I'm still waiting for the definitive Hamlet movie. Now, as the curtain falls on the 1996 movie season, another Hamlet has opened. Legendary actors John Gielgud, Richard Burton, and Laurence Olivier have taken the lead role. The action transpires in his last moment of awareness as the hero of Shakespeare's most famous play watches his. Hamlet has come to the screen numerous times, in incarnations varying from early, silent versions to grand, color epics. Basically just a filmed stage play, if I recall correctly, so it's visually pretty dull. Hamlet/Horatio begins on an empty sound stage with the death of Hamlet. Doctor Who was really good, and I don't remember much else. Beautiful sets, which is needed if you're going to spend four hours watching a movie, but for some reason we have way too many scenes in that one main hall and I never want to see a checkerboard floor again.Ģ009: I've seen this but don't remember it that well. Leaving everything in means it's just as poorly paced as Shakespeare intended. Attempting proper medieval historical accuracy means nothing makes any damn sense any more (pretty sure that giant broadsword will kill you whether or not it's poisoned)ġ996: Too much stunt casting in the small roles - Billy Crystal and Robin Williams stick out like sore thumbs (can't complain about Charlton Heston though). In 1996 Kenneth Branagh directed and starred in a full length version, alongside Kate Winslet as Ophelia, Julie. Franco Zeffirellis 1990 version stars Mel Gibson as Hamlet, Alan Bates as Claudius, Glenn Close as Gertrude, and Helena Bonham Carter as Ophelia. Often credited with creating a popular movie audience for Shakespeare, Kenn. Really overplays the whole Oedipal angle. Several film versions of Hamlet exist, and they vary greatly. Read 224 reviews from the worlds largest community for readers.

I think they all have flaws, none of them is really satisfactory to me.ġ948: Olivier's foppish performance is way too look at me, I'm acting in Shakespeare! Way too much stuff cut out.ġ990: Mel Gibson isn't that good an actor.