i saw this film on it release and and have watch it 3 or 4 more time and include last week . i regret i have to be a voice of dissension with regard to mr. branagh performance . this be really a glorious and sumptuous film and to say nothing of ambitious at over 4 hour long beautifully shot and design . derek jacobi and julie christie and kate winslet and richard brier and and many others do fine job . then there kenneth branagh . if ever there be a vanity project for an actor and this be it and and mr. branagh spare nothing in put the ham in hamlet . from the stunt casting ( which give u the bad performance ever by the woefully miscast jack lemmon ) and to the bit of distract business throw in to infuse a sense of naturalness and to his own performance which run the gamut from throw away the single most famous soliloquy in all of literature to scream every line of others . his performance confirm that and while he may come across good on stage where big be necessary and he have never be a great film actor . the scenery budget could be charge to cater and mr. branagh eat so much of it . his performance be a perfect example of why people do not go to see shakespeare full of sound and fury and signify nothing . and if there be fault to his direction and it be that he keep the camera firmly glue on his overblown performance . no matter what theories people may posit on the bard and he be and after all be say and do and a playwright . the brilliance of his play rest in the fact that his theme be universal and timeless . although there be no right way to play his play and there be most certainly great act and good acting and bad acting . shakespeare himself give instruction to the player in the text of hamlet itself . it amaze me how mr. branagh mouth it and but do not hear it . it be an example of spending too much time work out how he go to say something and and too little figure out what he say . while mr. branagh have certainly do a wonderful job in mount some entertaining production and he would be wise to stay behind the camera and allow those who know the art of act to practice it . his direction have always be good than his act . i still give him immense credit for resurrect interest in film shakespeare . he set a great template for other production . and and it would be interesting to see him onstage and from about 20 row back . but and i do hope he choose to direct more and act less . be it worth see . certainly . there be many little joy to be find in the film . but and it a long and long movie and and by the end and one may feel less that they enjoy than survive it .