Review of Hamlet (1990) by Rajneel S — 16 Dec 2008

This inconsistent and somewhat cheap-looking adaptation of the bard's pinnacle play is certainly not for fans - who may not appreciate the play being hugely cut-up, rearranged and streamlined for cinema - nor is it really for cinema fans - who will roll their eyes at the very limp cinematography and some cheesy interpretations.

Operating more as a stage-play done on location, the cast is mostly workable (Gibson is good, but very by-the-books as Prince Hamlet - Oedipus complex and all - but Bonham-Carter is a great Ophelia) and there are some very good bits (Hamlet's conversation with the ghost of his father is killer), but all up this is mostly ideal fodder for boring the pants off unsuspecting high school students rather than breathing new life into an old work.