Rating: 
Summary: Mel IS Hamlet!
Review: I own this VHS and use it regularly to teach the play in my college courses. The students watch the Brannaugh version first and then watch Mel Gibson's metamorphosis into the being of Hamlet. The general consensus is that the Gibson version is far superior to the Brannaugh version simply because Mel brings more depth to the character of Hamlet via the juxtaposed emotions of quiet contemplation, stinging wit, and raving anger. Brannaugh's Hamlet tends to be steadily caustic in nature and speaks (shouts) all of the lines at mind whirling pace! Gibson's delivery of famous soliloquies is natural and laced with appropriate emotion, which allows the watcher to completely comprehend each scene. Mel Gibson does not play the role of Hamlet - Mel Gibson BECOMES Hamlet! Truly Mr. Gibson's portrayal of the Prince of Denmark is one of the pinnacles his acting career. To those who scoff at the notion of Mad Maxx playing Hamlet, I have a word of advice - "Watch it, and you'll change your mind!"
While this film has been roundly criticized by so-called movie "experts" due to Zeffirelli's cutting and rearranging of certain lines and scenes, it would do those "experts" well to learn a little about Elizabethan theatre. An average Elizabethan audience NEVER saw the entire play all at once as they relied on natural lighting in the theatres of their day. The Elizabethan directors (including the Bard himself) had to eliminate scenes in much the same way as did Zeffirelli. So, upon closer examination, it appears as though Brannaugh's version of Hamlet is the less "correct" version. Don't get me wrong...I still admire Brannaugh's Hamlet. I am just weary of the constant criticism Mel Gibson's portrayal garners.
This version of Hamlet also contains incredible performances by Helena Bonham-Carter as the naive, young Ophelia and Glenn Close as a less than virtuous Gertrude. The scenery and costuming is absolutely captivating! Finally, the portrayal of the ghost, a role which Shakespeare wrote for himself to perform, is carried out brilliantly by Paul Scofield who is forceful yet subdued. We are left to wonder, as would the Elizabethan audience, whether this ghost is pure or a devilish incarnation - which is THE KEY to what drives the plot of the play Hamlet. Buy this dvd if you want to see a stunning version of Hamlet! I know I am (to replace my vhs).
Rating:
Summary: To Thine Own Self Be True...
Review: While this is a complex movie that demands your full attention, this has to be one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. It is beautifully acted out in a gorgeous castle filled with tapestries and everything you would imagine a castle to be from the candlelight to the dimly lit spiral staircases. The most enjoyable scenes are when Hamlet expresses his thoughts in soliloquies and gives insight into what his character is feeling. Mel Gibson becomes Hamlet and I thought this was perhaps some of his best acting ever! Glenn Close is exceptional as Gertrude, the incestuous mother. The uneasiness and distrust in Denmark since King Hamlet's death and Queen Gertrude's remarriage sets the mood for the rest of the movie. The story begins on the outer ramparts of Elsinore castle. A ghost appears and Hamlet, speaks to his deceased father. The ghost asks Hamlet to revenge his "most foul, strange, and unnatural murder." Hamlet then deviously plots a psychological revenge by putting on a play in which a scene portrays the actual murder of his father. "I'll have grounds
More relative than this-the play's the thing
Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King." -Hamlet, Act 2, 603-605 Once guilt takes hold of the King, the pieces of the puzzle start to fit together and you realize that one immoral action only makes another wrong even more probable. Throughout the play, Hamlet shows his intellectual superiority and states his case by saying: "Do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?" While he desires to have the upper hand until the end, he cannot of course know all the intentions of those around him nor can he escape his own fate. An Unforgettable story that made an impression on me in school and still holds a
certain fascination for me. Did Hamlet ever really love Ophelia? That is the question. "It is in my memory locked." -Ophelia
Rating:
Summary: Pure cinema
Review: Alfred Hitchcock believed in the power of pure cinema: "Pictures without words." This is opposed to what he called "pictures of people talking." Now the theatre is the theatre, and film should be film. And this is what I like about Director Zeffirelli's film. It is still overwhelmingly Shakespeare, but as an artist, Zeffirelli takes some liscense. He makes the work his own, knowing what is better for the theatre and what is better for film. The other major film of "Hamlet," in contrast, is too long. It is, I think, a word-for-word adaptation, something that belongs in the theatre. Mel Gibson's interpretation of the character Hamlet is absolutely brilliant. He spares us a cliché performance of a meek, painfully-introverted Hamlet. In a revisionist interpretaion, Gibson shows that he is more than just a blood-and-guts "Lethal Weapon" junkie. There is lots of forward motion to the characterization. Gibson swings between the quiet thinker and the manic warrior, but with a personality that is unique. The scenes that are especially notable are: Chasing his father's ghost, the explosive and hypnotic bedroom scene with his mother (not to be missed!), the play, Ophelia's funeral, and the closing scene. Glenn Close is excellent as Hamlet's mother and the queen, and Helena Bonham-Carter does a great job portraying Ophelia, from innocence to madness. It has been suggested that Ophelia's decent into madness is too sudden. I disagree. I think that Director Zeffirelli's purpose for this was precisely to give the plot a certain unevenness that generates aesthetic tension in the film. Any other cuts or switches made were minor or unnoticable, to me at least. The poetry, music, and filmic lyricism of the powerful closing shots are unforgettable. For the record, the film is 135 minutes long and was shot entirely on location in the beautiful countryside and castles of rural Britain (Wales, I think).
