Wolff rating: EXCELLENT
Plot summary: Bloody Richard makes a bloody bid for rule of England, as per the Shakespeare original.
Biased, pithy comments: Visually, this is breathtaking, and I don't use the world in its normally overused sense. Looking at this movie is what is so important in this film. The words are old (though nicely edited to fit in with its updated time-slot), the plot is old, but the setting is all-new---set in an England that's post-WWI, which means for lots of cool costumes. McKellan is wonderful as the vicious, swaggering Richard, and the only possible miscast is Bening, who I just didn't buy. Really a must-see for Shakespeare buffs, and certainly accessible Shakespeare for those who aren't. My only huge complaints are that this really isn't a great Shakespeare play, and the editing they did on the script makes Richard's murders seem somewhat unmotivated.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Ian McKellen, Annette Bening, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jim Broadbent.
Directed by: Richard Loncraine