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List Price: $26.99 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 1193
Released: August 14, 2007 |
| Our Price: $12.99 |
| Used Price: $12.98 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Hamlet has the kind of power energy and excitement that movies can truly exploit' award-winning actor/director Kenneth Branagh says. In this first-ever full-text film of William Shakespeare's greatest work the power surges through every scene. The timeless tale of murder corruption and revenge is reset in an opulent 19th-century world using sprawling Blenheim Palace as Elsinore and staging much of the action in shimmering-mirrored gold-filled interiors. The excitement of the Bard's words and an adventurous filmmaking style lift the story from its often shadowy ambiance to a fully-lit pageantry and rage. Now presented in an amazing 2-Disc Special Edition.System Requirements:Running Time: 242 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 053939268324 Manufacturer No: C2683
Description of William Shakespeare's Hamlet (Two-Disc Special Edition):
It's the greatest work of literature, but nobody had ever filmed Hamlet uncut--until Kenneth Branagh went about the task for his lavish 1996 production. The result is a sumptuous, star-studded version that scores a palpable hit on its avowed goal: to make the text as clear and urgent as possible. Branagh himself plays the melancholy son of the Danish court, caught in a famous muddle about whether to seek revenge against his royal father's presumed slayer… the man who now sits on the throne and shares the bed of Hamlet's mother. (Or, as the song "That's Entertainment" summarizes the plot: "A ghost and a prince meet / And everyone winds up mincemeat.") As a director, Branagh (who shot the movie in 70 mm.) uses the vast, cold interiors of a vaguely 19th-century manor to gorgeous effect; the story might scurry down this hallway, into that back chamber, or sprawl out into the enormous main room. With its endless collection of mirrors, the place is as big and empty as Citizen Kane's Xanadu.
That all works; what doesn't work is Branagh's tendency to over-direct the big dramatic moments. He indulges in quick cutting and flashbacks as though to fend off the audience's objections to the four-hour running time, and the style sometimes looks like wasted energy. The experienced Shakespearians in the cast come off nicely; Derek Jacobi's Claudius, Richard Briers' Polonius, and Michael Maloney's Laertes are just terrific. Julie Christie is a suitably attractive Gertrude, and Kate Winslet makes the most of Ophelia's mad scenes. Branagh's habit of folding in unexpected American performers is on the mark, too: Billy Crystal is surprisingly good as the Gravedigger, Robin Williams predictably camps up Osric, and Charlton Heston is an inspired choice as the grandiloquent Player King. The biggest irony here is that Branagh himself is not quite spot-on as Hamlet. Of course he speaks the lines beautifully, but Branagh's screen personality radiates certainty and clarity of vision; there's little of the doubt that might make him Hamlet-esque. Still, tremendous credit for fending off slings and arrows to get the movie made. --Robert Horton
William Shakespeare's Hamlet (Two-Disc Special Edition) Reviews:
Perfect Production! 
2009-10-24 - Really this is an amazing version of Hamlet. Someone told me it was boring because it was full text, but I do not agree. When I watched it I was enraptured the entire time. I really loved it. I showed it to my high school senior English class and they loved it too. I recommend this version for school use. Kevin Branagh is amazing! Perfectly casted, amazing set!
Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet
2009-10-02 - I recently used this video with my senior students. I teach in a low economic area of Los Angeles. The students responded well to it and were able to follow the plot except for the one section where the troupe of actors comes to perform at Elsinore. This whole section is a giant actor-manager-playwright in-joke that Shakespeare inserted but which my students were mystified by. Additionally, I had to explain to them that Hamlet is requesting the players to alter the play to look more like the scene of his father's murder.
The costume and staging of the play are subdued and not distracting. The acting...that is the movement of the characters and their facial expressions are well done enough that my students could interpret emotions even without understanding the words.
There are some surprise cameos: Robin Williams, Charleton Heston, etc.
Overall, Branagh has done a great job with the staging of this play and it works well with students.
Hamlet - Kenneth Branagh H
2009-10-01 - This is the Shakespeare everyone should be introduced to. Branagh is faithful, understandable and musical in his delivery. This sacrifices nothing, but tells the gut-wrenching tragedy so every viewer experiences the sorrow and the frustration. The surround-sound of the DVD makes the ghost scenes beyond errie as Hamlet Sr.'s voice washes around the room. He sounds like he is in front of you, then beside, then behind all within one word. Geilgud is good in his version, but he allowed the art to eclipse the story. Branagh has found the balance.
Awe inspiring
2009-09-14 - What a magnificent movie! Reviewer Dennis Littrell already covered almost everything, but I wanted to add my vote of 5 stars to the count. There are other movies that deserve 5 stars on a 5-star scale, but very few like this Hamlet that deserve 100 on a 100-star scale. To differ with Littrell a mite in detail, I think Heston was so perfect as the Actor I wouldn't consider his switching roles with Gielgud, and Branagh's presence/stature amply filled the role of Hamlet. Bravo, Branagh, on direction and portrayal.
AWESOME
2009-07-28 - I love Kenneth Branagh Shakespeare- and this is no exception. Beautifully acted and produced, this is faithful to the play, whilst still allowing some modern interpretation. Unlike many other Shakespeare productions, you can understand what the characters are feeling and saying, even if you don't fully understand the literal meaning of every word, because the emotion and personality are brought forward through excellent acting. So often with Shakespeare you get the impression that the actors are just saying the words- that even they don't understand what they are saying. Not so here.
A fantastic watch- break it up into acts, four hours is long- and let the language just wash over you.
