Starring: Mel Gibson, Glenn Close, Alan Bates, Paul Scofield, Ian Holm Directed By: Franco Zeffirelli Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: DVD Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Warner Home Video Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: February 24, 2004 Running Time: 135 minutes Theatrical Release Date: January 18, 1991
Description: Treachery. Madness. Murder. The story of Hamlet has been told for 400 years...but it's never been told like this! Mel Gibson (the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon films) takes on his richest part to date, the title role in a dynamic new version of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Directed by Franco Zeffirelli (Romeo and Juliet, Jesus of Nazareth), the location-shot production has a sumptuous look that won Academy Award nominations for Art Direction and Costume Design. Gibson plays the prince of medieval-era Denmark, who senses treachery behind his royal father's death. Glenn Close (Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons) plays Hamlet's mother Gertrude, all too dangerously entangled in that treachery. A brilliant supporting cast, including Alan Bates as Claudius, Paul Scofield as the ghost of Hamlet's father, Ian Holm as Polonius and Helena Bonham-Carter as Ophelia, adds its powerful presence to this immortal tale of high adventure and evil deeds. Big, bold and heroic, this is a vivid and virile Hamlet for the modern age and all time.
Amazon.com essential video: Franco Zeffirelli's stripped-down, two-hour version of Shakespeare's play stars Mel Gibson as a rather robust version of the ambivalent Danish prince. Gibson is much better in the part than many critics have admitted, his powers of clarity doing much to make this particular Hamlet more accessible than several other filmed versions. The supporting cast is outstanding, including Glenn Close as Gertrude, Alan Bates as Claudius, Ian Holm as Polonius, and Helena Bonham Carter as Ophelia. Zeffirelli's vigorous direction employs a lively camera style that nicely alters the viewer's preconceptions about the way Hamlet should look. --Tom Keogh
Hamlet with Mel Gibson I need it for my school assignment, I watch it two times and learn to appreciate and love the movie, it's a clasic from Shakespeare! A must have!
Not Kenneth Branaugh, but doesn't dive I use this one for my college sophomore British lit class because it is shorter than Branaugh's definitive production, the costumery and set is fab, and the movement is fast-paced enough to keep their attention. It is also more "historically accurate" in that it is set in medieval Denmark and we will have studied the Danish influence of English culture by then, red Beowulf, etc.. However, it is the "action-figure" Hamlet, with Mel Gibson who was in his prime in all those action movies that he did back then (I can't think of a single title) so it loses something of the pensive angst of other Hamlets. Hamlet, the intellectual, the philosopher, torn between tradition (revenge), personal suffering, and his educated renaissance mind, is lost to Gibson's more determined portayal. Close's Gertrude is an annoying slut who can't even keep her hands off her own son and Bate's Claudius is a passably smarmy Machiavelle. The lovely authentic setting over-rides much of this and the second year students aren't thinking criticaly anyway. However, I do show the beginning, ending, and death of Ophelia from Branaugh's so that they can see another perspective. Perspective is all, you might say, in this case.
Speedy Delivery According to instructions for ordering next-day delivery, I had 4 minutes to decide. Made my decision and DVD of "Hamlet" delivered within 24 hours. Great!
This is the best movie version of Hamlet. Mel Gibson is a bit too old to play the young Hamlet, but he is very believable. He has awesome facial expressions when he realizes Ophelia is dead. Glenn Close also plays a wonderful Gertrude. When she is dying from the poisoned wine, she, too, has awesome facial expressions. Great movie!
Mel Gibson's Hamlet This is Hamlet the movie, not a filmed version of the stage play. Having said that , it is very well done. Mel Gibson's early Shakespearean training (yes, he was a Shakespearean actor before he ever was Mad Max, who let's face it was fairly Shakespearean in concept) shows clearly in this rendition of the ever popular tragedy. I thought it was terrific and am tired of uninformed prejudgemental critics not giving credit where its due and yet touting questionably talented boy/men like Tom Cruise.There is real depth to Mel's portrayal of Hamlet along with the confusion and despair the character goes through after betrayal of family and friends alike. Highly recommended!
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