5/5 Super comedy with extraordinary actor Gary Oldman!!!
  by Lovely (France)
Super comedy with extraordinary actor Gary Oldman. I have a lot laughed.

What's more there is an interview with Gary Oldman, during 1 hour. Excellent for all Gary Oldman fan!!

5/5 Witty, thought-provoking, entertaining.
  by Ted Byrd
It is uncommon to find films with such high-caliber wit and which demand such intelligent participation on the part of the viewer. Participation, in the sense of giving it your full attention and listening carefully to what is said, paying close heed to visual cues, being alert to symbols, patterns, and allusions. It is even more uncommon, in my experience, to encounter such a sophisticated film done in English language.

That is why I am more than ever glad to chime in to add my praise to a film which has already garnered so many positive reviews. It seems to me there was not a wasted scene in this film. Each set, each bit of dialog is in some sense a criticism or exploration of the themes of Shakespeare's "Hamlet". The original play is turned inside out by having the emphasis shifted from Hamlet,with his self-absorbed tortured musings onto the two very minor characters of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern(Gary Oldman and Tim Roth).

These two somewhat roguish, somewhat naive, somewhat likable characters are also, as Hamlet is with his, trying to sort out the meanings and purposes behind their existential predicaments; but not having Hamlet's eloquent ability to formulate these questions, they mostly wander around in a state of befuddlement. Richard Dreyfuss, as leader of a roving troupe of actors seems to be an agent of Fate(or could he be a representation of the famous playwright, himself?), a Fate which is relentless in its insistence that every human drama be played out to its inevitable end.

Moreover, Fate, in its personification in Dreyfuss seems to exact its dues with a sardonic humorous satisfaction. The dialog is clever. The interaction between Rosencrantz' and Guildenstern's story and that of the original "Hamlet" is witty and engaging and sure to capture the imagination of anyone who is an admirer of Shakespeare's play. The cinematography is great. The music represents the action perfectly, and the soundtrack is full of background sounds of nature. The sets are very authentic-seeming, and support the mood of the film wonderfully. In short, its a great film. But its also a film that requires alert participation, rather than passivity, in order to enjoy that greatness.

4/5 Wonderful wordplay from Tom Stoppard!
  by Alan Starr (Lawrence, MA)
Another movie that got mediocre reviews (including zero stars from Ebert!), but I liked it a lot. Then again, I had never seen it before except on film, whereas most of the reviewers were comparing it to the play.

5/5 some derivatives are good
  by DeeFree (New York, NY)
Stoppard proves his intelligence with an astounding take on Hamlet told from the perspective of the two characters Rosenstern and Guildenkranz. Or is it Guildenrosen and Kranzenstern? In any event the scene with the puppet play, in a play, in a play within a play, about another play within a play is priceless. Certainly this is where the idea for Being John Malkovich was born.

1/5 Poor condition
  by J. Valentine (Redding, CA USA)
What I saw of the movie was enjoyable but the DVD was scratched and in very poor condition.