The editing and condensing, however, most appropriately stops short at the dialogue: Shakespeare's lines may be trimmed, but they are never changed. Many scenes and sub-plots are removed entirely, which streamlines the story considerably in this case, the removal of characters like Fortinbras and his associated plot elements serves to focus the viewer on the core elements of the story: Hamlet's personal dilemma about his stepfather, and the effects of his behavior on those who love him. This adaptation, like almost all film adaptations of Shakespeare's plays (except for Kenneth Branagh's version of Hamlet, which has yet to come to DVD), abridges the original play significantly.

So it takes, I'd say, a certain amount of self-confidence to create a film adaptation of the Bard's most famous play: luckily for us, director Franco Zeffirelli took the plunge in 1990 with a star-studded cast, and the result is a most excellent Hamlet indeed.Īn important thing to remember about Shakespeare is that, apart from his wonderful use of the language, he wrote really gripping stories, and Hamlet is no exception. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is perhaps the most celebrated of all Shakespeare's plays, and for good reason: apart from its fascinating story of a young man fired with the desire for revenge, but torn by indecision, Hamlet is a showpiece for some of Shakespeare's most stunning writing.

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