Complaints about the language are balderdash since the best thing about this is the speeches, and the pedigree of the actors who speak them. It falls down slightly as cinematic spectacle - Fiennes' direction is alright, but cuts in a very strange, primetime channel 4 drama sort of way, and ultimately the story doesn't amount to too much.

One of my favorite takes on modern Shakespear.

The adaptation is so lovingly done and so well thought out, I can't say enough about it. Fiennes says he wanted to show that Coriolanus has something to say about today, and he's proven triumphantly right. The decision to shoot in Belgrade is brilliant; Fiennes' and Redgrave are particularly good. Far and away superior the Patrick Stewart's disappointing Macbeth. Fiennes uses Rome's corrupt political system to comment on our own.

Great performances, but I found the attempts at realism and contemporary relevance had the opposite affect, making the film feel more artificial and distancing than absorbing, and the need for guns n' explosions in the beginning kind of makes the ending an anti-climax when it really shouldn't be. Also, the need to have the crowd turn on a dime at a key point is somewhat jarring, but from memory a problem in the original text as well.

this is a good proof of the fact that even a strong screenplay and acting cannot make a good movie on it's own. the missing ingredient is: great pictures!

Great debiut by Fiennes.

It takes a while to find its footing and it does fizzle close to the end. It's the meat of the film where it hits its stride.There are enough scenes of savage masculinity that show the true folly of war and how the scars can turn a man into a monster.

Honestly, it feels like a gimmick. It fails to transcend its inherent anachronism and only retains the relevance of Shakespeare's work at a superficial thematic level. Watch it for the fine acting, most especially by the terrific Redgrave.

Needed translation from the Shakespearean English.

Seeing the renowned cast throw themselves at Shakespeare's pompous dialogue is a pleasure. The modern setting only really jars when tv-news studios and graphic overlays are involved. Unfortunately, the whole thing has the cheap look of a made-for-tv movie and the story itself is fairly uninteresting.

"Though the film's feel is pure Iraq and Afghanistan, Fiennes doesn't push those parallels unduly, and his central performances prove clear, nuanced, and incisive." - Nick Schager

Wondered why this wasn't more popular now I know this dumbass Shakespeare dialogue.

I think/hope we have a new Shakespeare actor/director. This is a really intelligent take on a great play and John Logan deserves a big shout out for his excellent adaptation. All the actors shine and this incredible, rarely performed play really comes to life in the 21st Century. Fiennes is a much better director than I even hoped and brings the same subtlety and levels of nuance to his work behind the camera that he does to his acting work. One of the best Shakespeare films ever made.

The decision to remain faithful to the Shakespearean text creates an incongruous and alienating disconnect from the otherwise straightforward aesthetics. Ralph Fiennes is the greatest offender, delivering with a knowing and pompous exaggeration. Being not only his lead role but also his directorial effort, this misguided conviction infects the entire film. It's a gimmick.

What bothered me was that the update to modern times didn't seem to add anything. I was expecting some cool action scenes or other cinematographic flare that would have benefited from the modern setting, but I think it would have been just as effective as an old Rome drama. That said, the acting was great, the story was powerful, and definitely worth seeing.

as is with all of shakespeare's work language is used to obscure the meaning to a degree that lesser minded high school teachers and snobby literary dilettante's alike hold it up to a light like a cloudy piece of quartz and assume it's diamond. also, as is with the rest of his portfolio, none of the characters have realistic motivations or values. so what have we? a bunch of dolts muttering nonsense waving around firearms. at least there are guns.

Very well done, Mr. Fiennes! A superb modern Shakespeare adaption. First I was wondering if this scenario mixed up with classical Shakespeare dialogues will work..it does. Definitely nothing for the superficial audience so I guess that most viewers will be disappointed at all. The trailer paints a wrong picture in my mind.

Reminded me of the series "Kings", in that it's so committed to the retelling that the characters feel weightless and you end up not caring about them. Fiennes is a good actor and all but he's not as fun to watch as McShane, so this was a very dry experience.

Coriolanus is not for everyone, in fact many people will likely hate it. I can't say I particularly loved the film, but it features many admirable qualities nonetheless. The cinematography is really good. Although it borrows heavily from it's Shakespearean roots, making it hard to understand, the script and solid and the actors deliver it wonderfully. The performances are all top-notch, Vanessa Redgrave in particular is stunning; she steals every scene she's in.

Poetic. The idea of a modern Roman Empire is well thought.

