To say Hamlet gained nothing from being produced in DVD format would be unfair, but the benefits do seem limited. The inevitable clarity of picture is a plus - when a theatrical production is filmed, it often loses some of it's vigour - but the nature of DVD being as it is, you can feel as close to the action as possible without actually sitting in the stalls.
The digital sound also lends itself well to the material. With so much of Shakespeare revolving around the dialogue, and particularly in this production, where the set has been left sparse to allow the power of the language to resonate, the heightened sound quality works well.
However, the producers have missed a trick in their lack of special features. The Kevin Kline biography and filmography offer insight into his career, but fail to enhance the viewing experience, particularly as they are present just as passages of text, without illustration or interview to make them more entertaining.
A director's commentary, history of Hamlet, the motivations for the DVD or even interviews with the actors would all have made this more enticing - better not to have anything than simply have text on screen and coin it a "special feature."
Hamlet on DVD has the potential to entertain beyond the confines of a theatrical production, but this potential has not been seized.
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