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HAMLET
 
 
 
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  • Review count
    7
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  • First review
    August 11, 2007
  • Last review
    October 28, 2007
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    4.3
 
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HAMLET's Reviews
 
Milos Forman's award winning biopic Amadeus gets the deluxe two-disc treatment from Warner Brothers on this release. The film is presented in a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. English and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1, and a second English soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Surround. There are no subtitles, but both English soundtracks are closed-captioned. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by Forman and the writer Peter Shaffer, a making of documentary, and a theatrical trailer. This is the director's cut of the film that restores a sequence cut from the original theatrical release. This is an excellent DVD.
 
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Beautifully Shot, But Historically Inaccurate Film
on October 28, 2007
Posted by: HAMLET
Milos Foreman's Academy-Award winning movie about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) is a gorgeously filmed, but grossly inaccurate, portrayal of the greatest musician the world has ever known. F. Murray Abraham gives a solid performance as the man who may or may not have silenced the world's greatest musical genius. The inaccuracies are too many for me to list here, but if you're looking for a history lesson on Mozart (who is my favourite composer), this movie IS NOT it. The Director's Cut runs 3 hours and is rated R.
What's great about it: Sublime Music By The Master. Excellent & Sumptuous Sets & Costumes.
What's not so great: Mozart Portrayed As A Clown, A Cheater & A Disrespectful Person. Constanze Portrayed As A Loose Woman.
I would recommend this to a friend!
-1point
0of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Based on the Alexander Dumas extended novel of the same name, The Count of Monte Cristo is a difficult story to adapt because of it's length. The DVD has a commentary track from director Kevin Reynolds, a feature on the writing of Dumas, a feature on the choreography of the fight scenes, and a feature on the production design. There are also deleted scenes, choreography on the final duel, an examination of the sound design of Edward's escape, and more. The film is in widescreen 1.85:1 aspect ratio and audio is THX certified with English 5.1 and French 5.1 Surround Sound, and Spanish subtitles.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Swashbuckling Redition Of A Classic Story.
on September 25, 2007
Posted by: HAMLET
In adapting Alexandre Dumas' 1462 page novel for the silver screen, an IMMENSE amount of cutting the extra material not pertinent to the main story (Edmond & his revenge against those who betrayed him) had to be done. I personally applaud the screenwriting of Jay Wolpert (who wrote a script for "Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl" which was ultimately rejected), the superb direction of Kevin Reynolds (who directed the smash hit "Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves") and an all-star cast, including Jim Caviezel (before his powerful performance in "The Passion Of The Christ"), Guy Pearce ("Memento") and the late Richard Harris ("Camelot") in one of his final film roles. Cutting it down to just a little over two hours and maintaining the spirit of the original novel, albeit with a lot of liberties that die-hard purists will not enjoy, that is quite an accomplishment. The movie itself is a tour-de-force. It shouldn't have been rated PG-13 (the brief situation in the movie is handled discreetly and the violence is mild & non-graphic). As for language, come on. It's a period piece. All in all, awesome film. The special features are very interesting: a featurette on Dumas himself, an inside look at the process involved in bringing this classic novel to the screen, deleted scenes with director commentary and more. Highly recommended with Disney's version of "The Three Musketeers."
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
One of the best presentations of a Tim Burton film on DVD, Edward Scissorhands features a widescreen, anamorphic transfer, Dolby Digital 4.0 and Surround Audio, and an array of supplements that complement Burton's bittersweet tale of a gentle misfit with blades where his hands should be. The disc includes commentaries by Burton and composer Danny Elfman, a brief "making of" featurette, concept sketches, the original theatrical trailer, and TV commercials, all of which lend different perspectives on the film's creative processes. As with his Pee-Wee's Big Adventure and Sleepy Hollow commentaries, Burton's engaging track focuses mainly on the film's thematic and artistic concepts instead of technical information. Though he's not nearly as talkative as Burton, Elfman's track reaffirms just how intertwined his composing is with Burton's filmmaking process. Burton's spindly, evocative concept sketches of Edward and the inventor who created him both hint at the final versions of the characters and show how much Edward Scissorhands' production and design contributed to the film. Likewise, the featurette includes an interview with screenwriter Caroline Thompson, who wrote the screenplay around those same drawings. All in all, the DVD of Edward Scissorhands gives the film the treatment it deserves, as well as the ideas and the people behind it.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Heart-Wrenching Story Of An Incomplete Person.
on September 22, 2007
Posted by: HAMLET
Tim Burton's follow-up to "Batman" is nothing less than a masterpiece with a star-making performance by Johnny Depp, a wonderful performance by Winona Ryder and the final film of horror icon Vincent Price. As someone who is disabled and experienced rejection & ridicule, I can clearly relate to the story and how he found love, which he could never requite. Everyone should see this film. If ever you have made fun of a disabled person, I hope that this film will change your perspective. The film is rated PG.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Although criticized by Shakespeare devotees upon its release because of director, producer, and star Laurence Olivier's decision to excise large portions of the text, his cinematic version of Hamlet is widely considered the best out of several dozens (and counting). Hamlet (Olivier) is a medieval Danish prince who's still melancholy over the sudden death of his father and the quick, subsequent remarriage of his mother, Queen Gertrude (Eileen Herlie) to his uncle, Claudius (Basil Sydney). Informed by the ghost of his father that Claudius murdered him, Hamlet schemes to take revenge. Unsure how best to proceed, his delays and the horrible secret burdening him eventually lead to the violent snuffing out of several lives in both his family and that of courtier Polonius (Felix Aylmer), whose daughter Ophelia (Jean Simmons) is in love with Hamlet. Greatly influenced by the inventive camera work in Citizen Kane (1941) and by modern, psychological reinterpretations of Shakespeare's play, Olivier's masterpiece was the winner of four Academy Awards, for Best Picture, Best Actor (Olivier), Best Black and White Art Direction/Set Direction and Best Black and White Costume Design.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
A Masterpiece Of Filmmaking. Olivier's Greatest.
on September 16, 2007
Posted by: HAMLET
Sir Laurence Olivier directs, produces, co-writes and stars in this critically acclaimed film version of William Shakespeare's greatest tragedy. For years, there have been countless interpretations of the Bard's sumptuous work of love, revenge, family loyalty and betrayal.
Olivier does the Bard justice in this 2/1/2 hour masterpiece. While cutting some of Hamlet's soliloquies ("How all occasions do inform against me, and spur my dull revenge...," etc) and other famous lines ("O, what a noble mind is here o'erthrown...," etc), completely eliminating Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Fortinbras, Cornelius and Voltimand, Olivier nevertheless retains the central aspect of the play: Hamlet and the darkness surrounding him after his father's death. Well-done.
This film is an excellent alternative for those who find Kenneth Branagh's excellent 4 hour version too long. Personally, I think both are well-filmed interpretations. Skip Zeferelli's and enjoy the Masters Of Shakespeare: Sir Laurence Olivier & Kenneth Branagh.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
 
