Rating: 
Summary: Somethng different.
Review: this version of Hamlet is young and provocative. True it does lack some of the hard brashness of what made Shakespeare's original Hamlet, it does though, bring a new side to the story out. By adding shades and highlights to its charicters. Making Denmark not a country but a bussiness. Turning Ophelia into a photogropher, and Hamlet into a movie director. This version does stay true to the orininal plot even though a large amount of original sceans are cut out. But in this case that is good for this film, leaving it light and always just reaching the core of its intended emotion. All in all this movie is very good. But don't come looking for the orininal Hamlet, come looking for something different.
Rating: 
Summary: no cigar
Review: This movie is far, far better than I would have dared to expect -- and probably about as much as you can hope for from any film adaptation of Shakespeare. Almereyda's Hamlet is a competent and perhaps surprisingly intelligent version, but it lacks the staggering brilliance that characterizes the original. Just about everything that makes Hamlet Hamlet is missing. Clever and enjoyable as it may be, this is but a pale shadow of Hamlet, no more like Shakespeare's masterpiece than I to Hercules.
I tend to agree with Nabokov's Van Veen when it comes to Shakespeare: "A written play [is] intrinsically superior to the best performance of it, even if directed by the author himself." Whether or not that's ultimately true, this particular performance of Hamlet is a well-meaning disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: All the rest is silence...
Review: And sometimes that is all you need. Never has a film been made of Hamlet, but normally a "stage" version put on film or so overacted that you feel like it should be on stage. For the first time Hamlet gets the feel of the modern world he has been missing. Ethan Hawke's filmmaker Prince shows how Hamlet still lives and breaths as the eternal everyman. The Ophelia of Julia Stiles is a masterpiece and her thinking of a watery grave during the "talk of maddness" scene is one of my favorites. "The Mousetrap" film, the club scene with R&G, and the use of modern tools like faxs and phones shows this story to hold as true today as it did the first time it played. Modern, fresh and transendant are the words that best describe this film. A must have for any collecter of the works of Shakespeare and great films!
Rating:
Summary: Read the Play, loved the Movie!
Review: Since other reviewers have suggested if you like this movie, you must not have understood or read the play, I think my title is appropriate. I have two degrees in English Literature, have read the play several times, have seen several versions of it, and have written papers on it. I say this only to explain why I know that this is the movie Shakespeare would have made if he were alive today. Purists and others who pooh-pooh the production because it is not slavishly devoted to the more obscure and anachronistic elements of Shakespeare's Hamlet have MISSED THE POINT! It is a "re-envisioning" of the play, and a brilliant one at that. The most visionary moment of the movie comes when Ethan Hawke walks down the aisles of Blockbuster video--next to the ACTION section--and gives his soliloquy about being unable to take ACTION on his situation by taking his own life ("to be or not to be.") For those of you who don't recognize it, this is called "irony." Hawke as Hamlet looks soul-dead and weary because this is supposed to be Hamlet's lowest moment. It would hardly be appropriate for him to be ranting and raving here (as one reviewer seems to feel). Moments of great insight punctuate the play's updating. Great remakes (which this is) must feel free to be true to the intent of the original, but creative in the interpretation of the particulars, and the director has some astounding moments--like eliminating extraneous "spear-bearers" from the play and replacing them with faxes, phones, security cameras, newspapers, televisions, etc. It shows how well Shakespeare translates to the modern world, because the feelings and emotions are the same, even if the trappings are different. Shakespeare was adventurous with both words and images, and the director of this film lives up to that intent. As for it being a "stomach churner" as another reviewer says--there is actually less violence in this film then in the original play, and certainly less than say, Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus, which is basically a "leave your lunch at the door" kind of thing. Bottom line--loosen up, people, and enjoy the new view.
Rating: 
Summary: Definitely Not to Be !
