You have to applaud Branagh's attempt at turning AYLI into a luscious Hollywood version accessible and engaging to modern audiences. It starts off great, the setting being translated to imperial Japan. But other than the introduction making us aware of this and some different scenery to what one would expecting England throughout, that's where the conversion ends really. It is a half hearted conversion. And because of the change in setting I don't think the themes and great relationships come through as well as they should. Overall the performances are sound but not life changing. Alfred Molina is a memorable Touchstone. There aren't many vesions of AYLI available to watch on screen so I would say to watch this but in accompaniment with the 2010 RSC version which is available online.