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To WARNER. Please release Kenneth Brannagh's Hamlet.

post #1 of 22
7/13/01 at 12:39am
Thread Starter 
It is long overdue. And while you are at it, how about starting your very own Special Deluxe Edition Line of DVD's like Fox did with the Five Star Collection.

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post #2 of 22
7/13/01 at 6:38am
Hopefully if it comes out, it will be done right. I know people hate to see releases go over to a second disc, but if ever there was a need for one, this 4 hour and 2 minute movie is one!! I'm considering acquiring the box set laser disc of Ebay because I don't think we will ever see this one on DVD.

--adrian

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Adrian Jones
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post #3 of 22
7/13/01 at 7:21am
So, this is a Warner title, eh? Hmmmmmmmmm....

I would definitely buy a copy if it is released.

There would be nothing at all wrong with splitting it to 2 discs, since the original theatrical exhibition had an Intermission after about 2.5 hours. The second part could go on disc 2 and there would still be room for some extras.

A beautiful film which was nonsensically criticized for what I consider trivial points at the time of it's release. Brilliant performances all around, including Branagh, Jacobi, Christie, Winslet and even Crystal!

I'm there on the first day of release!

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"People always clap for the wrong things." - J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye

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post #4 of 22
7/13/01 at 7:42am
I thought it was a Columbia Tristar title. At least when it came out it was.
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post #5 of 22
7/13/01 at 12:49pm
/i had my vote with both hands. Don't have a laser player so I've no choice but to wait for the DVD.
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post #6 of 22
7/13/01 at 2:06pm
Thread Starter 
Correct. It was a Columbia title, however Warner now ownes the rights to it. I also never understood why such a faithful adaptation of the original play was not more well recieved.

In reality though, I think that people were just scared off by the films 4 hour run time. Too bad because this is a great film. Great acting by many MANY hollywood notables, Beautiful cinematography and sets, and costumes, and art direction ...AND at times an Ear-Splittingly powerful SDDS mix.

Warner, you simply MUST give this film the super deluxe treatment.

C'mon people ...now is our chance to ask Warner to finally release this title.
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post #7 of 22
7/13/01 at 2:56pm
I have wanted to see this rendition of Hamlet for a long time. I have not as I didn't catch it theatrically (I'm not even sure it was avaible here) and I don't ever want to see it panned and scanned.

I would buy Kenneth Brannagh's Hamlet on DVD in a heartbeat.

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post #8 of 22
7/13/01 at 9:06pm
I'd buy the long version in 5.1.
Doyle's score ain't bad.

thanks.

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Yumbo - IMDVD
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post #9 of 22
7/14/01 at 12:25am
I would love to see the full length version of Hamlet be released on DVD! This is by far one of my favorite Shakespeare film adaptions.
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post #10 of 22
7/15/01 at 3:50am
Thread Starter 
Looks like we will have to wait until October 2 to ask Warner about this.

Hopefully more people will add to this thread and support this title.

[Edited last by Sean Oneil on July 15, 2001 at 05:51 AM]
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post #11 of 22
7/15/01 at 6:52pm
I saw this in its theatrical release on a Saturday afternoon. What a great way to spend four hours. (I even left the theater for a burger next door during the intermission.)

Let's see it on dvd. I almost bought the LD when it was new, but held off because of the $60 price. That release has been panned enough that I'm glad I avoided it. Did I mention, IT'S ABOUT TIME FOR THE DVD?
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post #12 of 22
7/15/01 at 7:23pm
I would enjoy having this on DVD.

Chris

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post #13 of 22
7/16/01 at 6:57am
I missed this in its theatrical release, and have wanted to see it ever since. I would buy a DVD without hesitation.

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Too many DVDs, too little time...
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post #14 of 22
7/16/01 at 8:02am
This amazing movie deserves the deluxe treatment. It must be presented in widescreen, and hopefully, have a commentary by Kenneth Branagh. I think his choices for the visual look of the film were pure genius! Most of the Shakespere adaptions are in dark and dank castles, but he decided to shoot it in wide open spots, and brightly lit. Amazing.

Long overdue on DVD.

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"I've been all around the world and found that only stupid people are breeding."


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post #15 of 22
7/17/01 at 7:32pm
It also has to be stated that this was one of the last films shot in 70mm. The version I saw in the theater was only 35mm, and the title came up as "HAMLE". Hell, it wasn't even widescreen on VHS until last year! Unforgivable! There must be some legal crap floating around on this one, what with Castle Rock's ownership bouncing around. I'm willing to bet there's a personal grudge involved with it. I want this one so bad I can taste it.
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post #16 of 22
7/17/01 at 11:45pm
I'll support this title too. I'd also like to see the Zeffirelli/Gibson version, who owns that? Warner also?

