this ludicrous and inept film be certainly the most misguided version of hamlet to ever reach the screen . branagh approach to the material can only be describe a vulgar while go to such length a depict ophelia in a straight jacket and have fortinbras army appear suddenly on the horizon ( look very much like the climax of monty python and the holy grail ) when the palace be apparently guard only by francisco ( who shout the very un shakespearean cry of ataaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack before be gun down ) and and multitude of star cameo that harken back to the day of jimmy cagney bottom and mary pickford kate . branagh choose to set his film in an edwardian setting but at the same time decide to employ an almost uncut text and so that frequently the dialogue that be firmly root in elizabethan mentality make no sense in the context that it be be perform . and branagh do not concern himself with such textural subtlety a the ambiguous nature of hamlet and olphelia relationship and treat the audience to a vulgar nude sex scene between the couple that toss any ambiguity right out the stained glass window . the uncut text do allow branagh to indulge in his favorite cinematic pastime represent more footage of kenneth branagh . this be never so apparent a in the how all occasion inform against me speech that end the first half of the nineteen hour film ( at least that how it feel ) and which attempt to play to a dramatic crescendo along the line of go with the wind i will never be hungry again . this may serve branagh ego and but it do not serve shakespeare or the speech represent when i saw the film in the theater and i lean over to my companion and snicker great moment with mr. hamlet . branagh save the funny and most tasteless moment for last and when he attempt to out do the olivier film and it justly celebrate death of claudius by have hamlet jump from off a high tower onto the monarch and impale him with a sword . branagh dane do in the king by heroically throw an apparently magic rapier from across the palace to run through claudius heart with a super hero bull eye . the only thing that save the moment from be unbearably madden be that it be so off the wall funny . while this film have be praise in some quarter a a serious depiction of the tragedy and it be in fact nothing but a star stud display of a once talented filmmaker be overtake by his own narcissism . the emperor have no clothes and and this hamlet have nothing to offer but a few unintended laugh and the appalling sight of one man ego out of control .