Rating: 
Summary: Great Visuals, Bad Acting
Review: I was very much impressed with "Romeo and Juliet" by the same director. Even with Zefferelli's name, I put off seeing this version of Hamlet and now I know why. Mel Gibson did not pop into my head as a Hamlet, and he still does not. Not to mention Glenn Close's pathetic, wipmering, mindless Gertrude. And the hacking job on the script, especially totally eliminating Fortinbras's threatening presence which eventually lends a bit of salvation to the dark plot. To it's credit, it did have some great moments. Like breath-taking castle exterior shots that also show the Danish coast. And who could not be moved to shivers with Hamlet's "To Be or Not To Be" monologue delivered in the middle of his family's crypt (bets a mirrored door any day!). Or the look Gertrude gives Claudius when she realizes he poisoned the cup meant for her son but which she got to first. But other than these few highlights, the adaptation is overall inadequate. That is not to say Branagh got it all right either. While the acting in this later is better, it is ruined by transposing the time period and by over use of the mirrored hall (previously noted). But Ken's Hamlet as a character and as an overall work is to be preferred to Mel's.
Rating: 
Summary: Gibson proves his versatility.
Review: An excellant cast. Mel Gibson proves his credibility as an actor with a wonderful perormance. Don't miss out on ths one!
Rating:
Summary: Highly commendable. Excellent
Review: While many elitists might try to give this movie a pass, real Shakespeare can be filmed by people other than Brannagh! Some might criticize the director's choice of deletions, but remember that the original text of Shakespeare plays were events to spend an entire day listening to. Mel Gibson lends his trademark manic on-screen pesonality to the perfect role, that of the Danish prince who is both saddened and outraged about his father's death. A must see!
Rating:
Summary: The finest current edition of the play now available.
Review: Mel Gibson's Hamlet was controversial from the start with many arguing that "Mad Max" had no business portraying the melancholy Dane. Gibson's portrayal, however, is remarkable, and the support he receives from numerous outstanding performances by other cast members makes this a thrilling and fast paced film. The sets and panoramic beauty are brilliantly rendered. While Olivier's Hamlet is certainly riveting and powerful, modern audiences may find it somewhat dated. Gibson breathes life into the role and the play. As a college English teacher, I have shown this film to hundreds of students over the past few years, and they share my enthusiasm. Purists may find fault in Gibson's portrayal, but the bard himself understood better than anyone that theatre must entertain. This version does that and so much more. It remains a pleasure to watch, even for someone who has seen it innumerable times.
Rating:
Summary: best film version i've seen (and i've seen them all!)
Review: through my endeavors i've had to read Hamlet 7 times (twice my senior year of high-school). much as i don't like Shakespeare this play is part of my life.The Olivier version is more accurate to the stage version but the camera techiniques are over-blown and hokey (circling the swords before the duel to see which one is tipped, it made me dizzy). the Branagh version, while creative in it's set up (modernizing it to imerial Russia), and using the entire text, complete with Prince Fortinbras of Norway, is SO long and SO over-acted (especially on the part of Branagh) that i needed a nap after i saw it. and i choose not even to dignify the Ethan Hawke version it was so terrible. This one is my favorite, all the scenes which are cut aren't necessary for the forwarding of the plot in my humble opinion (the opening scene with the palace guards meeting the dead kingis cut yet horatio's explaination of this happening later in the movie is sufficient). Gibson chooses to play Hamlet as insane (that decision is left to the director) and as i am in the camp that Hamlet IS insane, you could also see why i favor this version. Glenn Close is EXCELLENT as Gertrude as is Helena Bonham-Carter as Ophelia. solid performances with a great cast, what more does a 400 year old play need?
Rating: 
Summary: Hamlet comes alive
Review: I watched this with my 16 year old daughter a month ago, and we both agreed it was excellently done. She studies Shakespeare, and had studied Hamlet, but said she never understood it as well until she had seen the DVD. I think Shakespeare is best when acted, not when read. Mel Gibson never looked better, and he plays Hamlet with his usual depth of acting. Mel's eyes simply flicker with emotion, and his ability to project emotion thru his expressions adds a lot to this production. Even if you're not a big fan of Shakespeare nor of Mel Gibson, this is worth viewing. Very well done!!
