Hamlet - an introduction by Kenneth Branagh

[musicgirl5426]

For some reason while watching this i now want to watch the dvd of The King's Speech lol

[TheSandrastevens]

The best movie of Hamlet ever made Kenneth Branagh is just pure genius

[DrunkenPoetic]

Shakespeare originally intended the play as a porno...but then he had to wait for Leonardo Da Vinci to invent dildos.

[Thingfishy]

@BibleJoker2Face I don't think it was excised in the UK version I have. It's in the scene where Hamlet and Ophelia are in bed and part of his speech to her is when he says '...But that I love thee best, O most best, believe it'.

[BibleJoker2Face]

shame that a scene in the trailer (about 10-15 seconds in) of Hamlet and Ophelia holding hands in bed was deleted from the film. I wonder why it was cut. does anybody know why Mr. Branagh excised the scene, and if it's available anywhere?

[SexyAlyssaRitchie]

his character looked so young in harry potter and now look lol

[Jgrado1]

I am genuinely excited to see the new Thor movie coming out. So often, Branagh is attached to great flicks... more than that, he's a great storyteller. He makes the story accessible to his audience. Everytime I see a film like Hamlet, though the dialogue is quite heavy at times, he makes it make sense to both the actors and the audience. I think we're in safe hands for the telling of Thor's story.

[MajCinematic]

I use to watch this all the time I had no idea he made a dvd special edition of it now!! I must look for it cuz I would love ot hear his audio commentary.

[d2eux]

I used to be one of those students in school that hated shakespeare. What;s the point? Who cares? I never fully appreciated Shakespeare until I fully sat through Branagh's rendition of Hamlet senior year of high school. It's taken my appreciation to a whole new level. It truly is remarkable

[Waitingtillmidnight]

I'm very happy that he decided to do the 4 hour version, the detail is superb!

[dka422]

I love his description at 5:06 of the speech he gave to the crew - sounds a lot like the St. Crispian's Day speech from Henry V.

[TheyFeedingULies]

Kenneth Branagh is amazing! His interpretation of the literature is superb! His interpretation of Hamlet is the best I've seen. I fell in love with Kate Winslet after watching this version of Hamlet.

[1405Tia]

I can't tell what this movie means to me! I love it so much .... and Branagh is a pretty sexy Hamlet :-)

[thedesperate4eva]

this version is incredible

[pdaervo]

"in 1984...when I was 6"

lol

[83lite]

I think Ol' William would have been pleased to see his play come so to life as this film allowed it to. I am watching it in class and it's really lovely. I can't follow the play alone, but if I read along with the film and make notes in my book at the same time I do. I appreciate this film!

[artj22850]

egyptiangel320, now I have to watch that to see what you mean. You will have to check out the hand position. Now, everytime I see the film, I notice it and it forum and wanted to start a thread on odd occurances or mistakes in films. I was watching Shackleton last night and I notice something really strange. The individuals in the life boats changed. I thought it was my imagination at first, but I think I am right. It made me laugh, too.

[artj22850]

Meant to add - this film is an absoulute a masterpiece....fantastic engrossing acting and such a dazzling, beautiful film!

[artj22850]

Has, anyone ever notice in the film that when Hamlet dies his palm is on the floor; then when they show him next time and a third time his hand is in a fist. I didn't know corpse's moved...hheee...Wonder if Ken realised that or laughed, too. I guess you all can tell how many times I have seen Hamlet now to have noticed this.

[egyptiangel320]

lol i never noticed that but i did notice that when he runs after Laertes to up the stairs, you cant see his cut anymore. he has no blood on him

[pierre5604]

Is it just me or is this man a, for back of a letter word, troglodyte? His films are wretched but compared to this they are greater even than the symphonies of Brahms.

Yes, Brahms.

[chiefchumley]

Well, I guess that at least he would be able to grasp the English language. Something tells me that he doesn't struggle with syntax.

[al1936ful]

@pierre5604 Compared to what?

[MrAdaLovelace]

Oh, Kenneth, people say you are a wanker, and that's because you are, but you have given the world this movie, and that's a lot. Thanks. I love your work.

