Hamlet
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.29 You Save: $10.67 (71%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.23 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Hamlet
Movie Review: Finally, Hamlet situated in its' proper historical milieu
Summary: 5 Stars
When it comes to adaptations of Shakespeare, modern films unfortunately fall into one of two rather broadly defined groups. There are those films which seek to set all of the Bard's plays in his late 16th, early 17th century world, even when the plays do NOT take place in a time contemporary to Shakespeare's own (Julius Caesar, King Lear, and Antony and Cleopatra all take place in times far removed from Shakespeare's own).
The other set of films usually attempt a "modernization" of Shakespeare, setting his plays in our own time, perhaps in an attempt to help us "relate" to an era deemed too distant by some; what usually results is a film that seems awkwardly uncomfortable in both our world and Shakespeare's world-- Romeo and Juliet with DiCaprio, and "O" come to mind here. Although a few films (such as Julie Taymor's beautiful and disturbing "Titus") are quite successful at blending modern aesthetics and world-views with those of the Renaissance.
However, with this version of Hamlet, the viewer is presented with early medieval Denmark... exactly the place and time that Shakespeare had in mind while writing this play. The accuracy of the cultural and historical ambiance is of course to be celebrated (standing in stark contrast to Kenneth Branagh's version which is mysteriously set in a 19th century context, but should be celebrated for presenting the entire play, whereas Gibson's Hamlet is somewhat abridged), but it is only part of what makes this adaptation notable.
The quality of acting and casting seems near perfect in my mind, and indeed the acting shines above everything else in this rendition. Mel Gibson, Ian Holm, Helena Bonham Carter are all superb-- but it is Glenn Close's Queen Gertrude who truly deserves praise.
Close is able to portray the complexities of thought and feeling which motivate much of Gertrude's actions during the play. While reading Hamlet, or viewing a version with a less-than-ideal Gertrude, the character can quite easily become inaccessible and distant; Glenn Close imbues every action with purpose, and sheds some light on one of Shakespeare's arguably most mysterious characters.
Gibson's talent at portraying the tormented Hamlet is an unlooked for surprise, as is his ability to handle Shakespeare's complex language with grace and ease. Sadly, his recent behavior has tarnished his career, but his beautiful portrayal of Hamlet is a wonderful reminder of what a great actor he once was.
Movie Review: Mel IS Hamlet!
Summary: 5 Stars
I own this VHS and use it regularly to teach the play in my college courses. The students watch the Branagh 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. Branagh's Hamlet tends to be steadily caustic in nature and speaks (shouts) all of the lines at mind whirling pace! Gibson's delivery of famous soliloquies is natural and laced with appropriate emotion, which allows the watcher to completely comprehend each scene. Mel Gibson does not play the role of Hamlet - Mel Gibson BECOMES Hamlet! Truly Mr. Gibson's portrayal of the Prince of Denmark is one of the pinnacles his acting career. To those who scoff at the notion of Mad Maxx playing Hamlet, I have a word of advice - "Watch it, and you'll change your mind!"
While this film has been roundly criticized by so-called movie "experts" due to Zeffirelli's cutting and rearranging of certain lines and scenes, it would do those "experts" well to learn a little about Elizabethan theatre. An average Elizabethan audience NEVER saw the entire play all at once as they relied on natural lighting in the theatres of their day. The Elizabethan directors (including the Bard himself) had to eliminate scenes in much the same way as did Zeffirelli. So, upon closer examination, it appears as though Brannaugh's version of Hamlet is the less "correct" version. Don't get me wrong...I still admire Brannaugh's Hamlet. I am just weary of the constant criticism Mel Gibson's portrayal garners.
This version of Hamlet also contains incredible performances by Helena Bonham-Carter as the naive, young Ophelia and Glenn Close as a less than virtuous Gertrude. The scenery and costuming is absolutely captivating! Finally, the portrayal of the ghost, a role which Shakespeare wrote for himself to perform, is carried out brilliantly by Paul Scofield who is forceful yet subdued. We are left to wonder, as would the Elizabethan audience, whether this ghost is pure or a devilish incarnation - which is THE KEY to what drives the plot of the play Hamlet. Buy this dvd if you want to see a stunning version of Hamlet! I know I am (to replace my vhs).
Gibson and Zeffirelli leave Laurence Olivier, Kenneth Branagh, Campbell Scott, and Ethan Hawke in the dust!
