second two filmed hamlets nineties first franco zeffirellis starring mel gibson  zeffirellis version like laurence oliviers  based upon abridged version play much shakespeares original text cut i never seen tony richardsons  version ran less two hours shorter even zeffirellis presume also abridged kenneth branagh attempting something much ambitious film based complete text play running time around four hoursbr br with henry v branagh claimed oliviers crown cinemas leading shakespearean confirming claim brilliant much ado nothing rare example great film based shakespeare comedy hamlet third shakespeare film director he also acted iago oliver parkers  othello and one might expect different much ado earlier film shot villa hills tuscany beautiful surrounding countryside joyous summertime film everything makes life worth livingbr br hamlet contrast set depths winter the flowers description ophelias death suggest shakespeare thought action happening summer look film particularly striking sumptuous chilly filmed blenheim palace possibly englands grandiose stately home also rather forbidding one snowy exterior scenes cold wintry interior ones formal elaborate action updated mid nineteenth century female characters wear elaborate fashions era principal male ones mostly wear splendid military uniforms there contrast zeffirellis film interiors costumes deliberately subdued tone play dominated images corruption decay branaghs intention may contrast splendid surface underlying something rotten state denmarkbr br the film notable large number bigname actors minor roles blink might miss john gieldgud judi dench apparently allstar cast required production company nervous fourhour film imported hollywood stars robin williams osric really come off others like charlton hestons player king billy crystals first gravedigger played parts well yorick normally seen skull seen flashback played british comedian ken dodd brian blessed often plays jovial characters cast type ghost makes scenes appears genuinely frighteningbr br of major characters perhaps weakest kate winslets ophelia branaghs leading lady first two shakespeare films wife emma thompson marriage ended divorce  did however find wishing thompson cast role although winslet came ophelias mad scenes seemed weak earlier ones character still sane i preferred helena bonham carter zeffirellis version richard briers plays polonius greater dignity often given wise experienced counsellor rather prating old fool julie christie also brings dignity role gertrude attempt here gibson glenn close zeffirelli version suggest incestuous attachment hamlet an interpretation owes freud shakespeare age difference christie branagh great enough credible mother son certainly case close gibson oliviers gertrude eileen herlie was bizarrely thirteen years younger himbr br branagh stated intention restoring scenes often cut cinematic versions reinforce idea play national well domestic tragedy much stress placed upon war norway norwegian prince fortinbras subplot ignored altogether zeffirelli emphasis national tragedy perhaps best shown character claudius sometimes played onedimensional villain something derek jacobis performance suggests claudius could good man different circumstances allowed led astray ambition lust could good loyal servant brother chose rule bad king although tormented guilt see way make amends evil donebr br branagh wonderfully fluent speaker shakespeares verse superb main role like gibson little time old concept hamlet indecisive passive melancholy active physical energetic hamlet something best shown fatal duel laertes guiding principle worldweary despair active disgust evil corruptionbr br it gamble branagh make fourhour epic film well box office was however praised many critics james berardinelli particularly enthusiastic opinion that whatever financial returns may been branaghs gamble paid artistic terms concentrating full text able bring full meaning full emotional power shakespeares complex play reviewed much ado said greatest ever film shakespeare comedy hamlet may greatest ever film shakespeare tragedy 