Rating:
Summary: really good movie
Review: In an earlier review, "Me Just This Guy" describes how he "lost all respect for this interpretation of Hamlet" when Mel Gibson as Hamlet uses the phrase"...enterprises of great pitch and moment" in his "To be, or not to be" soliloquy. He ridicules the 'mistake', calling it a 'goof up' because the word 'pith' should have been used instead of 'pitch'. He goes on to suggest that actors need to "1) Know the script, 2) Know what the script means".
What script is "Me Just This Guy" referring to? It's worth reading a scholarly edition of Hamlet (& other plays) to learn of the difficulties in agreeing on a definitive script. In the case of Hamlet, 'pitch' is used in one early version of the play (Quarto 2), and is the preferred use in many published editions (e.g. Cambridge). 'Pith' is used in other early editions (e.g. Folio), and appears in other modern versions of the play (e.g. Oxford).
Pitch has several relevant meanings, including one prevalent in Shakespeare's day: "The height to which a falcon or other bird of prey soars before swooping down on its prey".
Rating:
Summary: Mel Gibson as Hamlet
Review: An ambitious undertaking for Mel Gibson to play Shakespeare, but he pulls it off. Although a little older than what I picture Hamlet to be from Shakespeare's play, Mel Gibson plays Hamlet with enough passion, ferocity, and intelligence that you do question whether Hamlet is really mad or just plain brilliant. A cast of British actors including Helena Bonham Carter round out this ambitious production.
Rating:
Summary: Mediocre.
Review: This is neither the best nor the definitive "Hamlet" film, firstly; how can one possibly claim that the definitive version of a play is one that cuts out parts of the story? Also, Ophelia looks like she's twelve in this, which is not only far from how I imagined her after reading the play, but also just plain inappropriate, especially considering she's playing alongside Gibson as Hamlet. Now, I saw 3 versions of Hamlet as part of my in-depth study of the play for school. This one was the second-best. The acting is not bad; Gibson's Hamlet is very physical and very angry. Olivier's was introverted, quiet, calm. Branagh's (the definitive Hamlet) is an effective mixture of these two extremes. This "Hamlet" movie is an enjoyable telling of the story, and perhaps easier to sit through for those who don't want four hours of Shakespearean dialogue, but it's far from being a masterpiece and definitely not the full, perfect rendition of the show I'd assume people would want. I'd first point them in the direction of Branagh's movie and then suggest that there is another, different, abridged Gibson version to also take a look at.
Rating:
Summary: Still great without the Norwegian subplot.
Review: I simply loved this movie, even when I realized the subplot with Fortinbras was effectively eliminated, for I also realized I didn't mind one whit.
With the exception of a scene between Hamlet and Ophelia that contained no dialogue, which was, in my opinion, not well-done at all, Mel Gibson was superb in his portrayal of Hamlet, a far cry from the overblown pomposity of many classical Shakespearean actors whose over-the-top boomings of "to beeeee...or not to beeeee...." completely demolished the introspection required of many of Hamlet's soliloquys. In contrast, Gibson's performance conveyed much more effectively the internal dialogue that both pacified and plagued Hamlet.
Helena Bonham-Carter's performance as Ophelia was exquisite and ranks up there with her performance as Lucy Honeychurch in "A Room With a View". I can't imagine anyone else better suited to play this most tragic character of the entire play.
Alan Bates, Glenn Close, and Nathaniel Parker were perfectly cast, as well. It was his portrayal of Laertes that persuaded me to also seek out Nathaniel Parker's later movie, "Far From the Madding Crowd", which I also strongly recommend.
Beautiful camera work, gorgeous scenery, and acting that didn't seem like the stereotypical Shakespearean overblown pontificating that puts off so many would-be fans of Shakespeare. Heartily recommend this movie.
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