Movie Review: A HAMLET for all audiences
Summary: 5 Stars
As a very outspoken theatre and Shakespeare buff, I should favor Kenneth B.'s 1996 version of the tale, what with its full text of the original play and so on. However, I find this version of HAMLET to be far superior to Kenneth's long, overdrawn, melodramatic, and slightly TOO epic version of the story. My main reason for prefering this version is the fact that Mel Gibson is a much more relateable and multi-faceted Hamlet than Kenneth, who's Hamlet goes through out the course of the film whinning, brooding, speaking eloquently, and then...well, whining some more. I was annoyed with his performance, but very refreshed by Mr. Gibson's. He doesn't play the character as a medieval Goth punk boy, he plays him as a relatively normal young man who has been thrust into a situation that is far from average. The supporting cast is also suberb, especially the regal Glenn Close as Queen Gertrude, portraying very boldly the sexual longings of the character, a very rare find in most productions of the play. Helena Bonham Carter turns in the most modern and strong Ophelia that I have ever seen on screen or on stage. Her Ophelia is obedient, yes, but passive, whiny, and weak, she is not. She gives the impression that she is obedient for one reason only: given her sex and the time period, she has no other choice, but she doesn't give in without a fight. Even her insanity is strong rather than weak - she is a very angry Ophelia, and her madness seems to almost be her way of rebeling against what has happened to her and how her fellow characters have abused and walked over her, rubbing in their faces the fact that her decent into madness is the result of their depravity, selfishness, and manipulation. I love Kate Winslet, but her Ophelia in Kenneth's version was too weepy, too whiny, and too converntial. Helena breaks all the barriers with her portrayl. The atmosphere of this film is very fitting for the story: it is a very remote, earthy, dark, dank Denmark, and even though we see many beautiful European locations and sweeping staircases and large royal halls, Zeffereli manages to artfully make his audience feel as Hamlet feels: anxious and claustrophobic.Movie Review: A Tradegy
Summary: 5 Stars
Hamlet is a tradegy and probably derived its inspiration from David, Uriah, and Bethesema - debaucle. Like David, who killed Uriah to cover his sins; so did Claudius kill his beloved brother too take the Queen; the gruesome arrangment less than a three months from the extinquished life of the King. Shakespheare usually includes various and diverse human elements in his dramas and in Hamlet he includes : insanity, moral repulsiviness, and the supernatural. The Ghost of Hamlet's father returns and shockingly reveals that he was poison by his brother; Hamlet re-enacts the murdeous plot through a play before the queen and king; the Act causes the King to lament is dark secret before God; the Queen swears an oath to no more share intimacy with the king.
Tradegy strikes deep in the household with the murder of priest; the same priest who has put Ophelia at odds with Hamlet; Hamlet declares at Ophelia's grave that he loved her more than a hundred brothers could; Shakespeare invention of the insanity or Ophelia was truly magnificent and a scene worthy of any court jurisprudence. Ophelia is the "Macbeth" of strange visions, bizzare party dialogue, and outbursts of pain and rage.
Hamlet combines humour; Hamlet talks fondly to the dead skull of the court Jestor; Hamlet stammers around the court trying to pry a rock away to project upon the king in the court below; Hamlet jests with his opponent during the duel of rights not settled; Hamlet mocks the priest calling him a rat.
The Queen behaves like a youthful female in love; Hamlet tells her that she is not acting seemingly because at her age the temperature of passion should have cooled; the Queen robustly drinks the poison that was designed to kill Hamlet; Hamlet is nicked with the poison of a deadly serpent and dies like an inject mouse; Hamlet tells his friend Horatio that he is dead, a talking dead man. The ghost king told Hamlet not to punish the Queen but to let God exercise judgment and administer justice. Hamlet's has a complex towards his mouth kissing mother; Hamlet is in the pit of strange Greek love mythos.
Movie Review: Champagne for the eyes
Summary: 5 Stars
After seeing Olivier's version of Hamlet, I was interested in seeing this version of Hamlet. Admittedly, Mel Gibson was one-hundred percent of my impulse to see this film. I don't usually follow actors when choosing movies; I trust directors more than I trust actors in choosing movies. But Mel Gibson is an exception to this rule: when was the last time the man made a bad movie?-- I can't even think of one.
With this said, I rented this movie and watched it with growing delight and amazement. As always, Mel was Mel--great. Glen Close--great. The actors and actresses, from Mel Gibson, to Glen Close,to Alan Bates, to Ian Holmes, etc., delivered the complicated verses of the Bard's epic tragedy as though those words were their very own words. And those words, though fast and often ferocious, were nevertheless so clearly defined and nuanced that at no point during the film did I feel any inclination to switch on the subtitles. As Adrian Lynne's Lolita to Stanley Kubrick's Lolita, this version of Hamlet was so well made as to defy every comparison with its former. The gargantuan and rough-hewn sets of Zeffirelli's Hamlet sharply contrasts against the tiny, but well-organized sets of Olivier's Hamlet. Precision, economy, and bourgeoisie ethos marked Olivier's Hamlet; though equally articulate, Mel's Hamlet is scruffy and coarse as if to blend in with the harsh interior and exterior sets of the movie.
Hamlet is a proverb centered around the murder of King Hamlet, Hamlet's father. The murder of King Hamlet at the hands of his brother, Claudius--who subsequently assumes both Hamlet's crown and queen--is the outrage that inflames young Hamlet (Gibson)against his mother's--Glen Close-- new husband. Despite all signs pointing to the affirmative--that Claudius murdered his father, young Hamlet cannot act decisively and his wavering establishes a chain of terrible and tragic incidents.
This Hamlet is a great movie, equally so to Olivier's Hamlet. Mel Gibson's best acting performance. Glen Close, never more beautiful.