Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.1 / 5.0

Mel IS Hamlet!:

I own this VHS and use it regularly to teach the play in my college courses. The students watch the Brannaugh version first and then watch Mel Gibson's metamorphosis into the being of Hamlet. The general consensus is that the Gibson version is far superior to the Brannaugh version simply because Mel brings more depth to the character of Hamlet via the juxtaposed emotions of quiet contemplation, stinging wit, and raving anger. Brannaugh's Hamlet tends to be steadily caustic in nature and speaks (shouts) all... more info

Hamlet Lite, perhaps, still, a fine film:

This version of Hamlet has an outstanding cast. Mel Gibson tackles the ultimate anti-action hero Hamlet, so that is a bit surprising. Glenn Close, Paul Scofield, Alan Bates, Ian Holm, Helena Bonham-Carter--if any cast could do Shakespeare, these players should be able to pull it off.

The movie was filmed on location at Elsinore (Helsingor) Castle in Denmark, the actual castle mentioned in Hamlet. The costumes are done in period dyes (carmine, indigo) to lend a genuine feel. There is plenty of action... more info

best film version i've seen (and i've seen them all!):

through my endeavors i've had to read Hamlet 7 times (twice my senior year of high-school). much as i don't like Shakespeare this play is part of my life.

The Olivier version is more accurate to the stage version but the camera techiniques are over-blown and hokey (circling the swords before the duel to see which one is tipped, it made me dizzy). the Branagh version, while creative in it's set up (modernizing it to imerial Russia), and using the entire text, complete with Prince Fortinbras of Norway, is... more info

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