Review of Hamlet

Introduction

Hamlet is a terribly familiar story and one that has been adapted to the screen various times (Gibson, Brannagh etc) - each time looking vastly different and indeed feeling different.

This version attempts to add a modern day `Big Business` feel to it - no longer is Hamlet a prince of Denmark, he`s now the son of the owner of Denmark Corporation - and this is where things can get a little odd as they have clung to the original texts. So he`s still referred to as a Prince.

The impressive cast deal fairly well with the mix of modern settings and `olde worlde` speech except for occasions of cringeworthy overacting as Hollywood actors try, slightly too hard, to become stage actors (especially Bill Murray).

Video

Video quality, whilst not perfect, is more than adequate with only a few touches of graininess and some dust marring a good anamorphic transfer. Colours are reproduced well and there are no signs of the digital transfer process to spoil the show.

The chapter breaks have been sensibly linked to major scene changes throughout the film which is a nice touch. These scene changes can grate however as they tend to make the film feel more stage-like as the rest of the production is trying to add a film-like quality......

Audio

Right from the very beginning you are imersed in decent digital surround. Atmospherics are handled extremely well and dialogue always comes across clearly and well defined.

The soundtrack is an entertaining mix of classic and modern tracks that have been successfully blended together.

Features

A whole trailer.

The lack of features here is a shame as a production like this lends itself well to extra features one would be prepared to watch and listen to - especially if you were an English teacher ;)

Conclusion

As with a lot of film adaptations of Shakespeare plays, people either love or hate them. This is no different. Die hard Shakespeare fans will have a hard time with the modern setting and others with the 16th Century speech. I personally found it hard to listen to, especially when background audio tended to be in modern day English but I know many people who rate this as one of the best screen adaptations ever.

The only way to find out which you are is to watch it....