soundtrack review and I've split up the guestbook into two pages. Can you tell I'm on my "spring" (rather "midwinter") break?
March 17, 1999: I've added a couple of links from Renie's Daily Telegiraffe to the wonderfully informative (if you're lookin' for his views on Hamlet, that is :) 1995 interview with Kenneth Branagh from the Drama Review and a first person account of the Panico Media Workshop Hamlet benefit.
March 6, 1999: I've have posted another excellent interview (and it's from Britain to boot) with Branagh from Sainsbury's, generously typed by Cindy.
Time for a little self-indulgence here :). I wrote to Kenneth Branagh sometime back in......November of last year; I'd actually written it much earlier but didn't know whether to send it or not but finally decided to do the former. I also sent him a picture I bought of him as Hamlet (with Yorick, from the RSC) in the Shakespeare Bookshop in Stratford (the only photo that existed there at the time), hoping that he would sign it. I sort of forgot about it for a while, although I sometimes wondered when he would respond (if at all...). I'd heard that was very good at responding to fan mail though. So Thursday, I came home from school and there was a big brown envelope sitting on the table with UK stamps on it and no return address. I tore open the envelope and found my picture which he'd signed in thin gold pen in the upper left corner, "Virginia -- Best wishes, Kenneth Branagh". *ACK!* So I've spent the past few days recovering from this... The moral of the story is (if you've gotten this far :) that I strongly urge you to write and show your appreciation because more than likely, he will reply. The Shepperton address may be found on Ngoc's Compendium.
February 26, 1999: I've added a raving review from the Edmonton Journal. Thanks to Cindy Williams. You might also notice that I've brightened up the main page title graphic to conform to the ones that I made earlier. Did you notice?
February 19, 1999: As you've probably noticed, I've *finally* gotten around to creating the title graphics for each of the pages. (I think I mentioned I would do them around this time last year...) Hopefully you like them and they don't take too long to load up (I can do something about the latter but probably not the former :). I've also added a soundtrack review and I've split up the guestbook into two pages. Can you tell I'm on my "spring" (rather "midwinter") break?
February 16, 1999: I've added a couple of reviews, one short one from Apollo and a nice feature from Borders.com.
On a completely unrelated note, may I just make a book recommendation? Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. An excellent book, about the true story of Sir Ernest Shackleton's attempted voyage across the Antarctic (1914-1916). After their ship, the Endurance, was beset, crushed, and then sank by the ice floes, he and his crew of 27 had to survive for over a year in the Antarctic. This being the early 20th century, there was no radio, satellite, or any other form of communication to let anyone know where they were. If they were going to get out, they had to do it themselves. Amazing story of human survival and this is indeed one of the most exciting books I've ever read. The NY Museum of Natural History will be exhibiting ship photographer Frank Hurley's pictures from the expedition in April, 1999.
February 2, 1999: The transcript of Mr. Branagh's interview with Terry Gross on Nation Public Radio is now up on Ngoc Vu's Compendium so now you can both read and listen to this excellent interview. You'll need Real Audio for the audio.
January 27, 1999: I would have added this sooner except that my Internet connection was down for the past couple of days (major annoyance). BUT, I've added a review.
January 14, 1999: Here's a webpage, mostly in German, devoted to Ken's Hamlet: Ophelia's Shrine to Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet. I've also added a Branagh interview from Creative Screenwriting for your enjoyment.
January 6, 1999: Well, one and a half weeks later, school's started again. That only means I've got more time to update the page... I've added one review from Crazy for Cinema.
December 22, 1998: Exams are FINALLY over -- three days before Christmas and just in the nick of time. I have a feeling "Christmas" is a non-entity for university exam schedulers. Anyhow, I've added one review from the Toledo City Paper. Yes, there are still a few of them floating around out there in cyberspace.
December 12, 1998: I just wrote the hardest exam I've ever written in my entire life (and I'm sure this isn't the last time I'll be saying that!). I've added a review off of the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup and a link to the mysterious Hamlet Case.
December 10 was Kenneth's 38th birthday!
