagh's version, is the showdown at the first attempt at wedding.
It was so harshly done that it seemed incomprehensible that they could ever forgive and forget, later, in the next scene, when it was supposed to turn all comedy again.
That was what I was so amazed by, with Whedon's version, how deftly he handled that crucial stage of the drama.
Branagh's version was certainly done "large" (big budget), but not with the same subtlety and wit as the Whedon version.