Review: Ok. I have to admit unlike the other people had mentioned, you kinda had to know Shakespeare's Hamlet a little prior to watching this movie. I did not however. But yet, i approached this movie with an open mind like i do all others hoping that I would gain a clear purpose of Shakespeare's Hamlet. I was hoping that the rocky beginning to this movie would make itself up towards the middle of the movie. As the movie played on, it just kept getting real depressing watching Ethan Hawke mumble his Shakespearan lines and play the role of a depressing, suicidal and drab character. As for Julia Stiles character, for the most part, it looked like the cat got her tongue. There was only one scene where she had any real dialogue or acting to do. Bill Murray made rather a brief exit from the movie. A couple of things also lended itself to the demise of this movie. Firstly, the overly obvious PEPSI ONE vending machine appearing as a tunnel for Sam Shade's character. Then, Ethan Hawker wandering around in Blockbuster video rental store. I wonder if the advertisers wrote a part of this script especially where their products were involved. Why did they have to do Shakespearan lines ? I think they could have achieved their purpose by playing regular characters and delving on the character personalities a little more in modern day New York nut yet. The final scene came down to an anti-climax frenzy where Hamlet was fencing with his brother on a skyscaper in the middle of the nite in front of his family. Fencing !?! Towards the end, I was hoping somehow this film would redeem itself and there would be a bizzare twist and that i was totally wrong, but boy i was greatly disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: I thought this would be wonderful, but I was wrong.
Review: My main point over the years with regards to Shakespeare was that it's all "in the interpretation". This version stands as the sole nullification to that point. Don't misunderstand me, the acting performances were top shelf. Ethan Hawke is wonderful, as are Julia Stiles and Liev Shreiber. The one performance that brought me to tears was Bill Murray's, whom I adore as an actor, Polonius. It seemed as though he had a porcupine running about in his knickers with every line. I won't even mention the pain I endured at Kyle MacLachlan's attempt at Claudius. I like his talent also, but it was sadly wasted here. The only version of Hamlet more painful to watch was Kenneth "Windbag" Branagh's [sp], but that's a different review. Perhaps I just don't get the updated nuance of having Hamlet's "To be or not to be..." performed while walking the isles of a BlockBuster Video??? Although, I'll admit to having considered thoughts of suicide as I walk their isles lately myself. The worst part of my whole experience with this version of Hamlet is that I was late in getting it back to the video store so I had to pay twice as much for the rental. If you wish to berate me for cutting this film, please do so by e-mail to...
Rating:
Summary: A Great and Imaginative Presentation
Review: One of the best renditions of Hamlet I have seen. Setting it in modern times made the meaning of the play more relevant: this isn't about dead characters long ago, but about moral dilemmas and questions faced by those of the 21st century. I liked the way soliloquies were presented as the character's private thoughts rather than speeches for the audience. The background music also greatly added to the mood of the play. This movie is cast well, featuring Ethan Hawke, an actor who is actually close to the character's age in Shakespeare's tragedy (a refreshing change), and whose performance is magnificent. Sam Shepard's role as Hamlet's father is very captivating. The rest of the cast is excellent, as I was impressed by their ability to roll early modern English off their tongues as if it were modern English. The Shakespeare traditionalist may find the setting and editing of the play disturbing. However, those who believe that Shakespeare wrote a timeless work will find this movie appealing. I definitely recommend this movie!
Rating:
Summary: A slick update
Review: If William Shakespeare is rolling in his grave, as another reviewer suggested, I say let him roll. This movie is better than the original (I'm picturing my old English professor having a heart attack while reading this). The very slick and modern images contrast wonderfully with the classical language. I especially loved the use of telephones, faxes, pictures, and Hamlet's camcorder to introduce new perspectives into the play. As for Hamlet's contemplating "to be or not to be" in a Blockbuster, I thought it was fabulous! Some of you might benefit from getting off campus once in a while - there's a lot of valid thought happening outside the ivory towers and rarefied air of graduate-level classes. This film makes the material engaging and approachable. I can see why so many stuffy academics hate it: their students might actually love Shakespeare without having to suffer for it.
Rating:
Summary: Modernization creats confusion
Review: Although I have throughlly enjoyed other more traditional adaptations of Hamlet, I was lost by the over modernization. When placed in the steril, artsy setting the charictors seem to be over dramatising trite inconviences or playing a continous joke bon those gulliable enough to believe them.
Rating:
Summary: It was aweful.
Review: The movie was stomache-turning. Hamlet is a wonderful play, but the movie [stunk]. Setting it in the year 2000 was one of the most idiotic things I've ever seen. Anyone who enjoyed it has serious problems, and cannot really understand the play.
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