"HAMLET" FROM CAT HEAD THEATRE & YOUNG CAPONE, TOO

At the most optimistic, this silly video from Cat Head Theatre might get an otherwise uninterested person started (it.is.hoped) toward enjoyment of the literature by William Shakespeare and HAMLET, if not already.

But my favorite filmed performance of Shakespeare's HAMLET is by Franco Zefferelli, starring Mel Gibson as Hamlet, Glenn Close as Gertrude, Alan Bates as Claudius, Paul Scofield as The Ghost, Ian Holm as Polonius and Helen Bonham Carter as Ophelia. Ennio Morricone -- my favorite film composer -- provided the score.

Here's a comprehensive site about HAMLET by William Shakespeare.

And, here's a basic but quite reliable description of what the play is all about:

Once you get past the minor difficulties posed by the language, you'll probably enjoy "Hamlet" -- and not just for its action.

"Hamlet" is the first work of literature to look squarely at the stupidity, falsity and sham of everyday life, without laughing and without easy answers. In a world where things are not as they seem, Hamlet's genuineness, thoughtfulness, and sincerity make him special.

Hamlet is no saint. But unlike most of the other characters (and most people today), Hamlet chooses not to compromise with evil.

Until I viewed Zefferelli's rendition of HAMLET, I was unaware of Mel Gibson's full-fair dramatic abilities as a performer but full and utter this performance by Gibson is as Hamlet, perhaps his finest work in dramatic arts yet accomplished.

But the entire production is a substantial work of art and if anyone up to now has been dissuaded from reading or watching HAMLET performed, I highly encourage the viewing of Zefferelli's film, HAMLET.

About Morricone, he's set to compose the score for the upcoming film, THE UNTOUCHABLES: CAPONE RISING, in which Nicholas Cage is confirmed to star as Al Capone while younger in his life (this is a prequel to THE UNTOUCHABLES in which Capone was later in life).

Cage will reteam with "Snake Eyes" director Brian DePalma for the project, playing a younger version of the character made famous by Robert DeNiro. "Capone Rising" is a prequel to DePalma's 1987 classic "The Untouchables," and will revolve around the early dealings between Capone and Irish cop Jimmy Malone, a role that garnered an Oscar for Sean Connery.

And, as to that Jimmy Malone co-starring role, "...rumors continue to swirl that Sean Penn or Colin Farrell will be cast as the younger Connery..." If it's ruin that's the goal, they'll go with Penn and forego Farrell but if it's a great movie they're after, they'll sign Farrell as quickly as possible.

Enjoy the cats in the meantime.