Hamlet @ richardeward.com

Hamlet
from Miramax
starring Ethan Hawke, Kyle MacLachlan, Diane Venora, Sam Shepard, Bill Murray
directed by Michael Almereyda

Features:

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Dolby
• DVD-Video

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 3.0 / 5.0

• Laertes is Awesome
  Normally I don't really get into Shakepeare that has been transplanted into modern times, but I think this 2000 version set in modern day New York City does a wonderful job of making that transition smoothly. The "kingdom" is now a large corporation which Hamlet's uncle has taken over. Fortinbras is an interloper looking to make a corporate takeover. You have modern young adults with their angst about life, which is quite believable. I really didn't have a problem with "Shakespearian English" being spoken -... more info

• Modern Shakespeare
  Great video. I used it in the classroom and showed several clips to coincide with the text. The casting director made some great choices and the director stays true to Shakespeare's story as he would want it told. The "To be or not to be" soliloquy is done beautifully--very introspective and spoken as Hamlet walks through a Blockbuster. There are a few things taken out of order, but only done for cinematic effect.

• THE PERFORMANCES ARE A LETDOWN
  The idea of setting Shakespeare's masterpiece in modern-day New York proves to be a good one. The film's ominous tone and dark quality give the story a very ominous tone. Sadly, the film is nearly ruined by the acting. Most of the performers in this piece do nothing but recite the lines, failing to put emotional "umph" behind the characters, making this film nearly undramatic.
  Ethan Hawke is a great actor, but doesn't have what it takes to play the Prince of Denmark. Kyle MacLachlan tries as... more info

• Ugh
  Um...I don't even know WHAT to say. I just finished watching this monstrous perversion (then again, I saw the Branagh version recently; and not by accident, I am a "Hamlet" fiend). Maybe the low rating has something to do with that.
  Bad acting--which doesn't do justice to the timeless script--ruins it all. Answering machines? Gimme a break.
  Branagh can beat Hawke up with an envenomed foil any day.

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