Nicely shot and superbly acted, but the updating doesn't really work in the middle part, in which Coriolanus falls out of favour with (a tiny handful of) Roman citizens.

Only getting any points, because I haven't seen it fully. Don't do this to shakespeare.

/out of 20... Casting/Acting: 16 Writing/Story/Plot: 19 Directing: 15 Cinematography/Sound: 15 Originality/Bonus: 18 Shakespeare finally done right.

I'm sure this movie is actually good and all, but I fucking hate Shakespeare, and I fucking hate modern retellings of Shakespeare. Sorry!

Snoozalicious

I don't think I'll ever tire of the Shakespeare in the present adaptation. Consistently the most ridiculous film concoction.

78.000

Caius Martius Coriolanus: I'll fight with none but thee, for I do hate thee. Tullus Aufidius: We hate alike. Oh, how I wish we would all speak this way! Fiennes is a thunderstorm of thou's, and the surrounding cast does a great job with the shakespearean language.That it lacks a bit in production value (both armies consists of approx 10 dudes) and that it isn't Shakespeares finest work, is another story.

I didn’t know anything about it before watching this adaptation. I found it pretty easy to follow though, even with the Shakespearean language. It’s really beautiful to listen to. I will admit though, that I did tune out a couple of times. Anyway, I thought it was pretty decent. The story was interesting enough. I liked the modern take on it and the setting seemed to work well enough. I thought the cast did a fantastic job. Especially Ralph Fiennes and Vanessa Redgrave. Not amazing. But good.

I'm always sceptical of Shakespeare adaptations set in the modern day. That said, even though "Coriolanus" is small scale, Fiennes pulls off the setting and general ethos really well. It's a great story, well performed & benefits from the brilliance of its source material, even if it can't be considered one of Willie's finest works. It seems that the Shakespearian English has negatively hampered this movies PSI, which is as disappointing as it is mystifying?

i love it! great adoption!

I didn't know this play before and find Shakespearean language heavy going but Fiennes created a good sense of emotion, motivation and intrigue.

cok kotu lannn

Though one of the weakest entries by the Artist Formerly Known as Shakespeare, the dialogue shines when wielded by the likes of Cox and Redgrave. It's sad that so many are put off by the language, but knowing Hollywood, it won't be long before Michael Bay and Hasboro team up to bring us CORIOLANUS 220X: Unleashed, starring Sam Worthington and Vin Diesel--an action-packed sci-fi spectacle in which the fate of future Rome is threatened by time-traveling aliens. Can I haz a Rome? Lol no. Derp...

The amazing acting, from everyone but in particular Redgrave's, and a competent directing make for an enjoyable adaptation, but the anachronistic gimmick falls flat and Martius story lacks any emotional impact.

I really tried to keep my attention, but I couldn't. Tried to watch it on 3 separate occasions, but everytime I had to switch it off. I guess this stuff is not for me.

Updated underrated political Shakespeare drama viewed through G20 riots, Yugoslavian wars, rise of right-wing populism and first-person shooters. Fiennes knows the story he wants to tell and what makes it relevant today, and a good cast led by Vanessa Redgrave. Unfortunately Shakespeare's script calls for it to be more a meditation on the meaning of honour than the problems of defending democracy with undemocratic means, and after a brilliant first hour it drags a bit during the second.

Modernizing the story but keeping the Ye Olde Schoole dialogue intact worked pretty nicely for this one. Even though the characters weren't that interesting and the plot won't really surprise anyone, those classy-as-balls lines kept me interested throughout. Fiennes can be an intense-lookin' badass sometimes.

It finds a way to make the play's rich, dense literary language (just before the climactic battle, one character accuses another of "breaking his oath and resolution like/A twist of rotten silk") sound as terse and urgent as the dialogue in a tightly plotted action thriller.

Two painful hours of Shakespeare. I had moments when I almost quit watching but I endured till end. Yet it was well worth it. Best of all is cast and their performance. Fiennes and Cox stole whole show whilst Butler proved that he can do something serious besides screaming 'this is Sparta'.

Many hated this film for setting the story by Shakespeare in the present day, wanting his language modernized as well. I completely disagree. The language, along with the acting, make the film. I love the wordings and the large performances that they somehow allow for. Without this dynamic, we'd have been left with a pretty standard storyline. Fiennes, Cox and Redgrave are all on fire, chewing on the delicious lines, but James Nesbitt is perhaps my overall favorite.

Close, but no cigar.