It was over a decade ago that Baz Luhrmann attempted to bring Shakespeare into the modern era so that the kids, as well as old English professor types, could find it interesting. The result of that experiment was Romeo & Juliet; a fairly divisive film to say the least, but one that was saved from mediocrity by having an amazing cast, a great soundtrack and being based on one of the most well known stories of all time.

So here we are in 2012 and Ralph Fiennes is attempting to do the same with a much more obscure Shakespearean play, what will the results be this time around? To sum up; not great. Coriolanus is an interesting enough story; it tells the tale of a General in the Roman imperial army who is loved for his heroic deeds on the battlefield against Rome's enemies, but whose detestation for the common people and his reluctance to hide this fact makes him a figure of hate to the general population.

Things come to a head when after a particularly glorious victory against the barbarian hordes threatening Rome, politicians try to use Coriolanus for their own selfish means (not much has changed since ancient Rome apparently) the result of which leaves him banished from the home that he fought so hard to protect and out for revenge against Rome and her people.

Coriolanus actually does a lot of things well; the acting in this film is of a very high standard and even if the dialogue can get a little confusing( it keeps the original text from the play) it does not require a PhD in English Literature to comprehend what is being said by the characters on screen.

Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter, In Bruges) brings his usual intensity to the lead role and does a good job in holding your attention while Gerard Butler (P.S. I Love You) is on show doing his best 300 impression as Coriolanus's mortal enemy whose only goal in life is to see him dead. The supporting cast is made up of so many actors whose faces you will know but whose names will elude you it seems almost intentional, that guy from Cold Feet even shows up at one stage, and they all do their roles justice.

Special mention must be made for Lubna Azabal, a name it is doubtless nobody has ever heard of but who may in fact be the most annoying actress ever to grace a screen, so great is her annoyance that during a scene where Coriolanus is actually being a bit out of order to Rome's good people she instantly dissolves any pity you had for the common folk with one line of dialogue.