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Following in the footsteps of the re-do of Romeo and Juliet, this new version of Hamlet is modernised and is set in New York, 2000. The plot is lifted from corrupt Denmark to a Multimedia corporation - 'Corporation Denmark'. The castle Elsinore is replaced by 'Hotel Elsinore' and we join ... Read review
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: Some interesting touches; in general cleverly woven (if sometimes a little obvious) into modern-day Manhattan Disadvantages: Nothing really new here, Hawke is annoyingly self-indulgent
...Juliet, this new version of Hamlet is modernised and is set in New York, 2000. The plot is lifted from corrupt Denmark to a Multimedia corporation - 'Corporation Denmark'. The castle Elsinore is replaced by 'Hotel Elsinore' and we join the action with Hamlet's father and Chairman of the company having just died, leaving the father's brother to clean up the mess, promptly taking over 'Denmark' and marrying Hamlet's mother in the process.
...The possible incestuous obsession Hamlet has for his mother is here (perhaps more as a matter of taste than anything else) interpreted as mere anger, and it also appears that the love she has for him has been dampened, seemingly not caring about Hamlet as much as in other interpretations - it's not until the roof-top climax when she sees Claudius for what he is that she demonstrates any real belief in her son.
Having studied the play for A-Level, I thought I might go along to see if this new version had any interesting new interpretations on the text. I was disappointed to see that it didn't.
Following in the footsteps of the re-do of Romeo and Juliet, this new version of Hamlet is modernised and is set in New York, 2000. The plot is lifted from corrupt Denmark to a Multimedia corporation - 'Corporation Denmark'. The castle Elsinore is replaced by 'Hotel Elsinore' and we join the action with Hamlet's father and Chairman of the company having just died, leaving the father's brother to clean up the mess, promptly taking over 'Denmark' and marrying Hamlet's mother in the process.
As in the original Shakespearian version, Hamlet spends the entire duration in a state of deep mourning and despair at what's been going on -but the unfortunate thing here is that Ethan Hawke (playing the Prince here) fails to make his character anything other than annoying. He seems to be the typcial broody, moody teenager as he mopes about the place with drooping, lank hair and dark glasses indoors. I admit that I felt rather inclined to agree with the other characters when they tell him to pull himself together! Needs a damn good slapping if you ask me. Whereas Hamlet's inability to act is supposed to be a dramatic device for tension, here it becomes a device for frustration and tedium - even though the whole thing has been vastly shortened to a more user-friendly 2 hours.
Having said this version offers nothing new, I must admit that there were a few interesting slants, however. The possible incestuous obsession Hamlet has for his mother is here (perhaps more as a matter of taste than anything else) interpreted as mere anger, and it also appears that the love she has for him has been dampened, seemingly not caring about Hamlet as much as in other interpretations - it's not until the roof-top climax when she sees Claudius for what he is that she demonstrates any real belief in her son.
The use of surveillance cameras from time to time allows an increased sense of the paranoia that Hamlet is experiencing as well as offering a way of delivering soliloquies. The presence of the CCTVs and his narcissistic obsession with video recording things (especially himself) and playing them back to himself endlessly also intensifies the question of whether Hamlet is mad, or merely putting on a show for others.
Other than Hawke, who delivers a creditable if a little irritating performance, there are some excellent actors here 'having a go' at Shakespeare. An American accent speaking the words of Hamlet could have been annoying but strangely it's not here, and the play does manage to blend in quite well into the modern world - albeit with a few contrived examples such as the fencing scene that replaces the climactic duel in the original. In particular, Bill 'Ghost Busters' Murray comes across very well as the smug yet floundering Polonious, managing to play the part of the modern father without diluting from Shakespeare's original inentions.
Overall, this is a vaguely interesting version of Hamlet which is worth seeing if only for the often ingenious use of modern-day appliances and surroundings. However there are better film versions of the play, and I certainly wouldn't recommend you see this if you have not read the original as it would hold no interest as a mere stand-alone.
Advantages: The acting, directing, photography is excellent Disadvantages: It is a bit long, but the handy intermission allows for toilet breaks
PLEASE NOTE: This is a review of the Kenneth Branagh version.