[CarterdeMars]

"there is method in his madness"

[machngunjoe]

I actually don't like it when Kenneth does Shakespeare and he directs himself, because all you see are the massive and excessive close-ups uh of himself!

e.g. this movie.

When he played Iago he was really really good

[ShakespeareHamlet]

An excellent, possibly the DEFINITIVE, version of Shakespeare's classic play.

[spiegelhaus]

Now, now. You know that doesn't exist. x)

[ShakespeareHamlet]

In my opinion, I mean.

[savieandkay]

i read macbeth first in fourth grade but hamlet seems so much more i dunno -lovable? well, seeing as macbeth is a murderer, i guess that's kind of obvious, but still...

[SpiderXxPirate]

@savieandkay grade 4? Really? Wow. Anywho, I agree with you. Hamlet is definatley Shakespeare's most emotionally connected character. He wears his heart on his sleeve which makes it really easy to relate and sympathize with him . . . Even if he is responable for the deaths of 6 people.

[violetcloud]

yeah... i love him. no one does shakespeare like him. i trust no one else, really...

[Axelwater]

"Let Hercules himself do what he may, the cat will mew and dog will have its day."

[siilverblue]

... waiting for a Region 4 version to be released...

[rileymartini]

The fact that Kenneth not only took on the character of Hamlet but also Directed this brilliant film is mindblowing!

AMAZING respect for you, Mr. Branagh.

[atozinco]

did he? Well he was amazing

[ShakespeareHamlet]

Mr. Branagh also adapted the play for the screen. This epic film is Branagh's magnum opus. A MASTERPIECE.

[artj22850]

I have this on my DVD and watch it all the time. He is honest and one learns how he conceived his Hamlet. I love his version best and I have seen many others but I still go back to this version and am stunned at the fine performances - fascinating.

[mungbean4u]

Oh, KB. I just want to hold him against my bosom! He's so great.

[5ra46]

The only performance of Hamlet I like is Branagh's. I've never seen better classics than his.

[Uraharakun]

I love you forever, my sexy Hamlet/Iago! <3<3<3

[RinneganBoy1]

Kenneth Brannagh is a well versed, exceptional and unbelievably wonderful actor. I have a lot of admiration in his works. His experience in playing the role of Iago in Othello was outstanding!

[Jgrado1]

it's amazing. I've only recently become a shakespeare buff and I watched this movie in its entirety with my parents and my younger sister and we literally didn't say anything for entire 4 hours that we watched it. The power it had over this multiple-generational gathering of players is really staggering.

My hat's off to Mr. Branagh.

[bernhardtsen74]

I wonder how he directed the Thor movie to come!

I bet Anthony Hopkins would play Odin with a mask on like in Silence of the Lambs!

LOL!

[valland55]

where the fuk do I get the DVD of this film, I have seen it before on VHS, Can anyone let me know how to get it on DVd. pLEASE lt me know

[GilwenX]

You can find it in every online store, check Amazon.

[metteholm75]

I bought and watched the whole movie yesterday. It is HUGE, fascinating, a political drama, a criminal drama, and one of the most painful human tragedies, I have seen on screen. The Grand-Film-Style works.

Branagh has managed to give all aspects of the drama weight and importance, whereas most productions tend to highlight parts of it. The 4-hour length is fully justified. It is a breathtaking experience that whirls you into things, you sometimes do not want to witness. Thankyou, Mr. Branagh

[violetfieldflorence]

You've got to LOVE KENNETH BRANAGH!! :)

[JackOperaMan]

Fishmonger

[ilovemuchado]

"Every emotion ever experienced, every feeling felt by man, every pang of the heart and brightening of the smile, can all be found in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet"

It's not actually a quote, well it is, but by me...

[disneydreamer1899]

Kenneth Branagh and his Shakespeare movies are great. Thanks for uploading this.

[Kymyii]

Kenneth is hot....for an old guy xD

[DuchessAliana]

He's always been hot ^_^ And he's a freaking genius. One of the best actor/directors of our time :)

[Donillini]

As a person who has now watched it fully, I must say that it does not feel like almost four hours and it is not your boring old Hamlet

[askdrrob]

He said "Alas poor Yorrick, I knew him well" instead of "Alas poor Yorrick, I knew him Horatio", what a dick eh?

