Review of Hamlet (1996) by Eric B — 14 Apr 2011

Kenneth Branagh's 1996 film was shot in Blenheim Palace acting as Elsinore Castle, which is in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. His Hamlet is a large, lofty, and replete production that does great justice to one of the most iconic and unforgettable stories of all time. The film also serves as a benchmark for film versions of Shakespeare plays, capturing the scope, scale, loft and rich power for which Shakespeare was known.

Prince Hamlet is a young man who is away at school in Wittenberg when he receives word that his father has died. He returns home to Denmark to find that his mother has gotten remarried--to his uncle, Claudius. Later, his father's Ghost enlightens him, informing him that Claudius was the murderer, and Hamlet must seek retribution. Hamlet puts an "antic disposition on" to buy time and quell brewing suspicions of treason to test the Ghost's claims and examine various possibilities.

By the end, Hamlet proves to be intelligent (not to mention manipulative), wise, talented, noble, brave, loyal and self-sacrificing person -- giving his life and hopes to purify Denmark from its corruption. These qualities prove to far outweigh his hubris, excessive procrastination, indecision and severe lack of self-control.

Branagh's production is the only complete film version of a Shakespeare play.

(other productions are known to edit the text to allow the story to move more swiftly). Therefore, it is long, at over 4 hours, yet is never boring and never drags. The production pays off immensely, leaving us with thoughts on the search for meaning and self-worth, loyalty, friendship, honor, bravery and sacrifice, and shows how one's action reverberate and impact others like ripples in an enormous pond. Hamlet is not just mad, not just "the son of a dear father murder'd" or just "a prince out of thy star," but is each and every one of us--searching for meaning and truth in a world that has yet to care whether you ever find it. Also, Hamlet suggests that to be flawed and troubled is very human, but to understand your flaws, and reach above and beyond them, is quite divine.