The film was released 30 years ago (Image: Prime Video)
Choosing the greatest film ever made is never easy, and it is a debate that film fans have been having for decades. Everyone has their own favourite, whether it is a classic war film, a Hollywood blockbuster or an award-winning drama.
But one historical film released 30 years ago is often branded as the best thing ever put on screen. It has won major awards, earned Oscar nominations and is often described as the finest adaptation of a famous literary work. Many people still regard it as a must-watch for anyone who loves cinema.
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Kenneth Branagh directed the film and stars in the title role (Image: Prime Video)
That film is Hamlet, Kenneth Branagh’s 1996 adaptation of William Shakespeare’s famous tragedy.
The film has a 95% critic score and an 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Unlike many previous versions, Branagh’s film includes the full text of Shakespeare’s play and runs for more than four hours.
Branagh not only directed the film but also starred in the title role. The cast also includes Kate Winslet, Derek Jacobi, Julie Christie, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Judi Dench, Richard Attenborough and Charlton Heston.
The film received four Oscar nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay for Branagh.
Although it struggled at the box office following its release, it has since become widely regarded as one of the best Shakespeare films ever made.
One viewer wrote in a review on Rotten Tomatoes: “The best Shakespeare adaptation of all time. Epic, thrilling, exquisitely acted, Ken Branagh takes the greatest play ever written and creates a masterpiece of epic proportions.
“Stunning, magnificent, exquisite, mind blowing, a film everyone should see and then some. Masterpiece doesn’t do it justice.”
Another added: “Best movie ever made. The quality and character of this film are truly amazing and unmatchable.”
A third wrote: “The finest cinematic adaptation of Shakespeare. Period.”
Robin Williams in Hamlet (Image: Prime Video)
Someone else commented: “A fantastic example of what Shakespeare can be with amazing actors, wonderful sets, and a great story.”
The film was shot at Blenheim Palace, which was used for the exterior scenes of Elsinore Castle. Many of the interior scenes were filmed at Shepperton Studios.
It was also one of the last major dramatic films to be shot entirely on 70mm film.
The story follows Prince Hamlet after the death of his father, the King of Denmark. As he struggles with grief and family tensions, he finds himself drawn into a series of events that change his life forever.
Hamlet (1996) can be rented or bought on Prime Video.