A Tale of Two HAMLETs

[e_dog]

In the 1990's the motion picture industry made at least two new versions of Hamlet, each serving as the egotistical vehicle for the self-agrandizement of its lead.

The 1991 film has the merit of having a more authentic appearing setting and costumery, even if this results in Mel Gibson playing Hamlet as a cross-between a knight and a cave man. It's abridgement, although blasphemously removing material from one of the greatest -- and, arguably, the greatest -- Shakespearen play, at least has the merit of sparing us from enduring gthe terrible acting for too long.

In 1996 -- it's hard to believe a full decade has passed since then -- Kenneth Branagh released a full-lenth four-hour version which featured an excellent cast, fantastic line delivery and some impressive cinematographic shots. The "To Be or Not to Be" soliloquy for example is outstanding, as are the scenes of H's greeting Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern (with a flaw aluded to below), and his meetings with the spirit of the Father, and the gravedigger (Billy Crystal!). A young Kate Wynslet gives good Ophelia, though the interpellated flashbacks to love-making between her and Hamlet is a bit too sensationalistic, but serves as a nice indicator of Branagh's self-indulgence, thespian self-indulgence. What is most impressive is that over the course of the play one finds oneself so captivated by the poetry and the performance that one is able to ignore the utterly ridiculous setting of the adapted play in some sort of late 19th century proto-modernity. Obviously, a classic play should have some flexibility with its implementation, but there should be a rule that no Shakespeare plays when adapted can be set in a post-Elizabethan world -- there are no train engines in Shakespeare, i'm sorry, that will not do.

One further rule (applicable to Shakespeare and, for that matter, any other works of art aside from Mad Max sequels): Mel Gibson cannot be given a leading role.

[stilltrucking]

A young Kate Wynslet gives good Ophelia,

you a funny guy e-dog

Been a long time since I saw Hamlet. Going to check it out and see which is available at the library.

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