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Laurence Olivier's black-and-white 1948 film won four Oscars; best actor in a leading role, best art-set direction, best costume design and best picture.  Olivier's performance was considered an unapproachable ideal and remains so.  It co-starred Basil Sydney as Claudius, Eileen Herlie as Gertrude, Terence Morgan as Laertes and Jean Simmons as Ophelia.

Laurence Olivier's black-and-white 1948 film won four Oscars; best actor in a leading role, best art-set direction, best costume design and best picture.  Olivier's performance was considered an unapproachable ideal and remains so.  It co-starred Basil Sydney as Claudius, Eileen Herlie as Gertrude, Terence Morgan as Laertes and Jean Simmons as Ophelia.

Mel Gibson's version uses modernized English and attempts to portray a grittier, tougher Hamlet. The film was nominated for two Oscars.  It co-starred Alan Bates as Claudius, Glenn Close as Gerturde, Nathaniel Parker as Laertes and Helena Bonham Carter as Ophelia.   

Mel Gibson's 1990 version uses modernized English and attempts to portray a grittier, tougher Hamlet. The film was nominated for two Oscars.  It co-starred Alan Bates as Claudius, Glenn Close as Gerturde, Nathaniel Parker as Laertes and Helena Bonham Carter as Ophelia.   

Kenneth Branagh's version is 4 1/2 hours long as it includes the complete, unabridged text of the whole play.  The film was nominated for four Oscars.  It co-starred Derek Jacobi as Claudius, Julie Christie as Gertrude, Michael Maloney as Laertes and Kate Winslet as Ophelia.  It also included well-known actors in cameo roles such as [[Charlton Heston]], John Gielgud, [[Billy Crystal]] and Robin Williams.   

Kenneth Branagh's 1996 version is 4 hours long as it includes the complete, unabridged text of the whole play.  The film was nominated for four Oscars.  It co-starred Derek Jacobi as Claudius, Julie Christie as Gertrude, Michael Maloney as Laertes and Kate Winslet as Ophelia.  It also included well-known actors in cameo roles such as [[Charlton Heston]], John Gielgud, [[Billy Crystal]] and Robin Williams.   

The 2000 version with [[Ethan Hawke]] as a believably young Hamlet is set entirely in New York City, with Denmark a corporation. Julia Stiles is brilliant as Ophelia, and [[Bill Murray]] is pitch perfect<ref> "This ''Hamlet's'' effectiveness rests on an astonishing number of pitch-perfect choices, founded in Almereyda's instincts and those of the performers, many of which have the feel of being completely spontaneous. [http://archive.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2000/05/12/hamlet/index1.html Salon review]</ref>

The 2000 version with [[Ethan Hawke]] as a believably young Hamlet is set entirely in New York City, with Denmark a corporation. Julia Stiles is brilliant as Ophelia, and [[Bill Murray]] is pitch perfect<ref> "This ''Hamlet's'' effectiveness rests on an astonishing number of pitch-perfect choices, founded in Almereyda's instincts and those of the performers, many of which have the feel of being completely spontaneous. [http://archive.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2000/05/12/hamlet/index1.html Salon review]</ref>