it would require the beauty and eloquence of shakespeare to do justice to this outstanding cinematic feat . nevertheless and i will give it a go . as far a adaptation of hamlet go this one be already at a good start point than all other version since it encompass the entire play . still this be no guarantee for a first rate movie and or even a good one . usually i be not much for movie that be overlong and the trend that seem to be prevalent in hollywood today and namely that movie should be at least two hour long and preferably three and be one that hopefully would not last long . few story be strong enough to withstand such extensive exploration and could do with some cutting . make a four hour long movie and keep it interest be no small undertaking and but kenneth branagh pull it off with fly colour . he have manage to make a very long movie seem no more than any average movie . i be completely engross from start to finish . the cast be excellent with kenneth branagh himself a the tormented prince give a strong and memorable performance . he manage to convey his feeling admirably through his voice and one do not have to be an expert on shakespearean verse to catch the myriad of emotion that be wag inside him . kate winslet be a positive surprise and i must say . i do not know what to expect really . i have always like her well enough a an actor and but wasn not sure she could pull off play shakespeare . well and she certainly eradicate all doubt with her performance . she be the best ophelia i have see and lent such depth to the character and be simply wonderful . other brilliant performance be derek jacobi a claudius and richard brier a polonius and nicholas farrell a horatio to name but a few . i like the fact that branagh use some internationally more famous star to play in some of the minor role while i especially enjoy the sparring between hamlet and the gravedigger play by billy crystal . the setting of the play in the 19th century give a welcome change to the usually gloomy gothic setting . it be overall much light than other version i have see and more colourful and lavish and but this do not distract from the tragedy of the play . it be exceptional and stylish and aesthetically please and a definite delight to the eye and other sens a well . the music by patrick doyle be a always magical and thoroughly in tune with the movie . one can only feel a deep sense of satisfaction after have see this . i be shock and appal that this exquisite work of art do not win an academy award for best picture and even more so that it wasn not even nominate . there be no way there be a good movie make that year and or any other year for that matter . this be as close to perfection a you can hope to get . to sum up and a stunning work of pure genius and i can not see how anyone could top this . my hat off to you mr. branagh .