Hamlet Film Critique: Due 5/29

Overview: As you know, we’ve watched Act V of Hamlet (2009) in class.

Directions: Rent (at Blockbuster [if any still exist] or the library) one of the films below.  You can also stream (or) rent some of these through Netflix if you have the opportunity. 

• Teenager Hamlet (2010) —Available on Netflix (DVD) [DOCUMENTARY]
• Mystery Science Theater 3000: Hamlet (1999) Michael J. Nelson—Available on Netflix (DVD & Streaming) [COMEDY]
• Fodor’s Hamlet (2007) Alexander Fodor —Available on Netflix (DVD) [INDEPENDENT]
• Hamlet by Brook (2001) Simon Brook—Available on Netflix (DVD) [STAGE]
• Hamlet (1990) [Mel Gibson] Franco Zeffirelli—Available on Netflix (DVD)
• Hamlet (1990) Kevin Klein—Available on Netflix (DVD & Streaming)
• Hamlet (1948) Orson Welles—Available on Netflix (DVD & Streaming)
• Hamlet (1964) Grigori Kozintsev—Available on Netflix (DVD)
• Hamlet (1969)  Tony Richardson
• Renaissance Man (1994) --the story of an unemployed advertising executive teaching Hamlet to a group of underachieving trainee soldiers
• In The Bleak Midwinter (aka “A Midwinter’s Tale”) (1996)—the story of a group of actors performing Hamlet
• Hamlet (2000) Michael Almereyda—Available on Netflix (DVD)
• Hamlet (2009) Gregory Doran—Available on Netflix (DVD)
• BBC Television Shakespeare: Hamlet (1980) Rodney Bennett
• Strange Illusion (1945) Edgar G. Ulmer—Available on Netflix (DVD) [CRIME DRAMA]
• Der Rest ist Schweigen (The Rest is Silence) (1959) Helmut Käutner [GERMAN]
• Warui Yatsu Hodo Yoku Nemeru (The Bad Sleep Well) (1960) Akira Kurosawa—Available on Netflix (DVD) [JAPANESE]
• Ophélia (1962) Claude Chabrol [FRENCH DRAMA]
• Hamlet Liikemaailmassa (Hamlet Goes Business) (1987) Aki Kaurismäki [FINNISH]
• Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990) Tom Stoppard—Available on Netflix (DVD & Streaming) [COMEDY]
• Disney's The Lion King (1994) Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff—Available on Netflix (DVD) [ANIMATION]
• Let the Devil Wear Black (1999) Stacy Title—Available on Netflix (Streaming) [THRILLER]
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead (2009) Jordan Galland—Available on Netflix (DVD & Streaming) [COMEDY]

After viewing the film adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, write a two page analysis of the film modeled after the critique.  You must examine the following aspects of the film—

•           Script

•           Acting/Actors

•           Casting (Comment on the actors that the directors chose for the parts.)

•           Setting, costumes, & makeup

•           Entertainment value (Did you find it enjoyable? Entertaining?)

•           Learning value (Anything educational?)

•           Artistic value (Was it creative?)

NOTE: Please refer to the sample film critique at the link beflow.  Also, you can subscribe to Netflix for a one month free trial if you feel as though you have no way of watching one of these versions.


HERE IS THE LINK FOR THE SAMPLE FILM CRITIQUE: http://reviews.filmintuition.com/2010/05/tv-on-blu-ray-review-hamlet-2009.html