Product Details

• Actors: David Tennant, Patrick Stewart, Penny Downie, Oliver Ford Davies, Mariah Gale
• Directors: Gregory Doran
• Writers: William Shakespeare
• Producers: Bethan Jones, David Horn, Denise Wood, John Wyver, Seb Grant
• Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English (PCM Stereo)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: May 4, 2010
• Run Time: 182 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (107 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0038RSIGA
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,491 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Hamlet [Blu-ray]" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's to director Gregory Doran's incredible credit that his staging of that most familiar of English-language plays, Shakespeare's Hamlet, should be completely reinvigorated by a modern interpretation of the tragedy as a true psychological thriller. This Hamlet, filmed in 2009, presents the inner torment of the Danish prince Hamlet as a believable, relatable controlled explosion of emotions, each more unmanageable than the last. Besides the director, the casting is also brilliant, including the Scottish actor David Tennant (Doctor Who) as Hamlet and Patrick Stewart as Hamlet's uncle Claudius and the ghost of Hamlet's father--who, Hamlet becomes convinced, was killed by Claudius. The direction is brisk, and the acting is first rate. Tennant plays a heartbreaking Hamlet, whose paranoia and weird inner reflections are given a modern spin by the lush, shiny mirrorlike surfaces in the palace, as well as by small but excellent details, like a closed-circuit camera system. And Stewart is menacing but completely collected as Claudius, and unnerving as his brother's ghost. Other strong performances are contributed by Penny Downie as Hamlet's mother, Gertrude; Mariah Gale as Ophelia (who's not quite up to par with the rest of the cast, until she goes mad; then boy does she ever go mad); and Oliver Ford Davies as Polonius. But it's Tennant as the mad prince who is riveting in Hamlet. His "To be or not to be, that is the question" soliloquy--perhaps the best-known speech in English theater--is delivered in a hushed, anguished, all-too-believable manner--occasionally addressing the camera, which is fixed close on Tennant's face. The DVD also includes a must-see documentary on making Hamlet, which includes great interviews with director Doran, cast members and the art directors, set designers and others who give this Hamlet a fresh, polished sheen--while keeping the ages-old tragedy of Shakespeare's words and the explosion of needless death close to the original. The impact is unforgettable; this Hamlet is a terrific achievement. --A.T. Hurley

Product Description

David Tennant and Patrick Stewart star in this critically acclaimed production of Shakespeare’s masterpiece from Britain’s renowned Royal Shakespeare Company. No recent stage production in Britain has attracted the excitement and nearly unanimous critical praise as this Hamlet. Tennant's interpretation was recognized as defining the role for a generation, and Stewart’s complex Claudius won the Olivier award, Britain’s highest stage honor. In this specially-shot screen version, filmed on location rather than in the theater, Tennant and Stewart reprise their roles. Dynamic, exciting and contemporary, it breathes new life into Shakespeare's greatest play.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

147 of 156 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars ... Tis well. I'll have thee speak out the rest, too February 21, 2010

By E. A Solinas HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

"Hamlet" doesn't need any introduction -- the tortured Dane, the ghost, meditations on suicide and a climax full of death. But while many adaptations of Shakespeare's classic play feel stuffy and distant, this "Hamlet" has it all -- sleek elegant sets, powerful acting, and clever modern twists on the age-old stuff. And the best part is the brilliant performances by David Tennant and Patrick Stewart.

Prince Hamlet of Denmark (Tennant) is understandably upset when, only a short time after his father's death, his mother Gertrude (Penny Downie) marries his uncle Claudius (Stewart). But when Hamlet encounters the tormented ghost of his father (Stewart again), he learns that his dad was murdered by his uncle -- but he's plagued by indecision, since he's unsure if the spirit was truly his dad.

Hamlet's behavior becomes more bizarre and erratic -- he dumps his girlfriend Ophelia (Mariah Gale), arranges a play that mimics real life a little too closely, and generally acts like a loon (yodeling with a fake crown?). But when an argument with his mother ends in tragedy, Hamlet's fate is sealed as Claudius begins plotting to get rid of him too...

"Hamlet" is one of those plays that only really comes out two ways -- either you have a passionate, intense tragedy full of very human characters, or you have two boring hours of some whiny guy talking to himself. Having suffered through the latter in the past, it makes me appreciate a well-done performance all the more -- and this "Hamlet" is full of energy, vitality and wit.

A lot of that comes from Tennant, who is simply brilliant as Hamlet -- loads of energy, and a weird edge to his "madness" (example: freaking out Polonius by pulling a weird face).... And he runs the entire emotional gamut here -- love, pain, puckish comedy, loathing, sorrow and shock, with the absolute peak being the hauntingly sad "to be or not to be" scene.

And Patrick Stewart is casually brilliant in his double role -- Claudius seems like a genial guy, but Stewart lets out little hints of his true nastiness; on the other hand, the ghost is all heavy intensity. Downie is excellent as Gertrude, and Gale is rather flat in her first few scenes, but after Ophelia goes mad she's amazing. Ripping off her clothes, leaping around, smacking Gertrude -- it's frighteningly good.

