Branagh and Olivier's Shakespeare adaptations

[B-side]

Rate 'em. Discuss 'em. I'm curious which ones are worthy of seeking out, even if one is unsure of whether they're a fan of such work. This work being films based on plays. I doubt I've seen more than 5 of them.

[monolith94]

I've never seen any Oliviers, which is kind of weird considering how much I like Shakespeare. I just keep forgetting about them.

Branagh's are good, though. Much Ado About Nothing is just so much fun.

[Kurious Jorge v3.1]

Only have seen Olivier's Richard III and Hamlet. Love them both.

[Spinal]

Branagh:

Henry V - **** (see this one first)
Much Ado About Nothing - ***1/2
Hamlet - ****

Haven't seen the other two.

Olivier:

Henry V - ***1/2
Hamlet - ***1/2
Richard III - ****

[Raiders]

Branagh:

Henry V [81]
Hamlet [84]
As You Like It [56]

Olivier:

Henry V [78]
Hamlet [74]
Richard III [82]

[Robby P]

Branagh's Henry V is the best of the bunch, I'd say. Really makes me want to up and kill some Frenchmen.

[B-side]

I'm gonna bump this. I'd love some more opinions.

[Arthur Seaton]

He didn't direct the 1965 adaptation of Othello, but he starred in it, and it's quite good.

[Yxklyx]

Olivier:
Henry V - 7
Hamlet - 7
Richard III - 8

Branagh:
Henry V - 8
Hamlet - 8

[SirNewt]

Olivier:

Richard III - 10
Hamlet - 8
Henry V - 6

Richard is not only a fantastic blend of stage and film but it's also historic. At the time of it's stage production many considered Olivier's performance as Richard to be the best of his career.

Watching Olivier's Richard III is kind of like listening to a recording of Bernstein conducting The Rite of Spring.

[Grouchy]

I've only seen Olivier's Richard III. It's very good, and it's also my very favorite Shakespeare play.

[Bosco B Thug]

We watched 5 versions of the Hamlet & Gertrude/Polonius' death scene in a class today. That was fun. Anyway: Zeferrelli's, Branagh's, Olivier's, the Ethan Hawke one, and the Scott Campbell one. Haven't seen any of them.

I've read the play once (in high school), but that's pretty much it. So I feel like I have zero purist feelings to have regarding Hamlet - that is, no bias towards any particular interpretation of the characters, towards the trims made, towards how an actor fits the role (I didn't even know Mel Gibson played this role), etc.

Anyway, my rankings on just this one scene alone:

1. Olivier
2. Zefferelli
.
3. Branagh
.
.
4. Hawke
5. Scott - Not very good...

Right? Wrong? Meaningless/likely inaccurate, ranking without the entire film?

[Sven]

The Ethan Hawke Hamlet is a travesty.

[Bosco B Thug]

The Ethan Hawke Hamlet is a travesty. It's pretty infamous in my IRL circles. But then I don't trust them. I believe I noticed some people liking it here on Match-Cut, though...?

[Sven]

I believe I noticed some people liking it here on Match-Cut, though...?

Yeah, they're here. Though none of them can rock a correct opinion like I can.

[Bosco B Thug]

Yeah, they're here. Though none of them can rock a correct opinion like I can.
Good, good. Match-Cut: Where There Be Loggerheads.

Some short thoughts:

Olivier: Superb.
Zefferelli: A bit overwrought and oddball, but exquisite directing.
Branagh: Alright. The quick editing during the stabbing was awful, though.
Hawke: Not in-your-face godawful...
Scott: It is a Hallmark Channel TV movie, apparently.

[Raiders]

Yeah, Almereyda's Hamlet is masterful.

[Mysterious Dude]

Olivier:
Henry V (1944) **½
Hamlet (1948) ***

Branagh:
Henry V (1989) **

I don't really like either one's approach to adapting Shakespeare. I find them stuffy and self-important. I prefer the more naturalistic style of Zeffirelli and Roman Polanski (for Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth, respectively; I didn't like Zeffirelli's Hamlet, though).

I also think Orson Welles deserves mention in this thread for Othello and Falstaff. His Macbeth is pretty bad.

[Derek]

Yeah, Almereyda's Hamlet is masterful.

Quite so.

That's now three opinions that should have everyone wanting to see it.

[lovejuice]

i saw worse hamlet than hawke's.