"Hamlet", an elaborate script, needs an elaborate director, and a varied actor and Kenneth Branagh is exactly that. It's obvious that Branagh has wanted to make this film for years because there is so much energy in the movie.
The first ever celluloid version to have every word of the play, it clocks in at about four hours, and is a hard film to take in all at once, but never before ... ...a Shakespeare film. Branagh is excellent as the troubled Dane, Hamlet, Derek Jacobi does a wonderful turn as an almost soft Claudius, Julie Christie has no struggle as Gertrude and a whole host of supporting cast including Richard Briers (Polonius), Kate Winslet (Ophelia), Michael Maloney (Laertes), Nicholas Farrell (Horatio)Timothy Spall (Rosencrantz), Charlton Heston (The Player) and Billy Crystal (Gravedigger) play beautifully.
Being a huge fan ...
Kozinski 05.08.2000 (19.12.2000)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Hamlet (DVD)
Advantages: Hamlet pondering taking action while wandering through the action section of a Blockbusters Disadvantages: Removing the Graveyard scene
...for any film version of Hamlet that does not star Laurance Olivier. I enjoy the '49 best picture for a diferent reason to Branagh's completest version and I enjoyed the 2000 equally - but for a another completly diferent reason.
This latest version of Hamlet is one for people who have seen Hamlet and know the story. Vast swarths of the play have been removed to either bring the film to a cinema friendly 2 hours or to remove anachronistic language. ... ...towards the end, entire scenes are relegated to a few soundbites or a flash of a character. Most evedent during the graveyard scene, it continues during Claudius / Laertes plotting and culmnites big-time with the finale. This does cut out some dificult to manage comedy in the final quarter however newcomers expecting an accessable introduction to the play are likely to be confused and unfortunatly disapointed (as would anyone expecting to hear Shakespeares ...
chickens_chickens_chickens 09.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hamlet (DVD)
Advantages: great cast, well acted, lovely to watch Disadvantages: none
I studied Hamlet for A-level English Literature and really enjoyed it. As part of the course, we got to see it performed live and watched several film versions of it, all of which were very good.
A while after I finished studying, I heard there was a new film version out, starring Australian pretty boy, Mel Gibson, in the title role. I had thoughts of Hollywoodisms, American accents and the ripping apart of the beautiful Shakespearian language - ... ...well by Mel Gibson, proving he can act after all ! Glenn Close is a very good Gertrude, as mad as you would expect and Helena Bonham-Carter is an inspiring Ophelia.
The film is superb - well acted, well directed, beautiful to watch and a very faithful interpretation of the original text. The sort of film that brings Shakespeare to life for A-level students. ...
KarenUK 27.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hamlet (DVD)
Advantages: Moving, Thrilling, Great drama, Great actors. Disadvantages: A long film.
...to match his version of Hamlet alongside that of Mel Gibson. Where Branagh's film is kind to the play and thoughtful, Mel Gibson's is pallid, unexplained and incomplete. Tearing apart a classic text to please cinema-goers' behinds may work for some. But Hamlet needs to be kept as a whole.
Branagh in his production uses a wealth of acting experience to portray his reading of the play. The quality of acting is memorable, and keeps you on the edge ... ...experience, yet do not distract from the soul of the play.
Maybe school days have distracted you away from Shakespeare. But this film is a clever and entertaining way to get into it. You can never beat the original plays, but Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet is a joy to watch. ...
herrybo 12.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hamlet (DVD)
Advantages: Ethan Hawke in amusing hat Disadvantages: it is crap
Hamlet is my favorite Shakespeare play. I know it fairly well. It lives up to the hype, so to speak.
This movie, however, is self- indulgent and badly written, poorly scripted bollocks. It has not one fatal flaw like our hero, but several. The entire movie is a multitude of sins, too voluminous, and some too hideous to cover fully.
First of all, the cast. Julia friggin Stiles (Ophelia) is in every modernised Shakespeare thing ever made. She's a ... ...the entire film. Ethan Hawke's Hamlet is weak and unconvincing, often over- acted. Bill Murray provides some comic relief with his scarily accurate portrayal of pottering rambling old Polonius, but one decent performance does not a movie make. In fact, Murray merely serves to highlight by juxtaposition how terrible the other actors truly are.
