It kinda sucks no..? It’s too grandiose, too pompous while in the play Hamlet almost completely looses his mind here. Last phrase indicates sacrifice of his previous love, of all the future happiness because now his happiness is revenge and nothing more. There is nothing to be proud of.
*Down below* "Fie, wherefore doth such racket shoot itself between the high peaks of heaven and earth?" "That figure, I think, there upon the ridge." "Canst thou make out either uproar or din?" "Me thinks he speaks of a 'muddy earth.'" "Tis habit for the pulpit to proclaim Such base subjects from so lofty a place!"
This is by far the best presentation of Shakespeare I know of. Not even close, can I think of another scene by another actor that can reach my emotions the way this scene does.
I often quote some of this to myself when I'm fighting to get out of a lazy rut. A little shakespeare can be quite the wind beneath your wings if you know enough of it.
A man groped me and followed me to my apartment before my boyfriend was home. I just recited this soliloquy and he thought I was nuts. Plus, he didn’t know much English and basically said, “that was unexpected, I should flee.” I’LL be nothing LESS. It works
Ich habe 13 verschiedene Hamlet-Version auf DVD und VHS. Diese hier ist m.E. eine der schlechtesten. Brannagh ist zu alt für den Hamlet und die ganze Szenerie ist viel zu pompös, erinnert mich an „Sissi“.
Incredible. As this progresses the occurrence of human genius becomes more frequent. In the past it was once in every 300 year or so that a genius in one of the various fields of human endeavor was born and nurtured. When that happens something incredible is created. Those people pushed and led and sometimes forced their scribes to grow and to develop. These pure nuggets of perfection and oasis of sublime creation guaranteed that the human race will not only survive but it will thrive despite our innate stupidity, our bigotry and our fears. When we are honored or graced with such special people, we can take comfort from the reality that they will lead, inspire and stimulate us to continue to strive to be more than we are….
The problem with Branagh doing "non-heroic" Shakespearean parts is that he turns every little thing into a big number. This particular speech, for instance, needed a touch of melancholy, it is about Hamlet deliberating with himself to arrive at new portals of thought. However, the interpretation we see here is more like the St. Crispin's Day Speech we have seen Branagh deliver in Henry V. It is all spit and self-appraisal, and it ends up missing the point of Shakespeare's poetry. You just don't sense the wit that Olivier or Gielgud had brought to the role.
I remember being in awe of this scene, being left with chills as it cut to the intermission in the theatre. There probably hasn't been a moment like that in cinema since. But then again, look at the source material. It's more than a notch up from any Hollywood script you're like to ever see.
The panning out is no accident. As fervent as his words are, they will come to naught. He is the addict swearing off his addiction one more time...words, words, words.
This film absolutely blow me away, It is incredible! Kenneth Branagh is fully responsible for my love of Shakespeare and I can’t thank him enough for the introduction 🤩 This scene is probably the most memorable for me when I saw it on the big screen for the first time, as this soliloquy is usually cut from most productions, I’d never heard it before, it has so many layers and I was left stunned in my seat when it went to intermission 😮 Needless to say I went back the next night!
The most exciting moment in the movie, with Patrick Doyle's strings, brass, and bass drum operating barely at heartbeat volume, then crescendoing to match Hamlet's intensifying rage for vengeance.
The Russian Army in Ukraine. "While, to my shame, I see The imminent death of twenty thousand men, That, for a fantasy and trick of fame, Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause, Which is not tomb enough and continent To hide the slain"
How all occasions do inform against me And spur my dull revenge. What is a man If his chief good and market of his time Be but to sleep and feed? A beast - no more. Sure he that made us with such large discourse, Looking before and after, gave us not That capability and godlike reason To fust in us unused. Now whether it be Bestial oblivion or some craven scruple Of thinking too precisely on th’event (A thought which quartered hath but one part wisdom And ever three parts coward) I do not know Why yet I live to say this thing’s to do, Sith I have cause and will and strength and means To do’t. Examples gross as earth exhort me - Witness this army of such mass and charge, Led by a delicate and tender prince Whose spirit with divine ambition puffed Makes mouths at the invisible event Exposing what is mortal and unsure To all that fortune, death and danger dare Even for an eggshell. Rightly to be great Is not to stir without great argument But greatly to find quarrel in a straw When honour’s at the stake. How stand I then That have a father killed, a mother stained, Excitements of my reason and my blood, And let all sleep; while to my shame I see The imminent death of twenty thousand men That for a fantasy and trick of fame Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause, Which is not tomb enough and continent To hide the slain? O, from this time forth My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth. (Act 4 Scene 4)
'Examples gross as earth exhort me.' Staggering , devastating performance . Funny enough this speech is usually cut because the play is about four hours long. Oliviers version is about two hours. For Branagh to film the entire play was quite a risk. Yet he totally succeded on every level. This movie version is the one I've used to win over neutrals . It should be far more celebrated.
The heart of the entire story. Its a masterpiece of cinema in itself. With these couple of brief minutes Branagh shows himself in absolute glory and the music is overwhelming by doyle. I can not watch it without my emotions welling up and tears running down my face. Shakespeare + ken+ patrick= glory
The sync between "fight for a plot" and the music always gives me chills...so much respect and love to Branagh's work with adapting Shakespeare for the silver screen!
Branagh the bro doesn't get it. Listen to all the alliteration. Shakespeare only has people do that when they're being stoopid. A lot of people fighting for a tiny plot of land is only for assholes. Sorry Ken, try again.
