Review of Hamlet (1996) by Johnathon W — 29 Jul 2011
Ambitious film that brings Shakespeare's masterpiece in full-length to film for the first time, and for the most part, is successful in doing so. Brannagh's direction is superb, turning the play into a true cinematic epic, along with top-notch production (the 70 mm print looks especially good on Blu-Ray HD).
The only downside is the cast, and while the British regulars are all excellent (Derek Jacobi shines into making Claudius a tragic villain), the addition of American stars is uneven. Billy Crystal is perfect as the Gravedigger while Charlton Heston reminds audiences what a great actor he was as the Player King.
However, Jack Lemmon is too big a star for his small role and Robin Williams comes off too goofy in his. Plus, Branagh is quite frankly too old to play Hamlet, the melancholy youth, at this point. Overall, a good film and a must for any fan of Shakespeare.
This review of Hamlet (1996) was written by Johnathon W on 29 Jul 2011.
Hamlet has generally received positive reviews.
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