Rating: 
Summary: My Very Favorite Mel Gibson Film!
Review: Mel Gibson just SHINES as the ambivalent (but Oedipal) prince Hamlet in this adaptation as does Glenn (I boil baby rabbits) Close cast as his mother Gertrude, Helena (Fight Club) Bonham-Carter as the tragic, suicidal and drowning, Ophelia, and the great Shakespearian actor Paul Scofield as the ghost of Hamlet's father. This version of Hamlet is for the rank and file as it is stripped down, easy to understand & watch.
Rating:
Summary: Hamlet Lite, perhaps, still, a fine film
Review: This version of Hamlet has an outstanding cast. Mel Gibson tackles the ultimate anti-action hero Hamlet, so that is a bit surprising. Glenn Close, Paul Scofield, Alan Bates, Ian Holm, Helena Bonham-Carter--if any cast could do Shakespeare, these players should be able to pull it off. The movie was filmed on location at Elsinore (Helsingor) Castle in Denmark, the actual castle mentioned in Hamlet. The costumes are done in period dyes (carmine, indigo) to lend a genuine feel. There is plenty of action despite Hamlet's reluctance to revenge his father's murderer. In fact, the final scene, where Laertes and Hamlet fight a duel is absolutely marvelous. A lot of the minor plot activity in the original play has been cut. Most viewers will notice that Rosencrantz and Guilderstern (perennial favorites) are not mentioned by name but are used logically in their duplicity with King Claudius. This, and other omissions, makes this seem like Hamlet Lite, but it does make for a crisp screenplay. The spareness of the screenplay points up the beauty of the soliloquies, which is a good thing because you have to listen to them carefully. Not much is left to show the inner torment of a scholarly son who is being urged to violent action. In fact, there is really only one scene where Hamlet shows his fatal hesitation, and that is where Claudius is praying in the tomb. Hamlet reasons that killing Claudius when he is "shrived" or forgiven of sin would send him to heavenly reward while his father was sent precipitously to hell, no chance to repent. But this scene alone was not enough to reveal the famous indecision. Even so, I enjoyed this version of Hamlet and think it was an interesting interpretation.
Rating:
Summary: Gibson's a great Dane !
Review: This is a Hamlet that's easy on the eyes and the mind...if you don't have the time and stamina for Branagh's 4 hour version, and can't get hold of Olivier's exquisite 1948 film, this is the one for you ! Mel Gibson is excellent as Hamlet. He gives him humor and a masculine vigor, and the top-notch supporting cast is superb. I especially like Alan Bates..his lusty, murderous king is fabulous...and mention should be made of Nathaniel Parker's wonderful Laertes. David Watkin's cinematography is stunning, Ennio Morricone's score subtle and beautiful, and the production one of Zeffirelli's best. This is very enjoyable Shakespeare, even for those who normally don't like him, and I highly recommend this to parents who would like to introduce their teenagers to the Bard. Don't miss this glorious movie !
Rating:
Summary: "Madness in great ones must not unwatched go."