[didoxina89]

KENNETH is my myth...thanks for the video!

[Katiska62]

Branaghs Hamlet is wonderful, the actors are the best on earth, the music makes one want to cry. This is my absolute favorite.

[drunkandangry]

wow..i'm getting my hands on the dvd as soon as possible!

[TheWildOne4Ever]

*claps* wonderful work wonderful play , although i believe ken looks better dressed as hamlet haha , never the less awesome intro. :)

[riveroflife777]

Will get my students to watch - I actually teach it!

[DFinchinator]

great post!

[tropicalmist999]

Fantastic! A true timeless Masterpiece!

[ShakespeareHamlet]

bloody brilliant. The 2-Disc Special Edition DVD of this movie is an ABSOLUTE MUST-HAVE for any Shakespeare fan!!! The commentary by Mr. Branagh and Mr. Jackson is very insightful as to the making of this movie and informative for people who want to be actors, directors, writers and producers (such as myself). The 30-minute documentary "To Be On Camera: A History With Hamlet" is included. Plus, there are seven trailers and a 12-minute Cannes promo for the film.

[chiefchumley]

I guess I neglected to mention that there was a promo included. The 30 min documentary is the same as the one on the VHS, so I was kind of disappointed by that. You're right though, it's great to have this DVD.

[Golritz]

It's about that it's released!!! My VHS wouldn't play the Hamlet video... I just HAVE to buy the 2 disc set!!

[ShakespeareHamlet]

Kenneth Branagh is the greatest Hamlet since Sir Laurence Olivier. Both he & Shakespeare would be proud of this film version.

[B0l33]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh YES! im so glad this is out on dvd, its so good. AND its the whole hamlet play! i love the character hamlet and i love kenneth playing it too! =]

[GilwenX]

It´s the introduction of the DVD actually, as the description says.

By the way, Isnt on You Tube Ken´s short interview for the movie "Valkyrie"? Ken looks like here, I assume he was filming already Valkyrie when this interview..

[B0l33]

I know its the introduction... =/

[GilwenX]

Ahh someone did it, uploaded this on You Tube.

This introduction comes in Hamlet DVD.

[felipetavares79]

Then I missed the smirk. Frankly, I still miss it. Either it's too subtle or it wasn't a very successful joke at all.

Other than that, of course I knew the man wasn't six by 1984.

Anyway, thanks for the clarification.

[me0709]

I LOVE Kenny Branagh! Olivier and Shakespeare would be proud.

[felipetavares79]

"(...) I started doing Shakespeare professionally in 1984, when I was six (...)"

When he was six? Six what??? Years old?!

I just don't get it...

[me0709]

I think it was a joke...he smirks after saying, "I was six..."

[htkynd]

Yeah, he's making a joke. He was born in 1960, so he would have been 24 years old when he was doing Shakespeare professionally. (Note: at the Royal Shakespeare Company; their youngest Henry V ever!)

[ShakespeareHamlet]

that's another reason I like Mr. Branagh. He pokes fun at himself. He actually wrote to Sir Laurence Olivier for advice on how to play the part and I can't remember what the Master replied to him, but I know that Mr. Branagh took it to heart and did a wonderful film version in 1989. The rest is history.

[GilwenX]

Oh gosh I was thinking the same thing, when I saw this introduction on the DVD and heard about that!!!

I am not an english speaker...so I though "I am mishearing what Ken says, for sure"

Perhaps he was mistaken in saying that.

[ShakespeareHamlet]

absolutely awesome film. the commentary by Mr. Branagh & text advisor Russell Jackson is illuminating. The special features are worth every penny, but buy the DVD for the movie itself. I LOVE Kenneth Branagh.

[Edelwyn]

looks just great! I can't wait to see the dvd...

[Skoura]

I love, love, love this version of Hamlet. I am, as I write this, watching the Ethan Hawke version, and it is making me cringe. No one does it like Branagh. He brings Shakespeare to the screen in such a way that is accessable to all, as well as highly enjoyable. I haven't bought my copy yet, as I can't find it in stores, but when I do, I shall very much enjoy this four hour masterpiece. Thank you for uploading this.