A minor subplot involves Denmark’s long-standing feud with Norway, and the threat of invasion by Norwegian prince Fortinbras (Rufus Sewell). Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh), Prince of Denmark, returns home to find his father murdered and his mother Gertrude (Julie Christie) remarrying the murderer, his uncle Claudius (Derek Jacobi) who is now King.

I know it’s a bit redundant to get into plot synopsis considering the story’s length, so I’ll be brief. With Hamlet, however, he was attempting the significant challenge of producing a film version that was completely faithful to the text while still accessible to modern audiences who often have trouble with three hour films, let alone one that is four. He was hailed as the next Laurence Olivier, for both his varied talents and his passion for Shakespearean texts. The classically trained actor jumped into the international spotlight in 1989 with his adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry V, where he demonstrated his ability as a triple threat (acting, writing, and directing). If there was anyone that could dare bring the entirety of Hamlet and its complex and epic breadth, then it would have to be Kenneth Branagh. Running just over four hours, the result is a dazzling spectacle that is massive in scope, as well as a celebration of one of the most powerful and influential plays in the English language. What Branagh sets out to do is deliver the full Shakespeare experience on the silver screen. Unlike all the film adaptations that came before it, Branagh’s production is notable for being the first to put the entire unabridged text on screen. If you were a high school student struggling with Shakespeare’s renowned tragedy Hamlet, then there’s a good chance that Kenneth Branagh’s 1996 film version of the play was your savior.

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