Hamlet
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Movie Reviews of Hamlet
Movie Review: A wonderful primer and more accurate than people think.
Summary: 5 Stars
Gibson as the Melancholy Dane. Originally, Shakespeare's plays were intended for the masses. At the time they were looked at like Adam Sandler movies are today. What's wrong with making his greatest work more accessible to contemporary audiences and possibly setting off a few sparks of interest in folks who may have otherwise been content to spend their $10 on a Happy Gilmore sequel instead?
I was an English major in college and spent a lot of time that first semester `decoding the bard'. It wasn't until my sophomore year that I was able to truly immerse myself in the language and enjoy Shakespeare for what it is. Had Gibson's Hamlet been around I may have been able to get into the waters a bit quicker. His performance was riveting and the rest of the cast was simply amazing. I fell in love with Helena Bonham Carter's Ophelia and nearly cried when she... Wait! Spoiler there. (Yes, Shakespeare can be spoiled for the uninitiated.)
One last thing I would like to point out to those who complained about Mel being far too animated and crazed as Hamlet. Melancholia was considered a medical term in Shakespeare's time. It was a generic term used to describe a variety of psychological maladies, which included mood swings and possibly even schizophrenia. Just because Gibson chose to go in a different direction from more traditional interpretations doesn't make him wrong. He may have been closer to The Bard's vision of the character than Olivier or Richard Burton. (Maybe.)
Regardless, this is at the very least a very entertaining interpretation of a great classic. Now let's talk about why Brannaugh's uncut, super, four hour edition has not been released... What fools these mortals be.
Movie Review: Franco did it again, and he's better than ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
Lord, I thought Romeo & Juliet was good BUT Hamlet is superb. Mel Gibson IS Hamlet. I hate to make this a lesson, but I must. There is always controversey over the characters Horatio and Hamlet...Many people can't seem to grasp why of all people would Hamlet choose to die in the arms of his best friend. That's the point. I mean, think about it just for a second. Hamlet was a madman (Mel Gibson showed that, love ya' Mel!) and ontop of that deullisonal, confused and distraught but Horatio was his squire and as such he stuck by him despite the conqusences. Hamlet had no other companion but his loyal friend, and I think both Mel and Stephen play this out well. Enough of that friend chit chat, let's get down to the movie. God, what can I say? It's perfect! It's following in the footsteps of its ancestor Romeo & Juliet (Watch out for John McEnery as Ocrbis!) I can't say enough about Mel...He can act, he can be crazy (duh, any idiot knows that), he can swordfight, and he can sing (watch Pochonatas!) this and The Patriot have to be Mel's best work (Father: Don't you dare walk out that door! Son: I am not a child! Father: Your my child! I love that from TP) Anyhoo, Helena Boheman Carter is a stand out for her role as Princess Ophelia (Can't wait for Corpse Bride either!). It's almost my bedtime soon so let me sum this up. Don't bash a gay director (teehee, I'm no Les!), don't bash Hamlet and Horatio's realtionship (friends people, friends!), don't bash Mel (cause he's soooooo darn cute), and finally...DON'T BASH THE MOVIE! Watch it, and enjoy the wanders of Shakespere's Hamlet.Movie Review: Been Waitin' for This
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been waiting for this version of HAMLET to hit DVD for years now and I'll be one of the first in line to buy it. I'm also glad to see that they're including some extras.This was the first Shakespeare film to really bring one of his plays to life for me. Stripped down, but accessible. If I talk to anyone about checking out one of the Bard's plays, I always point them this way. Snobs may sniff away, but this is a HAMLET for an audience looking for drama--the same folks who stood in the pit of the Globe 400 years ago.
Mel Gibson is one of those rare actors who brings an emotional intensity to a role that can overwhelm his considerable physical presence. That's definitely on display in HAMLET. His grief and rage and confusion threaten to push him over the edge, even as he plots to expose his father's murderer, Hamlet's own uncle.
The rest of the cast is wonderful: Glenn Close, the late Alan Bates, Helena Bonham Carter. It was a thrill to see the great Shakespearean actor Paul Scofield as the ghost of Hamlet's father.
Hollywood and the Theatre both owe Franco Zefferilli a debt of gratitude: he introduced Shakespeare to new generations of fans (who didn't watch his ROMEO AND JULIET in high school?) and connected the Bard to modern events (casting Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton during Le Scandal in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW was inspired).
If you're curious about watching one of Shakespeare's plays and you never have, try this one.
Movie Review: Still great without the Norwegian subplot.
Summary: 5 Stars
I simply loved this movie, even when I realized the subplot with Fortinbras was effectively eliminated, for I also realized I didn't mind one whit.
With the exception of a scene between Hamlet and Ophelia that contained no dialogue, which was, in my opinion, not well-done at all, Mel Gibson was superb in his portrayal of Hamlet, a far cry from the overblown pomposity of many classical Shakespearean actors whose over-the-top boomings of "to beeeee...or not to beeeee...." completely demolished the introspection required of many of Hamlet's soliloquys. In contrast, Gibson's performance conveyed much more effectively the internal dialogue that both pacified and plagued Hamlet.
Helena Bonham-Carter's performance as Ophelia was exquisite and ranks up there with her performance as Lucy Honeychurch in "A Room With a View". I can't imagine anyone else better suited to play this most tragic character of the entire play.
Alan Bates, Glenn Close, and Nathaniel Parker were perfectly cast, as well. It was his portrayal of Laertes that persuaded me to also seek out Nathaniel Parker's later movie, "Far From the Madding Crowd", which I also strongly recommend.
Beautiful camera work, gorgeous scenery, and acting that didn't seem like the stereotypical Shakespearean overblown pontificating that puts off so many would-be fans of Shakespeare. Heartily recommend this movie.
Movie Review: A great BRIEF history of The Bard's greatest Play
Summary: 5 Stars
There are two main versions that currently work the best in getting a feel for this play, Gibson's & Brannaugh's. Gibson's is very much stripped down to focusing on the three main character's. It does loose a lot by this device, but it does gain considerably in that the viewer doesn't have to shift through all the sub-plots. Brannaugh's, however is far more complete & I would consider it far more the best " study " version of the play. If you've read the play ( & this is the reason I give it 5 stars ), Gibson's version is great beause you can fill in the blanks quite easily & nothing is lost. The Ghost is by far better in Gibson's version ( remember, this is not a ghost in the modern sense, so it's important not to judge by appearences ), & the interplay between them in their first meeting is just amazing. However, the politics of the play suffers badly, in my opinion, becuase many of the characters in the sub-plots are missing, especially Polonius' machinations....however, he certainly DIES better in Gibson's version. I personally like this version & I am impressed with all the actors. If this had been the entire play, I think it would definitely have given Brannaugh's version a run for it's money, but being so stripped down, I feel the actuall story suffers greatly. As one reviewer put it, a CLIFT NOTES verion, with which I must agree.