Gibson's is okay but it was a bit too Oedipal.
Gibson's is okay but it was a bit too Oedipal.
I've seen bits and pieces of a lot of versions, but I've seen the Tennant version all the way through. I loved every bit of it. It accessible without being patronizing, dramatic without having overacting, and just plain excellent. Patrick Stewart is, at any rate, the best Claudius I've ever seen.
Thoughts, questions, comments? =]
"I look up and am dazzled,
look down and am darkened,
look round and am puzzled."
- George Bernard Shaw, "Caesar and Cleopatra"
I'll jump in.
A few other Hamlets available for rent or sale are:
the Russian one http://www.amazon.com/Hamlet-Mr-Bong...ef=pd_cp_mov_0
the Campbell Scott one http://www.amazon.com/Hamlet-Lewis-A...7695828&sr=1-1
the Christopher Plummer one http://www.amazon.com/Hamlet-at-Elsi...7695858&sr=1-1
I get something from every Hamlet I watch. I really wish I could have seen the Michael Sheen one at the Young Vic. Set in an insane asylum.
I had to cast my vote for Burton's fiery interpretation of Hamlet...angry, rebellious, dangerous (though I must admit I haven't seen Tennant's performance, and I love his work in general).
How did Kenneth Branagh get so many votes? His Hamlet was acceptable but hardly the best.
I used to think Derek Jacobi's Hamlet was too camp but actually the effeminacy is spot on. If you make the character too "manly" as Branagh and Gibson did, it doesn't make sense why he fails repeatedly to kill Claudius. Hamlet is not a superhero- he is a weak man being forced to do a strong thing.
Oop, just found the Nicol Williamson one online, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN0y2...eature=related
Hang it all, I found a complete version of Richard Burton's "Electronovision" performance online and now I've lost it!!!! Thought I'd bookmarked it but . . . Can anyone help?
ETA:
Never mind -- found it! In case anyone else is interested:
http://globalshakespeares.mit.edu/ha...gud-john-1964/
Last edited by Miss Plum; 05-31-2012 at 03:52 AM.
What did you think of Burton?
While there are several admirable performances in the poll, for 'my money', Campbell Scott delivers the one that resonates most completely - though, as John Gielgud said, 'You never get him'. And he tried 5 (6?) times. As the great Stella Adler taught - and I'm no scholar or authority, and probably, greatly, over-simplifying - it's never 'you' on stage but the character. One must not rely on 'the words' alone, but the world of the character. 'Something is rotten in Denmark', and as the Prince and royalty, and all that 'Wittenberg' implies, this guy is torn to pieces inside - and stating the obvious - on many levels. Mr Scott comes the closest, for me, to capturing this layered torment. My main complaint is why does his 'intelligence' always have to render him so precious? I'd love to see a King Cobra hopelessly surrounded by a vicious pack of mongoose. He isn't kidding when he says 'Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd his canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!' Have things ever been that bad...? It's a place of dark and deep ferocity. Not, as they say, for sissies. I agree with the mention of the Russian version. If Mr Scott had Burton's voice and acting chops, you might come close - though I really think that Mr Gielgud has the last word...
Last edited by Sbrkr; 05-16-2015 at 12:22 AM.
Campbell Scott??? Why isn't he on the list? He's my favorite.
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