November 24, 1998: I've added one review at Henrik's webSITE. Wish me good luck with my business presentation tomorrow!
November 16, 1998: I've added Harold Bloom's book, Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human to the bookshop section. I thought any Shakespeare fans out there would like to have a look. It's a big brick; great for tossing at certain professors...
November 10, 1998: Good news for you and me -- my midterms are over! I FINALLY (after about 6 or 7 months of neglect...) had a chance to check the links in the reviews section so all of the links there should be working now.
Also, I've put up the Hamlet trailer. It'll only be temporary since it's taking up a lot of server space (8 megs) so when I run out, I'll have to take it down...unless, of course, GeoCities gives me more space :). You'll need to have the Quicktime plug-in in order to view.
November 7, 1998: Well, it's true folks. The official Hamlet website is gone...forever. Not a trace, a smidgeon left of it. AAARRGGHHH!!! How could they do that?!?! Good thing I printed most of it out... If you'd like to have the Hamlet wallpaper, I have it and can send it to you if you simply drop me a note! (Thanks to Lucille for the info)
I've also added a few interviews and reviews.
November 3, 1998: I've come out of hiding to put up two reviews! One from South Africa's Independent Online and a glowing review from Movie-Rama. One more midterm to go...
October 15, 1998: I've added the Branagh interview from W magazine. School (midterms in particular) is driving me up the wall these days so you'll have to bear with me about the infrequent page updates.
September 25, 1998: Updated the titles in the Bookshop. The Hamlet video is now in stock at Amazon.com for $25.46 US so if you don't already have your copy, pick one up!
September 9, 1998: Added a Branagh interview from last year's MovieMaker.
September 3, 1998: Added a glowing review from Matt's Movie Reviews. I've also updated the FAQ.
August 31, 1998: Well, it's that time of year again when I have to clean up the links on this page (Yech!). All of the links, other than the ones on the full-length review page should be fully functional. I'll deal with that monster in a little while. Skool starts in one week!
Also added a Branagh interview from the Independent.
August 11, 1998: I'm baaaaaack! Wow, was this trip to England ever worth the time and $$$; I've never had so much fun in my life!! I will hopefully be putting up my travelogue and pictures in the future. I FINALLY got my hands on that elusive Hamlet CD-ROM game at Tower Records (Piccadilly Circus) in London. I'll tell you more about it once I get a chance to fiddle around with it.
If you're going to Stratford this season, don't miss Measure for Measure and The Merchant of Venice at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. These two are simply brilliant.
June 28, 1998: Well folks, I'm off for England tonight for the next 6 weeks so I hope you can enjoy yourself with what I have. When I return, I shall get to work on and exciting things! Have a wondahful summer!
June 11, 1998: Check out some wild and wacky "synopsis" of Hamlet and Macbeth. Sure to provide a good laugh :).
June 6, 1998: After a couple hours of digging, I found a couple more things to put up. A short review and also an article.
May 29, 1998: Linked to an amusing interview from the London Independent with Kate Winslet on her reaction to getting the part of Ophelia.
May 21, 1998: Added a couple more reviews, including a great review from The Ottawa Citizen. Thanks Ngoc! Also, I've archived the previous months' site updates.
May 19, 1998: I've added a couple reviews--a short and a long one.
May 15, 1998: I've brightened up the logo, as you may have noticed (hopefully you have :) so that it's more, um, in-your-face (but not quite up your nose). Hope you like it. If not...that's just too bad. :)
May 11, 1998: I've added the Hamlet video to the Bookshop.
May 8, 1998: I've always wanted to open a bookstore (still do, a real one where you can touch the books and browse through them at your leisure) and I've sort of done so on this website. Check out the Bookshop (I do need a name so suggestions are welcome!) that I've added, courtesy of Amazon.com.
I've finally decided to design some sort of title logo. Take a look (well, I suppose you already have :) and let me know what you think. As you can see, I've only don't the one for the main page. I do plan to do the other ones, if this one turns out to be OK.
May 6, 1998: Added one short review today.