Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Michael Almereyda made an interesting attempt at a Shakespeare with his 1996 adaptation of Hamlet. Ethan Hawke stars in the titular role, with Kyle MacLachlan, Bill Murray, and Julia Stiles also starring. Hamlet is called home to tend to the death of his father, who he quickly believes to have been murdered by his uncle. Death and uncertainty are heavily explored in Almereyda's version set in modern-day New York, bringing the Bard's work into the 21st century.Hamlet (Ethan Hawke) experienced a vision before he returned to New York after the death of his father, CEO of Denmark Corporation. The vision makes Hamlet believe that his father was murdered by his Uncle, Claudius (Kyle MacLachlan) who is now the CEO of Denmark Corporation. Hamlet's mother, Gertrude, (Diane Venora) has changed her status of widower quickly after marrying Claudius. In order to determine if the vision was truly Hamlet's father warning him of Claudius, Hamlet makes a video about a tale of murder that resembles that of Hamlet's father in order to gauge his uncle's reaction. Once convinced of his guilt, Hamlet dedicates himself to avenging his father's murder. While plotting revenge, Claudius now realizes Hamlet has figured him out and is now a threat to Claudius' new empire and simultaneously plots against the young man. A tangled web of murder plots abounds in this intricate Shakespeare tragedy. This film was a mixed bag of good and bad. First the good; it was enjoyable to hear faithful Shakespearean dialogue in a modern New York setting. This decision on the part of Michael Almereyda was a wise one to engage both fans of Shakespeare and those that would otherwise forgo an adaptation of his. Those familiar with Shakespeare's original Hamlet will be happy for the faithful dialogue juxtaposed against the different setting. The quick cuts throughout the film were exciting and kept the audience engaged through the slower moments as the story unfolded. The bad; Bill Murray reciting faithful Shakespeare dialogue. The only bad part about the faithful dialogue was that no part of Bill Murray is Shakespearean in my mind and listening to him recite old English was an odd combination. The acting in this film was very cardboard. Ethan Hawke in the titular role came off incredibly unbelievable and stiff. Almost ever actor in the film, in fact, came off stiff and reserved. Kyle MacLachlan's Claudius was the only actor who seemed to take on his part with some enthusiasm to create a dynamic role. I'm not sure if the rigid acting was a directorial decision or not, but it was one that I still didn't understand, even as the film ended. Death certainly takes center stage in Hamlet. Once he learned of his father's death, Hamlet became obsessed with the idea of death. The reality of death consumed his being and he obsessively thought about and filmed about death while he was uncovering the possible murder of his father. He ponders the existential ideas concerning death, and the possibility of an afterlife. Death is continuously tied to issues throughout the film and the uncertainty death brings is Hamlet's primary focus. Thinking so much about his father's life and his untimely death causes Hamlet to consider his own death. In the famous "To Be Or Not To Be" soliloquy, which takes place within a Blockbuster in this film, Hamlet is plagued by the idea of suicide which is expressly forbidden in his Christian faith. Dealing with an unexpected death so close to him results in Hamlet not being able to shake the shadow of death which follows him throughout the film. Michael Almereyda's Hamlet is an interesting version of Hamlet that is one to see at least once for devoted fans of Shakespeare.

Really. This is a load of crock. The only market I can see for this is perhaps high-school students who really can't get a grip on Shakespeare's text. If you're hoping for a movie that stands on its own merits, or, alternately a Shakespeare text done well in feature film format you're bound to be very disappointed. In fact, you're bound to be disappointed no matter what. Unless of course, you have an all-blinding respect for one of the many famous lead actors. Maybe, just maybe, then you might have enjoyed it. As I'm sure many have. Perhaps a more apt title for this film might be "Hamlet - the guy who really got upset because the action section at Blockbuster was simply too limited".

It was very exciting to FINALLY have someone more age appropriate portraying Hamlet. The modernized setting intrigued me. But there are just some things that do not transcend to the modern world - avenging a father's death, a prince getting away with multiple murders and "Get thee to a nunnery...", for starters.This is a strong cast that was hampered by the direction, screenplay and editing. Ophelia was too childish, Polonius too silly, and Hamlet too unimpassioned.If you're a Shakespeare freak, give it a whirl. But this is NOT the one to show in English class!

It is hard, even after having SEEN it, to conceive of a movie version of Hamlet worse than the one Mel Gibson perpetrated. However, this travesty pulls it off--employing actors who could not play a period role if their lives depended on it, destroying every line of some of the greatest dramatic poetry in English. Nonexistent diction, nonexistent brains, nonexistent timing, delivery, movement, vocal training, or any other sort of rudimentary acting technique... It is possible to schtick one's way through the kind of movies Ethan Hawke usually appears in , with no talent; it is not possible for him, or his fellow criminals here, to say one line of Shakespeare without mortifying himself and exposing his utter imbecility, inadequacy, and uselessness. The line readings are so dreadful that one wonders if he knows what these words MEAN. Even Kyle MacLachlan and Diane Venora, who are not completely devoid of talent, embarrass themselves; Julia Stiles is of the same toneless, unskilled school of 'acting' as our hero. Everything about this movie is ludicrous to the point of being parodic; what made this director and these 'actors' think they could **** with Shakespeare?