Yay! Hamlet is on tonight on PBS! Most places should be on at 9pm.
Better yet, it has David Tennant AND Patrick Stewart!!
#2
Soliloquy
Pfft. That's nothing. I saw it live!
The way they do the ending is pretty interesting, and the confrontation between Claudius and Hamlet in Act IV scene iii after Polonius is killed is pretty hilarious.
That said, the way they do the acting isn't the best -- you really have to know your renaissance-era English to know what's going on. I've seen productions (at the Old Globe in London, actually) where they emphasize the right parts of the lines and use the right blocking so that you can get the gist of what's being said without having to be extremely well-versed in the text of the play.
#3
Matt²
blah blah blah, I can't hear you!
I haven't seen Hamlet before, nor read the book, so I'm wanting this to be a nice experience!
#4
Soliloquy
Wow, I never thought it would be necessary to add spoiler tags for Hamlet.
Everybody dies. Like, everybody. All of them. Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius, Ophelia, Laertes, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern -- all dead.
Seriously though, I hope you like it. It's a great play. But with the way Tennant and Company performed it, it'll be a bit difficult to follow if you don't already know the story.
---------- Post added at 12:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:21 AM ----------
Though maybe the film version will be easier to follow, if it's directed properly.
#5
twitchmoss
its a great play.
I don't know why, but this always makes me laugh.
#6
Soliloquy
Ah, yes. Tennant is awesome.
#7
Bowielee
If you want to see a good Hamlet, watch the Kenneth Branagh version.
Personally, Hamlet is my least favorite of Shakespeare's plays. Hamlet defines emo.
I actually liked his version. It was just a bit rushed. i.e. they cut some stuff to run in the allotted time.
#11
Soliloquy
I like versions that realize that Shakespeare meant some parts to be hilarious, instead of taking the whole play and making it somber, depressing, and in many ways, intolerable all the way through.
Hence why I like the Tennant version.
#12
evilmike
In case anyone missed it:
Note: The embedded video plays the first scene and then links to the rest of the play.