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I always had trouble understanding Shakespeare and needed to understand what this was about. This DVD does all that for me. Brannagh's film is entertaining, full set production, and marvellous if you have trouble with old Will. Would thoroughly recommend this 4 hour film.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
I was staggered to find that this stunning version of Hamlet did not make back what it cost to make at the box office. The best way to understand Shakespeare is to see it enacted by a brilliant cast spanning both sides of Atlantic. The fact that the film is 4 hours in length possibly put a lot of people off. It is the full text of the play, which is often cut because of that fact. This is not a letter boxed version of the film as was the VHS edition, but sadly the "making of" mini-doco accompanying this DVD edition has been edited down in length. Accompanying the film is a 4hr commentary by Birmingham University's Russell Jackson, along with Branagh himself. Branagh's setting of the play in a "war-like" state, at the turn of the 19th century. This forms the outer ring out of the play's onion of a threatened state and monarchy where two families, Hamlet's and that of the prime minister Polonius', are falling apart under the scrutiny of the court and Denmark's subjects. The cinematography and 70 mm print make the most of the gold, white, red and blue sets and costumes. Rather than being forbidding and dark like other filmed versions of the play, this is bathed in light, with much of the action set in a Versailles-like hall of mirrors. Branagh loves his long tracking shots and whirling cameras, but his direction of the cast is excellent. Heston is great as the player king, Simon Russell Beale and Billy Crystal are witty gravediggers, Winslet is affecting as Ophelia. Julie Christie is a revelation as Gertrude, but the standout is Jacobi as Claudius. He can make Shakespeare's words, even the archaic ones, very easily understood. If your "teach'" turned you right off Shax at school, try this for size. Spot the great and good of British film and theatre in the cameos. I never tire of Branagh's Shakespeare films. Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Extremely high quality picture, spectacular production, many renowned actors used even in small parts, most complete performance of 'Hamlet' that you'll ever see. However some of the spectacle distracted from the message of Shakespeare's play.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
The best of all versions of Hamlet - 4 hours is a long slog, but it stays true to the text like no other version. The use of high quality actors from around the world and Branagh's performance make this a stand out.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Great performance of the entire script of Shakespeare's masterpiece, full of famous actors and actresses.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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