9kmovies | My review about Hamlet & where to watch it

Ethan Hawke is the first film adaptation of Hamlet that I have seen. Hamlet in the Early 21st Century, adapted and directed by Michael Almereyda, is adapted to a time when Denmark is a shopping mall, Elsinore is a hotel, and everyone dresses like the year 2000. But Shakespeare’s work is still used almost exclusively. You can check the 9kmovies and search for your favorite movies of all time. Go and explore the ocean of entertainment on the website.

The most amazing thing about this adaptation

The king is killed by his brother to get his “throne” and his wife, and Prince Hamlet seeks revenge. The most striking thing about this adaptation is its modernization. I’ve always loved modernizations of stories, and I think I always will. I like them. I’m not sure why, but I like them. I’m fascinated by how little (and some big) things adapt to the new time in which the story is set. This film is no exception. However, I noticed very early on that this movie was supposed to be futuristic.

The case of science fiction dramas

Maybe because it seemed futuristic in 2000, but it quickly turned out otherwise. (Or maybe because I liked Ethan Hawke so much in Gattaca.) The tone of the film was very subdued, as is often the case in science fiction dramas, but some things, like the architecture of the Elsinore hotel, were wonderfully modern. However, some obvious things could easily have placed the film in the year 2000 – Hamlet’s knitted hat and yellow sunglasses, the women’s hairstyles, and Ophelia’s costumes all of which date the film and ruin the effect of timelessness.

Letters usually say their sentences in this way

The other thing that struck me was the tone – as I said, it looks very much like a science fiction drama, and I often like that tone. I appreciated this, but I often wish I had more of it. But the characters usually said their sentences with such suppressed emotion that I couldn’t say anything else while I was reading except what they were thinking. One of the things that excited me most about watching the film versions of Hamlet was that I wanted to see how other people interpreted the story.

When Hamlet accused his mother of murder

The movie didn’t give me as much reason to live it as I expected, and most of the things that were left to interpretation in the original script were left to interpretation here. For example, when Hamlet accuses his mother of murder, I was convinced he was innocent, but when, after drinking wine, he asks the king to forgive her, it seems he is guilty. What is the truth? I think the directors want us to decide for ourselves, but I wanted to see for myself. Hamlet underwent the biggest changes because of the heavy tone and hardly resembled the Hamlet I had imagined.

The excitement that was in my mind at Hamlet

I love Ethan Hawke’s work, and no one else could have portrayed the character as he does – the inner passion boiling beneath his stony face but he’s in that state throughout the film, brooding, silent, angry. It has none of the external fire, humor, or vivacity that Hamlet had in my imagination. Hawke always speaks in a very deliberate and monotone way, and when he monologues to himself, I never understand the depth or meaning of his words.

The book gives the impression that he is a great character

King Claudius was the best for me. Kyle MacLachlan had a more direct, sincere, and understandable way of speaking and a natural theatricality. Horatio (Karl Geary) was more of a side character than I would have liked. I got the impression from the book that he is a noble character who experiences everything (like Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby), so the story is more or less told through his eyes. Geary’s performance did not embarrass me, and I wanted to see more. I liked Liev Schreiber, but I was less biased by Laertes, and I like Schreiber.

A side effect of the accent

Julia Stiles was not very good as Ophelia. I don’t know if I like Ophelia now, but as compelling as Stiles was, I never felt much for her. I never felt sympathy for any of the characters, a side effect of the tone. The Queen (Diane Venora), Polonius (Bill Murray), Rosencrantz (Steve Zahn), and Guildenstern (Dechen Thurman) weren’t very compelling, but honestly, in terms of character evaluation, none of them were particularly high or low. Before I saw the film, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to rate it. Admittedly, I am a newcomer to Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Film instead of my understanding of Hamlet

Therefore, I was quite surprised to immediately see that there are things I like and dislike about this film version. I wouldn’t be surprised if my opinion of this film version has changed a bit after seeing other film versions, and I certainly judge it based on my understanding of the film rather than my understanding of Hamlet. But I guess that’s how it is: Hamlet, as impressive and complicated as it is on paper, is still just a movie when it’s filmed.

Although I think someone was expecting it

And this film struck the right balance between good and bad, with some elements I enjoyed and others that disappointed me. As a film, it was engaging and entertaining and managed to fit in a certain style. As a film adaptation, it wasn’t what I expected, although I guess someone was expecting it. You can check out the latest thrilling, action, romantic, and comedy movies and serials on moviesrush without any cost.

Conclusion

The best part is that after seeing this film, I knew what I wanted to see in a film adaptation of Hamlet, even if it wasn’t this film. That makes me even more excited for any other Hamlet I see in the future. I doubt this will be my favorite film if I have a choice of several, but I am more than happy to have gone to see it.