The problem I have with most Shakespear-based films is that they either remove scenes/dialogue or try to modernize it. This, however, is the closest we will EVER get to the original play, which is very impressive. Granted, that also makes this one incredibly long, but you can tell they really tried their hardest with this one. It is kinda odd seeing Robin Williams in this, but nonetheless, this is the best version of the film to expose high-school students to as it got everything right.
Hamlet (1996)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Shakespeare's great tragedy -- all of it.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 14 and Up
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Hamlet (1996) was written by Randy White
Parents need to know that kids will see Hamlet and Ophelia making love (without nudity), plus sword fights and poisonings. This is the only full-length production of the play on film.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about whether it makes Shakespeare's work more accessible. Did the actors help you understand the arcane language? Why do you think the director choose to commit the entire play to film rather than trim it as other film versions do?
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More on Hamlet (1996)
What’s the Story?
This version of Shakespeare's great tragedy is a grand accomplishment -- the whole of the play without edits. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. The dead King, Hamlet's father, walks the land and Fortinbras of Norway threatens war. Hamlet's mother has abruptly married Claudius, the new King and Hamlet's uncle. Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh) is despondent and curses his mother. Meanwhile, Hamlet's lover, Ophelia (Kate Winslet) is ordered by her brother, Laertes, and father, Polonius, to avoid Hamlet. The ghost confirms that Claudius is the murderer, and Hamlet puts on a play in hopes of outing him. In a fury, Hamlet kills Polonius. Ophelia goes mad and commits suicide. Laertes challenges Hamlet to a duel in which Laertes himself is killed and Gertrude is mistakenly poisoned. Then Claudius is killed by Hamlet and Hamlet felled by a poisoned sword. Fortinbras enters and, before he dies, Hamlet pronounces him the most likely candidate to win the crown.
Is It Any Good?
There are a number of reasons to recommend this rousing adaptation of Hamlet. The cast is superb, and as both director and actor, Kenneth Branagh shines. The actors don't simply recite lines; they discover the meaning of Shakespeare's words as they speak them. Shot in widescreen 70mm, the movie looks gorgeous. Most versions of Hamlet are heavily edited, and this is a chance to see the entire play in all its glorious complexity.
Here is a Hamlet with all of his rage and confusion on display, a young man seeking revenge for his father's murder who hesitates to take action, his inner turmoil mirrored in the court's politics. The intricate, unedited plot runs over four hours, but the rewards are great for viewers who stick it out. Some of the celebrity cameos hit (Billy Crystal as the First Gravedigger), while some completely miss (Jack Lemmon as Marcellus), but the leads are uniformly brilliant. A bravura accomplishment and a great addition to any collection.
Movie Details
Studio: Castle Rock Entertainment, Director: Kenneth Branagh
Run time: 266 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/25/1996, DVD release: 4/18/2000
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for Mature Themes
Run time: 266 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/25/1996, DVD release: 4/18/2000
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for Mature Themes
Our Members Say
See 9 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
Best adaptation to date
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Do yourself a favor and watch Laurence Olivier's version instead.
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I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it
A must-see movie.
Kenneth Branagh's embodiment is the ebst yuo will ever see of this character. Truly Amazing.
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I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it
A must-see movie.
Kenneth Branagh embodiment of Hamlet's character is the best you will ever see. Truly Amazing.
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I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it
A must-see movie.
Kenneth Branagh embodiment of Hamlet's character is the best you will ever see. Truly Amazing.
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