Radio review - BBC - "Hamlet" (1992) ****

Ken Branagh on the rise backed with some major talent: Derek Jacobi, Judi Dench, Richard Briers, Emma Thompson (as the player queen not Ophelia), James Wilby, John Gielgud. It's a very strong production, very long (almost four hours), the words are beautifully spoken and its conveyed with passion and energy. The dopiness of the plot of this always irritates me a little but it's tackling of big issues (death of dad, invasions, people going insane) give it such power.