Kenneth Branagh's four-hour production of Shakespeare's full text for Hamlet is visually lush (shot in 70mm, which is rarely done) and full of fascinating story moments that normally get cut from shorter stage versions. (Your idea of what kind of fellow Polonius is may change quite a bit.) The unexpurgated approach is truly enlightening, and Branagh intermittently succeeds at giving familiar moments in the drama an original cinematic spin, including Hamlet's spooky confrontation with his father's ghost (Brian Blessed). (Branagh also imposes some Hollywood glitter on the proceedings by casting the likes of Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Charlton Heston and Jack Lemmon in the smaller parts.) The pre-Titanic Kate Winslet is very good as the doomed Ophelia, and Derek Jacobi delivers a wonderfully nuanced performance as Claudius, whose character is definitely filled out by the restored material. Branagh's own performance is a little revisionist--some viewers have quibbled with it while others seem fine. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Branagh as bleached-blond Hamlet This is a very well-directed film. The great joy of watching a Branagh-directed Shakespeare is the effort put into ensuring that the diction is as clear and natural as possible without losing the strength of the text. The cast is excellent, Derek Jacobi and Kate Winslet in particular; even cameos for which you would perhaps have doubts - such as Robin Williams, who impresses with his characterisation of Osric, and Billy Crystal as the gravedigger - work. Indeed, the repartee between Billy Crystal and Simon... more info
"Would Macy's Tell Gimbels?" I recall having to scout about all over the county to find a cinema that even knew Brannagh HAD a full-length Hamlet on release...Ah, the good old Robins Cinema in Durham, sticky floors and all. Listening to his Rennaicance Theatre radio broadcast in front of a crackling fire with the lights out one winter's evening in Orkney some few years earlier and of course the fabulous visceral cinema interpretation for a new generation of Henry V. I bought the VHS release at the time and have ever since scanned these... more info
A Study in Power Politics It may be that many of the earlier reviews relate to the abridged version of the film, not the full length - 242 minutes - Region 1 DVD currently on offer, which also contains extras including a director's commentary, an introductory piece by Branagh and a "making of" documentary.
The film is facinating for a number of reasons. It is the only full length version ever made or is ever likely to be made. Hamlet is the greatest play in the language but in performance it is always cut. Characters like... more info
Kenneth Brannagh's 4 Hour Hamlet I felt compelled to write something just to correct what a reviewer below (Orlando) stated; that this isn't the 4 hour version. Well I can assure everyone that it is, and it looks and sounds amazing. I don't know what Orlando was watching, maybe he/she only watched one disc(it runs over two discs, due to length), or maybe they purchased some poor bootleg.
Anyway, I highly recommend it. There aren't a huge amount of extras, but the ones there are are really good, and there's also the commentary by... more info
![Hamlet [1997]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71KAHCPGQNL._SL160_.gif)
