Has CJ read the percy Jackson series? I love the whole concept of the gods still being around -- still up to their old tricks -- and Dionysus all grumpy because he can't have anything stronger than diet cola. It would be fun to read those along with books on greek mythology. I'm curious how -- accurate they are. That's not exactly the word I mean.

I understand his Hamlet is nearly all the original with minor changes. Hamlet is my favorite, and yet I haven't seen his version.

Branagh's Hamlet is the entirety of the Second Quarto, with a few lines from the Folio, therefore clocking in at 4+ hours. It's also a stunning argument for editing Shakespeare down for performance.

The whole bible, for reals? I mean, I did read it, but it didn't lend itself to the sort of absorption I associate with a high school lit class. Massive chunks of it went in and then right out.

You know, the bits with the names.

Beth, I adore the Percy Jackson series. From what little I can tell, they're fairly true to the mythology they're based on, allowing for some wiggle room for comedic or dramatic effect. To be honest, in some ways I like them better than the Harry Potter books. Percy is an engaging narrator, and remarkably angst-free while still being complex.

Plus, funny as hell.

juliana,

your post lead me out into the net unsupervised and I found a marvelous post about Hamlet and the Bad Quarto. Linked here if anyone cares:

[link]

It's also a stunning argument for editing Shakespeare down for performance.

OMG! And for Branagh not directing himself, as much as I loved Henry V, I hated his Hamlet.

Nate is a HUGE fan of the Percy Jackson series. He's waiting with bated breath for book 5, which is going to be out in early May.

Branagh's Hamlet is the entirety of the Second Quarto, with a few lines from the Folio, therefore clocking in at 4+ hours. It's also a stunning argument for editing Shakespeare down for performance.

Word. His directorial ambitions got the better of him, I'm afraid.

My mom and I sat through Branagh's Hamlet in the theater (complete with an intermission, thank God!), and afterwards, we were very "meh" about the whole thing. It does drag, and he really should have had someone else play Hamlet.

Jacobi is great as Claudius, though, and I liked the guy who played Horatio.

I recently saw Branagh's Much Ado about Nothing, and he did a great job both directing and starring in that film, so I don't know where he fell down with Hamlet.

Branagh's Hamlet is the entirety of the Second Quarto, with a few lines from the Folio, therefore clocking in at 4+ hours. It's also a stunning argument for editing Shakespeare down for performance.

Oh, lordy. That one shot just before the intermission where the camera pulls back on Hamlet all isolated yet noble in Elsinore. I sat there thinking, "Keep backing up, camera person. You'll fit Branagh's ego in the frame eventually."

"Keep backing up, camera person. You'll fit Branagh's ego in the frame eventually."

::snicker::