Updating Hamlet to a 20/21st century setting (Manhattan) yet retaining the original names and language doesn't ...
heroinchica 17.01.2004 (18.01.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hamlet (DVD)
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Advantages: Excellent adaptation Disadvantages: Shakespeare's always hard to convert
on Hamlet's cue "stop rinign of your hands" - genius!
I was really pleased with the DVD which had a very easy to operate menu with key scenes being depicted by what happens in them. Typical director's commentry etc but no real "bonus" extras. A very good buy and well worth paying for.
www.amazon.co.uk - not available new. New and used from £7.66
www.play.com - not available new New and used from £5.70
www.hmv.co.uk - £8.99 ...
nkemp_99 02.02.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hamlet (DVD)
Advantages: Love the original play Disadvantages: not the best movie translation of the play - can't rival an on stage production!
I should start by saying that i am a huge shakespeare fan and so it would be impossible for any dvd to live up to my expectations... but, this one really wasn't very good at all.
The acting was substandard and i thought some of the translation (such as the theme of the supernatural) was inadequately represented although it plays a large role in the original play.
The 'Mel Gibson' Take on Hamlet - in my opinion - my better represents what i believe shakespeares messages to be - as well as sporting a great cast. Perhaps this lack of familiar faces in this version coupled with the omission of some key points is what i find dissapointing in the movie.
However, having judged the movie against the play - i should say that while there are better 'Hamlet' movies - the story of Hamlet is always a good one so i still enjoyed it despite ...
oscariuss 16.05.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hamlet (DVD)
Advantages: great story, with great actors Disadvantages: need to know the background of the story and a bit of old english
I think Kenneth brannagh is the best 'Hamlet' since Mel Gibson, he is very funny, interesting and weird in this production. With Kate winslet as his girlfiend, they both make a good pair as they both turn mad...(not to give the plot away) i would recommend this version to anyone who needs to watch 'hamlet' for school use, private use or any other purpose.... Although every version has a different way of portraying hamlet's character, in my opinion, Kenneth does it best! The only problem is, as it is in old english, you should know the background of the story and a bit of old english, otherwise it is easy to understand. I believe it is one of Shakespeare's best plays. It also sticks to the original play very well but in alot of ways it is better. Also, nominated for 4 oscars so then you know its good!! ...
pleasedtohelp 21.01.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Hamlet (DVD)
Contains mild violence and references to sex, insanity and suicide
Video Category
Feature Film
Plot
A stage performance of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. The story of Hamlet who is visited by his father's ghost who implores him to kill his murderer. Hamlet becomes torn between avenging his father's death and his reluctance to spill blood.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
METRODOME DISTRIBUTION; SONY DADC, MOMENTUM PICTURES; TECHNICOLOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES, OPTIMUM HOME ENTERTAINMENT; ELEVATION SALES; TECHNICOLOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
Release date
23/02/2004, 26/12/2005
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
MTD 5139, MP 352 D
Barcode
5055002551390, 5060049145525
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Kevin Kline Biography, Filmography
Aspect Ratio
4:3 Full Frame, 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound
Stereo, Dolby Digital
Dubbing Sound
Stereo
Professional reviews
Review
"...Eloquent, moving, thrilling production...that flows with grace from beginning to end..." (New York Times, )
DVD Description
Kevin Kline directs this 1990 New York Shakespeare Festival production of HAMLET, a production that received great critical acclaim during its stage run. This version was specially produced for television, and all the strengths of the production, mainly its fine cast of daring actors, shine through. Kline stars as Hamlet, the tortured prince, along with Dana Ivey as Gertrude and Brian Murray as Claudius, and this trio of principals take on the classic material with a vigour and freshness rarely seen in other, glossier, filmed versions of the play.
![Hamlet [DVD] [1990]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78522760.jpg)
![Hamlet [DVD] [1990]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78497347.jpg)
![Shostakovich: Hamlet [DVD Audio] -](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/89602310.jpg "Shostakovich: Hamlet [DVD Audio] -")
![Walton: Christopher Columbus; Hamlet and Ophelia [SACD]](http://imagesa.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/908/Walton_Christopher_Columbus_Hamlet_and_Ophelia_SACD__6051908.jpg)
