Parents' Guide to Hamlet

With the lead actor in his 80s, and transporting the action to a theater, this version of the Bard's classic tragedy takes some innovative leaps, yet sticks closely to the original text and language. Here, Hamlet pays tribute to its theatrical roots, blending the formats of stage and film in a way that doesn't mind the audience peeking behind the curtain. It's a lockdown movie that sets itself in March 2020, when "theaters have closed indefinitely across the globe." The stage, as it were, is the entire theater—from dressing rooms to stairwells, cellars to fly spaces, boxes to hospitality suites—all the while a character lurks in the shadows recording scenes with a camcorder. Costumes are pulled from a mishmash of eras and styles, which could all realistically have been rummaged out of a costume cupboard to "make do." McKellen is impressive as ever, having first played Hamlet half a decade before, the camera allowing for a more subtle performance at times alongside his spritely physicality at others. There are layers here to be enjoyed, and while its faithfulness to the original language of the text doesn't make it entirely accessible, the innovation of the filming and undeniable star power of McKellen himself will no doubt appeal to new audiences, as well as young people studying the play.