Even Zeffirelli admitted that he thought of casting Gibson as Hamlet after seeing Lethal Weapon. It is apparent that Gibson brings power to the role as he never sits still on stage and speaks his lines with a driving force behind them. Since seeing his father's ghost, Gibson becomes determined to avenge his father's death spurring the revenge play plot. This Hamlet seems more likely to lead an army than steep into madness, but Zeffirelli instead has Gibson's power feed his madness.
For more information on Gibson's Hamlet click here.
Hamlet Directed By Franco Zeffirelli (1991)
Mel Gibson as Hamlet in Franco Zeffirelli's Hamlet
Reviews
"As Mel Gibson plays him, Shakespeare's Hamlet, a Gloom-and-Doom Dane, is an Elizabethan Lethal Weapon whipped on by vicious hatred of his licentious stepfather, giggly Claudius (Alan Bates), flayed by ambiguous yearnings for his statuesque blonde mother, ice-queen Gertrude (Glenn Close)."
Click here to view full article.
"Gibson's performance is robust and exuberant; he's fun to watch, and there's never a moment when he seems less than adequate to the task he's undertaken."
Click here to view full article.
"The style of Franco Zeffirelli’s "Hamlet," with Mel Gibson in the title role, is robust and physical and - don't take this the wrong way - upbeat. Gibson doesn't give us another Hamlet as Mope, a melancholy Dane lurking in shadows and bewailing his fate."
Click here to view full article.
"Mel Gibson's Hamlet is strong, intelligent and safely beyond ridicule."
Click here to view full article.