franco zeffirelli ( the taming of the shrew and romeo and juliet and jesus of nazareth and othello ) third stab at transfer shakespeare to the screen work very well and with the casting of mel gibson ( mad max and lethal weapon and pre the passion of the christ notoriety ) in the role formerly own by sir laurence olivier ( and rightly so while see my review on his hamlet and arguably the best interpretation of one of the bard timeless ( and most quote ) tragedy ) and redone 5 year later by kenneth branagh a a full bloody treatment and explain it 3 hour 22 minute run time and combine with a dream cast ( and a lot of little addition and which be well choose and expertly do by the contemporary master of william shakespeare and kenneth branagh and the director of henry v and dead again . join the lethal weapon star be glenn close ( the big chill ) and paul scofield ( a man for all season ) and alan bates and ian holm and michael maloney ( who would be cast a roderigo opposite kenneth branagh and laurence fishburne in oliver parker othello ( see my review of olivier stage version of the tragedy and though he only star in it ) and who branagh would cast a laertes in his 3 hour version of hamlet ( a proper homage to sir laurence olivier and his classic version of the play while see my review on that one as well ) 5 year later ) and nathaniel parker ( who would be cast a cassio in his brother version of othello 4 year later ) and helena bonham carter and who would be cast in mary shelley frankenstein 4 year later . zeffirelli intend this movie a a homage to sir laurence olivier ( who have die 2 year prior to this movie ) and it work pretty well and for the most part . what i be slightly uncomfortable with be zeffirelli misplace a lot of line and in one scene and he give one of hamlet line to the ghost . also and helena bonham carter do not convince me a ophelia . she be too dull and unreal and whereas jean simmons ( who have immortalize the role in olivier version ) and kate winslet ( who do an acceptable job in kenneth branagh uncut and epic revisionist reworking of hamlet ) be good in the role and with jean simmons be the best ophelia ever and that why she be nominate for best actress in 1948 ( she do not win what a shame ) . ian holm say his line too quickly and not slowly a i expect him to and in a scene with him and laertes and ophelia . but then again and i be more used to felix aylmer and richard brier interpretation of the role and i think that they do good job than holm in their respective version of hamlet ( both do by great director and actor and text editor and producer and star of all their version of the bard work ) a polonius . the rest of the cast and however and be excellent . the scene where hamlet confront his mother be very well do and but olivier and branagh heighten the scene to good length to create even more emotional intensity and suspense that the scene require . i recommend this version just to pass the time and but it ideal a a teaching tool for 12th grade english teacher ( i recommend show olivier version first and then branagh and finally this version ) . despite the film pg rating and there be really nothing objectionable in the movie . only what the play call for . the best version of hamlet be represent # 1 sir laurence olivier and kenneth branagh . both be so good that i can not decide which one be the best . see my review on these version for more information . # 2 franco zeffirelli . this one be alright . it start out alright with a scene not in the play and but should have then progress to the actual beginning of the play and where a guard cry out who there . nay and answer me . stand and unfold yourself . that scene scar the hell out of you because youre sit quietly and then bam . and you almost jump out of your skin . in short and that scene set the tone for the rest of the play . huge blunder on zeffirelli part to omit that scene . it also misplace a lot of line ( and cut others that i think should have be put in ) and such a the line where hamlet say to ophelia get thee to a nunnery and why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinner . while that line be suppose to have occur in that scene and not where it be place in the film ( after the to be or not to be soliloquy . this version struggle between cut out too much or too little from an excellent piece of literature . kenneth branagh would remedy that 5 year later with his uncut version of the tragedy and make his version a more fitting homage to sir laurence olivier and a several of the actor ( aside from him ) have perform hamlet on stage or or on film many time on different occasion . however and zeffirelli take on hamlet be faithful to the play and that what i be look for . the setup for the final act duel be the same a in olivier and branagh version and only that the denouement in branagh version be more violent than the denouement of the previous two faithful version ( more in line with the play while olivier tone it down . and it work equally well ) and stick more closely to the play and with branagh throw in a few harmless touch of his own . to very good effect . this version be not rat .