I think a 21st Century daughter of Shakespeare would be pleased with this retelling of HAMLET. The twist are interesting, the premise satisfying, the performances pleasing. Daisy Ridley and Naomi Watts are radiant. I give this film an 8 (life-affirming) out of 10 [retold Classic]

I usually really like retellings; especially of classic literature but this film just didn't do anything for me. I do appreciate the beautiful cinematography and I see that there were some perfectly acted scenes. However, I just felt like the story wasn't one that needed to be told. It's the story of Hamlet told from the perspective of his lover Ophelia and I just didn't get it.

Ophelia offers a new take on a classic tragedy, attempting to tell Shakespeare's Hamlet from the perspective of its most tragic female character. While the premise of seeing the story through Ophelia's eyes is intriguing, the execution falls flat. Despite the earnest effort to give her a voice, the film struggles to maintain a compelling pace, often feeling more like a slow, uninspired period piece than a fresh reinterpretation. It probably doesn't help that I'm not a fan of the source material itself. The result is a film that, while visually appealing, ultimately leaves the viewer feeling bored and disconnected from a narrative that has been told countless times before.

A feminist reinterpretation of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia is a compelling new vision of this classic tale. The film follows a young girl named Ophelia who becomes a lady-in-waiting to the Queen and is soon drawn into the court’s politics and has a torrid love affair with the Queen’s son. Starring Daisy Ridley, Naomi Watts, and Clive Owen, the film has a pretty solid cast that gives good performances. And the writers do an impressive job at honoring the original material and themes while adding in a few twists. Also, the sets and costumes are especially well-done, and the score is remarkably evocative. While it takes a few liberties, Ophelia proves to be a fresh and provocative take on Shakespeare’s work.

Takes a few liberties with the source text, but that's okay, as this is a refreshingly different take on the classic play.