Rob

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"That suits me down to the ground."
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post #17 of 22
7/18/01 at 1:06am
Haven't seen it, but dying to. Count me in.
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post #18 of 22
7/24/01 at 8:47pm
Thread Starter 
.
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post #19 of 22
7/24/01 at 9:44pm
This is the definitive Hamlet film, and it deserves SE treatment all the way. It was a labour of love for Brannagh, and I know he would be more than willing to participate in creating supplemental material. As far as the video goes, this film could definitely qualify as demo material if done right. It was one of the last films filmed in beautiful 70mm, and thus should get its respect on DVD. This is one of my most wanted titles, and I really hope Columbia steps up and release this DVD.

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"Why don't we just wait here for a while...see what happens."
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post #20 of 22
7/30/01 at 12:08am
Thread Starter 
^
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post #21 of 22
7/30/01 at 5:58am
Quote:
Correct. It was a Columbia title, however Warner now ownes the rights to it.

Well, even when it was a Columbia/Tristar video release it was still a Warner Home Video release. Ever notice how the package design was exactly the same as Warner video releases of the time (despite the Columbia logo)? Ever notice the Warner Home Video markings on the shrinkwrap itself? Or the WHV stamp on the edge of the tapes?

I don't know what kind of screwy rights deal this film has gone through but every video release has always been from Warner, just with Columbia labeling. I think only the film prints themselves were distributed by Sony.

-Lyle J.P.
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post #22 of 22
6/6/03 at 8:07am
Branagh's Hamlet stands, for me, among the very finest films ever made. I've been awaiting its DVD arrival ... well, since the format launched. I have the laserdisc set from Columbia/TriStar, but it has, unfortunately, rotted on several sides (which continues to grow worse with time), and it was mastered from 35mm elements, a further blow against it.

As I've said elsewhere, I trust Warner's will have the wisdom and foresight to master this from its original 65mm picture elements (the film was made in Super Panavision 70), which would represent a correct AR of 2.2:1 (versus the 35mm reduction AR of 2.35:1). I say "original" with emphasis because, despite some misinformation that continues to creep up from time to time, 35mm reduction printing is a modification of what the film crew shot (I'd say this is always the case, but particularly when dealing with a process such as Super Panavision 70, in which the aspect ratio of the film must change to accomodate the reduction). 65mm film negative passed through the cameras, and 65mm film negative represents this picture's truest and best form. I had the tremendous pleasure of seeing Hamlet in theaters at 70mm, an experience I count alongside the experience of seeing Vertigo at 70mm (and DTS!) and my theatrical experiences with Casablanca and Giant as among the best of my life -- this from a guy who's been seeing one or two films a week, every week, in theaters for more than a decade, to say nothing of the frequent, but not quite as frequent, movie watching of years before.

Warner's ... I strongly, with all due heart-on-my-sleeve sincerity, encourage you to master this from 65mm. It's exceedingly important. The film is a masterpiece (among the thousands I've seen, running the field from silent to early sound to yesterday's blockbuster, I count this among the top five ever made), but visually so much less in reduction sources (going by the sight of the laserdisc prior to rot). The only extra I'd like to see, in particular, is a Branagh commentary. He has crafted an exceptional film legacy, of which this is his supreme achievement to date, and it would be of great value both to fans and to history to have a record of just how he came to make such a monumental cinematic masterpiece of Shakespeare's great tragedy, and the creative soul behind this project as a guide through the project could only be considered an honor and a joy for audiences. The film itself should ideally occupy two DVD-9s. If issued (anamorphically, but that goes without saying) from 65mm picture sources, and if mastered with WB's usual care (and no bloody edge enhancement/edge haloing! So many otherwise wonderful releases continue to carry this needless weight upon their quality ...), this will count as one of the best discs on the market, and remains my single most "hoped for" title ... if done right. Hamlet is Branagh's Dances With Wolves: Extended Cut, his Vertigo, his Sunrise ... heck, his Lawrence of Arabia. I trust the studio realizes what a treasure it holds, and I also trust Branagh himself will insist on the above before it hits the market. The laserdisc was a significant disappointment after the theatrical experience -- Warner Bros. has the opportunity to rectify that Columbia/TriStar failing with a stunning DVD presentation. I have every faith the long delay endured since the format's launch will yield a DVD to celebrate for its quality and attention to detail (much as I hope will be the case with the much lesser -- but still important and visually magnificent -- Lawrence Kasdan epic Wyatt Earp, a 35mm film due in 2004, according to WB's last chat, and which I hope will be presented in its extended cut, perhaps with the theatrical cut available through seamless branching -- the extensions are relatively minor).
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