Review: 4.5 stars. First off, the look of this version is superb. The costumes are excellent and the set design is oftentimes awesome. There are also location shots that have stunning scenery with gorgeous landscapes. This is a tightened version of the famous play, clocking in at a mere 2hr.15min., but it still holds the heart of the play intact. This is "Hamlet" for the masses, lean and hungry, and without the bloated length of the entire play. As for the acting, there are some notable performances and there are some question marks. Mel Gibson portrays the title character. This was a great surprise back in 1990 to see an Action Film hero challenge himself as an actor. His performance may not be altogether perfect, but it is heartfelt, energetic, and loaded with enthusiasm. Alan Bates plays the King, and while he has no standout scenes, his performance is solid overall: subtle and villainous. Paul Scofield plays the ghost of Hamlet's father, and while he looks a little too lifelike to be considered an "apparition," his scenes are portrayed admirably. Glenn Close is Gertrude, the Queen of Denmark. She has two incredible scenes and holds her own throughout. One of her best and chilling scenes is when she realizes she has been poisoned and looks wide-eyed toward the King with disbelief and horror. What a moment! While many citics wrote that she was too young to be the mother of Hamlet, this minor note is easy to forget once the play is under way. The single greatest performance here belongs to Helena Bonham Carter as Ophelia. This is quite possibly the perfect portrayal of the character ever brought to the screen. I won't point out scenes here because her entire performance is outstanding. One of my question marks in the film has to do with the character of Laertes played by Nathaniel Parker. He just doesn't make me believe at any point that he is out for vengeance for either his father's murder or the madness and eventual demise of his sister Ophelia. He instead comes across more like a grinning villain than a son on the edge of exploding with rage. This disappointment comes late in the film, and while it is a key element to the strength of the plot, it doesn't ruin the movie; the movie ends before the plot has a chance to unravel. Another questionable scene is at Ophelia's funeral where the Queen(Glenn Close) is the only one weeping? I was wondering after the scene if anyone really missed Ophelia. Both Hamlet(Mel Gibson) and Laertes(Nathaniel Parker) say as much, but their lack of visceral emotion left me unconvinced. The last criticism is that the final sword fight between Laertes and Hamlet "looks" choreographed: turn, steel-on-steel, duck, turn, repeat, etc. I just waited for the inevitable to happen after all their sword-play was overwith. All these criticsms aside, this is still a worthy rendition of the heralded tragedy. There are many fine moments to be seen and heard here, not the least of which is Mel Gibson pushing himself to become a great actor as well as an international movie-star. All in all, this film is recommended viewing for any who enjoy Shakespear's beloved play.
Rating:
Summary: What a show!
Review: While this version of Hamlet tends to skimp on the actual text, Mel Gibson puts on a great show here. The standout performance for me is Glenn Close's performance as Gertrude, Hamlet's mother. What this version of Hamlet has that I feel is lacking from some of the other film versions is the setting--the remoteness and authenticity of the castle sets the scene perfectly for the mood of the film. But STUDENTS, BE WARNED: if you're trying to skip out on reading the play for class and are planning on watching the movie instead, THIS IS NOT THE VERSION TO DO SO.
Rating: 
Summary: Hamlet Cliff Notes
Review: On the positive side, Mel Gibson looks and moves like a soldier, which of course is Hamlet's profession. This is probably the most athletic Hamlet you are likely to see. The film is also very good in it's setting; a genuinely dark, brooding, primitive castle. Quite accurate, given the historical setting of the Hamlet legend.
Unfortunely, the editors cut so much from the play that whole, important themes, themes that speak towards the very nature of a given character (especially Hamlet himself), are absent. Even a very important solliliquiy (sp?) of Hamlet's is cut("My thoughts be bloody, or none else").
Now, I realize that most productions of Hamlet have cuts; this was true even in Shakespeare's time. However, the slash-and-burn type cuts in this Hamlet leave out far too much that contributes to a good understanding of both the main character and important secondary characters.That's why this is not a good Hamlet. Try Kenneth Branagh's version.
Rating:
Summary: It's better than Branagh!
Review: I thought they'd never release this version of "Hamlet"on DVD, but it's finally here, so we can rejoice! This is my favorite film version of "Hamlet." I even prefer it to the Kenneth Branagh version, believe it or not! I think that Franco Zeffirelli's film does the best job of exploring the sexual undertones of the relationship between Hamlet and his mother. Mel Gibson gives a very emotional performance in the title role and Glenn Close and Helena bonham Carter give outstanding supporting performances.
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