Hamlet

[rhu]

Overall, I thought that was well done, although I think Branagh's was better. I was disappointed that they omitted the end of the play; I sat through a half hour "making of" documentary expecting Fortinbras's entrance. I also thought the intermission cut was odd.

I loved the way they brought out the humourous parts. Polonius was a hoot, as was Osric's eyerolling. I was disappointed that the CCTV turned out to be just a conceit --- it would have been interesting had Claudius been watching "To be..." --- or better yet, young Fortinbras.

While I had no trouble seeing Stewart as Claudius (and I liked the idea of doubling him as the ghost), I had trouble keeping Tennant's Hamlet apart from his Doctor. Too many of the mannerisms were the same.

And, of course, the two lines that jumped out at me? "Couldst thou on this mountain leave to feed and batten on this mieuuuuurrrrrrr?" and "'Tis sport to have the engineer hoist with his own Picard."

Comments

Re: Hamlet

[(Anonymous)]

I thought Tennant was doing Barty Crouch, Jr. all over again. I kept expecting him to start flicking his tongue.

[530nm330hz.livejournal.com]

Oh, I also wanted to call out that I thought Gertrude's knowing what she was doing with the goblet at the end was an amazing and unexpected twist, and turns her from a foolish dupe into a powerful woman. As staged, her accepting capital consequences upon herself arguably was the key to Claudius's downfall, and Hamlet was just the implement.

[tahnan.livejournal.com]

...I have no idea what you're talking about. (I can kind of infer.) It's also not a good sign if Branagh's was better—Branagh's abridged, or his four-hour uncut? It had the problems of (a) Jack Lemmon and (b) being four hours long. I adore Branagh, his Henry V is one of my five favorite films, but his Hamlet felt less like a movie and more like an endurance test.