Hamlet and Then Some

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Nothing like a portfolio review coming up to remind you that you need to blog about home schooling stuff... Did we remember to educate the children this semester?  Oh, yeah, we just finished a high tide with Hamlet! Nothing says "We're serious about education" like Shakespeare!

We watched three different versions: the 1990 Mad Max Mel Gibson version set in medieval times.  This had our favorite queen - seriously, Glenn Close was amazing, it was the most convincing explanation of the situation I've ever seen!  We also liked Gibson's Hamlet a lot.  He made it believable that Hamlet was likeable, but flawed, a combination that is clear in the play, but hard to pull off.

Next up was the 1996 scene chewing extravaganza Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet. We really liked their Horatio, and their Claudius. This was our least favorite Hamlet, partly because he was so unlikeable. This also had my favorite scenery set in the late 18th century: very lush and opulent, if a bit chewed around the edges.

The Zoomlians commented that this version "jumped the shark" at several points, notably in the ghost scene where the ghost's command to swear secrecy is accompanied by earthquakes.  Seriously. But it also had the best ever grave diggers scene (with Billy Crystal) and a jaw droppingly awesome Charleton Heston as the leader of the players.

Fun to watch, but a prime example of why the director, producer, and star should be at least two different people.

Then we had the 2009 Dr. Who/Star Trek crossover David Tennant Hamlet with Sir Patrick Stewart as Claudius. This was set in modern times with clever use of security cameras and "found footage" for the soliloquies.  This was very well done.  My favorite Claudius, an excellent Polonius, Laertes, and Horatio, and our best and worst Ophelia.  As a sane Ophelia, we found her utterly unconvincing, but as crazy Ophelia... Wow!

We liked Tennant as Hamlet very much.  He was believable, and he brought out the black humor of the part.  He does "conflicted" very well also, and that's a key part of the role.


So, what's left?  Rozencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.  This is a weird film from back in 1990 which follows two very minor characters from Hamlet through the play, sort of at right angles to it, while asking existential questions.  Naturally, it's a comedy.

It also includes The World's Most Annoying Game, which your children will want to play all the time, so allow them to watch it (below) at your peril. Also there is at least one inappropriate scene in the movie (with the players) which we fast forwarded for the Zoomlians.