In both the play and adapted films versions of Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing, I would have to say between the 2005 BBC version and 2012 version, BBC takes the cake. BBC did a great job of capturing an modern, humorous version of Shakespeare's play published in 1623. Joss Whedon, the director of the 2012 version produced his movie on a low budget with known actors. But that budget did not work into his favor because the language, color scheme and setting did not match up with each. The language was completely from the play with no change confused and distracted me.
The modernization of the setting behind the black and white color scheme made the film awkward because it did not add up. The dialogue was from the 1700s but the scenes were obviously from the 2000s which made the film weird and unenjoyable. Other than those downfalls, the relationships through the entire film was almost unbelievable towards the ending when Hero and Claudio was about to get married but he stopped the wedding accusing her of cheating on him. He embarrassed her in front of everyone and called her every name in the book. And of course, Hero became upset and cried, questioning why he was doing this to her and that it was not true. But he don't believe her and left. Then when the truth is clear to everyone, Claudio apologized and Hero accepted and they were a couple again. But in real life, things do not happen like that. If a woman was falsely accused (especially by her soon-to-be-husband), she is going to be angry.
And that is why I like the BBC version better because there was more of an original, realistic feel. Brian Percival, the director, took Shakes play and transformed it into something BBC can be proud of because one, he used his resources (Shakespeare's texts) and two, he put his own spin to it. That spin being in a modern setting of a TV News studio with an slight ancient dialect along with everyday language that worked well because they complimented each other. It still gave it that traditional yet new sense of what Shakespeare had to offer.
With that being said, the small changes and twists Percival did made the film even more amusing because it was believable and not just lovey-dovey, happy ending. This was anger, blood, passion, heartache, jealously, and pain, so much pain. And that is what real life is filled with. Comparing both scenes of Hero and Claudio failed marriage, this version of it is sadder but real. Hero confronted the man who betrayed her, ended up in the hospital and does not end up with Claudio because of the things that he said to her at the alter. She was more than hurt by his words and could not fully forgive him even though he apologized and confessed that he could not live without her.
Truth be told, this ending shocked me because I thought they were going to end up together like in the prior film. Though, there is a tiny change of hope for him getting her back, we do not know if they get together or not, but the movie ended with Beatrice and Don joining hands in marriage which was romantic and funny at the same time. It was a good, non-cliche ending that flowed well between two with their words of, "Remind me, what are we doing here?" to "I absolutely have no idea." Cue laughter.
