Hamlet dvd movie.|
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List Price: $19.98 Our Price: $17.99 You Save: $1.99 Features • Closed-captioned • Color • NTSC In Theaters : 10 December, 2000 DVD Release : 18 December, 2001 |
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Hamlet description Campbell Scott directs and stars in this not-quite-modern-dress version of Hamlet. A production can easily lose itself in attempting such a notorious great work of literature, but this one largely keeps its head. The film starts with a few silent establishing scenes--a nice touch when one already knows the characters. Some well-thought-out stage business also enhances the play, such as Gertrude frolicking with Claudius just outside an open window while Hamlet delivers his first soliloquy. Occasionally cinematic concerns seem to get in the way--the production appears so concerned with making the old King Hamlet's ghost scary that it forgets to make him ominous--and every now and then Scott falls into the self-indulgent traps that directors who cast themselves as Hamlet tend to. Overall, however, the performances are quite good. Blair Brown gives Gertrude more depth and intelligence than most actresses, and Lisa Gay Hamilton fights her way through some difficult mad-scene direction to give a fine performance as Ophelia. Roger Guenveur Smith does excellent work as Laertes--he is thoroughly comfortable with Elizabethan English and gives a lovely, understated performance. The DVD includes The Making of Hamlet. --Ali Davis |
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| ♥♥♥♥♥ | Overall, better than Bragnah... |
| What is the difference between reciting the "to be or not to be" soliquly on the floor with slitted wrists or standing in front of a mirror? One answer: ACTING. I had seen Kenneth Bragnagh's Hamlet not too long ago when I lost intrest in the play, the intrest came back after recently leaning of another version tobe released next year. Out of nowhere, I saw this preview for this film version of "Hamlet" I watched the preview 20 times or more before I just recieved it yesterday. All in all, this is the definite version of the play. People have said that Bragnah's version is the best because of it being uncut. While, I can't argue that it's true about it being uncut...I can argue that it's the best. No American actors have attempted to do "Hamlet" since Kevin Kline's phenomal performance in Bryant Park back in 1990. And let me say, the setting for this modern interpretation was a good choice made by both Eric Simmons and Campbell Scott. The setting being in the post Civil War era makes it all the better, and best yet a time we can relate to. Blair Brown is a stand alone Gertrude, her presence is pleasant and eery all at once...and she's the first actress in Hamlet history to be old to play the mother of the Danish prince. The other stand alone performances include that of: Michael Imperoli (Rosecrantz), John Guenver Smith (Lartes), and John Benjamin Hickey (Horatio). But the best performance has to come from that of the Danish prince himself...CAMPBELL SCOTT, or in other words; Hamlet. Kenneth I felt rushed through the monologue and felt he was trying to be the funny man Bragnah we all know and cherish...that is not how Hamlet is suppose to act. Campbell Scott, however, seems to be more relaxed in the role of Hamlet considering before the filming he had played the torture soul in the theatre. Now, it's intended that Hamlet was playing "mad" but Campbell makes you believe if the young prince is really going insane. That is how Shakespeare WANTED Hamlet to be played. Mr. Scott plays everything out well, from Hamlet's temper tantrums to his sudden rage to his gentle soul leaking through. The directing is terrific, the underscore is jazzy and ballad-like, and the scenery of a post civil war manor is to die for. If I could answer the question "to see or not to see?"....SEE this Hamlet and see how the other verions are suppose to be. | |
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