The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #21916   Message #234883
Posted By: GUEST,Bill H
27-May-00 - 07:03 PM
Thread Name: More Shakespeare: Hamlet
Subject: RE: More Shakespeare: Hamlet
I have not seen the current film yet. Hamlet, of course, is always open to great interpretation---as is so much of Shakespeare's work.

In our era it may well be that Branagh is the best and most creative interpreter we have. His 4 hr plus Hamlet to me seems like the definitive version. His Henry V being the antiwar version---and the photography---amazing.

As to one writer's comments about Mel Gibson's Hamlet---quite presumptious to think that Shakespeare needed extra lines written (so it seemed like his) to explain the plot to the audience. I would relegate that version to same area where such classics as Heaven;s Gate, and, hopefully, John Travolta's newest epic from the writings of the Scientology founder go---there must be a delete button for bad films.

Bill H