And the settings and costumes are similarly amazing. The entire play is done in a sleek, elegant modern style ("mad" Hamlet runs around in jeans), but the grandeur of a royal court is still there -- lots of elaborate formal clothes, and a looming, columned black palace-stage. There are some clever modern twists (Polonius spies through a one-way mirror and security cameras), and there are some truly brilliant bits of symbolism sprinkled through the story (Gertrude seeing the mad Ophelia in a shattered mirror).

This adaptation of "Hamlet" is a solid piece of work, with the smooth feeling of a classic play done by insanely talented people. Also: David Tennant is astounding. Read more ›

68 of 74 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast-paced, witty, and chilling. February 27, 2010

By samarkand

Format:DVD

Director Gregory Doran has firmly positioned his Hamlet in the realm of the psychological thriller, a story that starts moodily and then begins to careen towards its inevitable end. Showcasing why the Royal Shakespeare Company is considered one of the world's premier classical theater companies, the entire cast shines--especially David Tennant as Hamlet, Patrick Stewart as a quietly devious Claudius, and Oliver Ford Davies as a strangely sympathetic Polonius. Tennant's remarkably naturalistic line readings, and ability to make even the most famous soliloquies sound brand new, make the language easy to understand and immediate. This is a pacey, unfussy, modern-dress version that will draw in younger viewers and would be perfect for use in the classroom. Even in the US, where David Tennant isn't a household name as he is in Britain, his portrayal of the Prince will charm viewers with his wit, charisma, and depth of feeling. The wonderful chemistry between David Tennant and Peter de Jersey (Horatio) makes their deep friendship an integral part of the unfolding tragedy. Patrick Stewart's Claudius is subtle, a consummate politician, almost never letting his mask slip to show his true nature.

A fantastic production for a modern audience, the RSC's Hamlet will go down as one of the greats.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hamlet August 19, 2010

By the essay queen

Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase

Having studied Shakespeare my entire adult life, (my Masters Degree is from the Shakespeare Institute in England) I was thrilled that instead of mouthing along the lines of Hamlet, David Tennant breathed new life into this production. He was a revelation as was Patrick Stewart and the rest of the cast. I felt like I was hearing the play for the first time. I have been raving about this performance for weeks and am responsible for other people purchasing it. What a thrill.

30 of 34 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A fresh, daring version of Hamlet April 30, 2010

By S. Riffle

Format:DVD

I was excited to hear that the Royal Shakespeare Company had made a film adaptation of Hamlet based on the stage production with David Tenant, since I had heard he was excellent in the title role. This film actually became my favorite version of Hamlet so far!

A huge part of the credit should go to director Gregory Doran, who sets the tone for the dark production. This Hamlet plays more like a slow thriller than any I've ever seen. It's set in modern times, which gives it a fresh take and introduces new meanings for certain characters. It also uses modern technology to it's advantage: security cameras line every wall of the castle, so you never know who may be watching Hamlet. I also loved the set design of the film, with it's dark lighting and mirrored halls and floors. It was eerie and claustrophobic, giving new meanings to Hamlet words: "Denmark's a prison". The cinematography was also fantastic: I especially loved the shots of Hamlet looking in the broken mirror after killing Polonius and the scene with Claudius confessing.

As for the cast, I have mixed feelings. I absolutely loved Penny Downie as Gertrude, she stunned me with her brash portrayal. As much as I loved Glenn Close in the role (especially her soliloquy on Ophelia's death) I thought Downie's portrayal was ultimately more tragic and real. I also thought the supporting actors who played Polonius, Ophelia and Laertes did a wonderful job. I was thrilled at first just to hear Patrick Stewart recite Shakespeare because he is such a great actor and he has a fantastic speaking voice. But I have to say he's not my favorite Claudius, only because his interpretation is a little different. His Claudius is more contained in his emotions, which also makes him seem like more of a villain in certain ways.... An example: after the play (which reenacts him killing his brother) he doesn't seem to react too much. He simply walks across the room and gives Hamlet a murderous look. I appreciate his take on Claudius, but it's not how I interpreted his character reading the play.

And what of Hamlet? I hope David Tennant fans don't hate me for this, but my opinion is a little mixed in his performance. In one way, I liked how he always kept me guessing about his emotions and sanity. I've watched Kenneth Branagh and Mel Gibson in this role, and out of the three he made me believe that Hamlet was insane (at least at one point). But then he seems to recover. I still can't answer what exactly Hamlet's state of mind was, and that is the sign of a great performance. After all, the question of whether or not Hamlet was insane is one of the great debates of Shakespeare fans. But then at times Tennant seemed to be a little too over-the-top with his expressions, at least for me. And I really didn't like his dying scene. It reminded me a little bit of Bottom acting in "Midsummer": whenever I thought he died because he went still he moved his eyes and came back to life!

So despite a few dislikes, I have to say I really loved this version of Hamlet. It will definitely be the one I watch when I want to see my favorite Shakespeare play on film. Read more ›