The third Shakespearean adaptation for renowned filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli, Hamlet earned two Academy Award nominations in 1991 and allowed star Mel Gibson to flex some of his more dramatic acting chops. On this DVD release from Warner Home Video, the film is presented in the widescreen format with an anamorphic transfer. The original English soundtrack has been rendered in Dolby Digital 2.0 sound with English, Spanish, and French subtitles available. Along with an introduction by Gibson, the film is supplemented by a pair of featurettes: "Hamlet: An Actor's Journey" delves into the process of performing the bard from a thespians point of view, while "Mel Gibson: To Be or Not to Be" takes viewers behind the scenes for glimpses at the making of the film.
 
Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
Mediocre Film Version. Buy Olivier Or Branagh's.
on September 9, 2007
Posted by: HAMLET
Franco Zefferelli ("William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet," "Jesus Of Nazareth") directs what seems to be the 200th film version of William Shakespeare's classic tragedy. Misplaced way too many lines, the examples of which wouldn't fit here. Buy Kenneth Branagh or Laurence Olivier's film versions instead. They're much better.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
The 2nd Definitive HAMLET...For Now.
on August 17, 2007
Posted by: HAMLET
Ever since "The Tragicall Historie Of Hamlet, Prince Of Denmarke" by William Shakespeare was first performed in 1600 at the Globe Theater in London, there have been countless film versions of the classic tragedy of murder, family loyalty, corruption, love and revenge. But, never has it been told like this...until now.
For the first time, William Shakespeare's greatest work is presented in its entirety on film by accomplished Shakespearean director, actor, writer & producer Kenneth Branagh ("Henry V," Dead Again," "Much Ado About Nothing," "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein").
The film is a masterpiece of filmmaking. At 242 minutes, it is certainly not for those with short attention spans or for those who do not enjoy Shakespeare. The film presents a lot of subleties which are lost in other film interpretations. Shakespeare would be proud.
The movie includes a fascinating featurette on the making of the film. The movie also includes an informative introduction by director/star Kenneth Branagh.
Rated PG for some violence.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Best Non-Disney Fairy Tale Ever Made.
on August 11, 2007
Posted by: HAMLET
Having read about this movie on other sites, I decided, "Hey, this film is worth a shot." I also enjoy period, fantasy, romance and adventure films. A friend of mine bought the film for me and I can't stop repeating the lines. "As You Wish," Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die," "Inconcievable," etc. The performances are magnificent-from Cary Elwes (in his second movie) to Robin Wright (before she Married Sean Penn) and the rest of the cast. The movie manages to make fun of traditional fairy tales while not taking itself seriously. As Rob Reiner says in the all-new documentary "As You Wish: The Making Of The Princess Bride," it's a celebration of true love. The sword fight on the Cliffs Of Insanity is terrific and remeniscent of Errol Flynn swashbucklers. Of course, there is romance...and beautiful love scenes they are. With the film itself being free of any objectionable material, you might almost think that this is a Disney film. Well, it's not, but Walt Disney himself would be proud of this movie. Romance, adventure and comedy all in one spectacular movie. It's a chick flick. Recommended for girls' night out. Rated PG for mild adventure violence.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
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