Will that do for the moment? That does very well, Kate! ;-) How do you like the book? ;-) I like it very much and so will my sister when she gets hers...;-) The focus of the story is always on Hamlet's family, but Polonius's family were all killed as well, it is two family's tragedy and that sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. One of the most moving scenes for me was when Laertes learned of Ophelia's death. Julie Christie and Michael Mahoney were wonderful there.

I love the scene where Hamlet realises his friend Horatio is there - in the middle of all this misery, a good friend.

Yes, and this was a great Horatio. He doesn't get to do much but stand around while Hamlet talks until the final scene "Good night, Sweet Prince", but this one (I've blanked on his name--wait! I have the book, let me go look!) Nicholas Farrell did such a good job of being "in the moment" and reacting to Hamlet.

Cheryl, Nicholas Farrell was Edmund in the BBC Mansfield Park! He is a very good actor, usually in secondary roles.

Do folks see a resemblance between Branagh and Laurence Olivier?

drool alert: Kenneth Branagh on "The View" on ABC TV (10:00 am CST)

So, why is it so quiet in Kenneth adoration land lately? He has a huge ego, but I think he's great. I loved Hamlet. My mouth dropped open and I audibly gasped when he was first shown standing, all in black, with that white-blond hair. Incredibly sexy. I'm not usually a fan of bleached blondes, but he looked fabulous. Pretty good physique, too.

Has anyone sen the ads on tv for his new movie. A musical where he sings and dances. They are doing "I Won't Dance." It looks like it is going to be a fun movie. I had to LOL at him when he was telling about doing it when he was on Rosie last week.

He was on Charlie Rose the other night, along with Nathan Lane and Alicia Silverstone (co-stars). THe movie is opening in a few cities first, then going a little wider. It's Shakespeare's "Love's Labour's Lost", which is a little-performed play. (I've aready heard a bad review of it, unfortunately.)

I too have heard several negative reviews on "Love's Labour's Lost), but it does not surprise me. Critics have been tearing Kenneth Branagh apart since the dawn of time. It is very uncommon for soemone so young to display such talent and charge onto the scene like he did with Henry V and critics have hated him ever since, especially in Great Britain where the critics deem young success unacceptable for some reason. I have heard wonderful reviews from many people who have seen the film. (If you want to see a great site, check out "The Kenneth Branagh Compendium").

I love the photos on this page, my favorite so far being the one of Ken & Billy Crystal behind-the-scenes in Hamlet. The Branagh Compendium, mentioned in an earlier post, is at www.branaghcompendium.com, BTW. Auriette