Hamlet Film Study Media Essay
The famous play “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare has been recreated by many different film directors based on their standpoint of the play. By analyzing the acting, lighting, direction, and the costume in act 3 scene 1, act 3, scene 4, and act 5, scene 2, both Branagh and Zefferelli's version of Hamlet have effective media components that develop both of their films in different ways. The acting in act 3, scene 4 in Branagh’s film is done exquisitely, Kenneth brought out the character of Hamlet to its full potential, The lighting in this scene of Zeffirelli's film was also very well done. The direction in act 3, scene 1 is played out perfectly and in a very intelligent manner. Lastly the Costume selection was chosen
…show more content…
In this scene Hamlet begins the “To be or not to be” soliloquy. There are many mirrors in the room, but Kenneth Branagh decides to make Hamlet speak to the one that the King and Polonius are hiding behind. In the “To be or not to be speech” Hamlet talks about life after death and how people are afraid of the end. While Hamlet speaks to himself in the mirror he believes no one is there. As he moves closer to the one way mirror, staring at his reflection while speaking of death, he suddenly pulls out his knife and points it at the mirror. Hamlet can only see himself, but the knife is also being pointed at King Claudius and Polonius. This point in the scene is very significant because it foreshadows that Hamlet is going to kill the king and Polonius. It also foreshadows that Hamlet is going to die because the knife is also facing him through the mirror. Another interesting point about this scene is that all three of these characters were all killed by a sword or a dagger, a sharp end, which was also the weapon pointed at the mirror. All of these characters were killed due to Hamlet's madness and obsession to kill his king Claudius. Therefore, the direction in this scene of Kenneth Branagh’s film was very well thought out and
Cinematic interpretation allows for a wider audience, in that the general public is much more likely to see film version of Hamlet than to attend it as a play. There are also elements of the story, such as the ghost, which can become much more believable for modern audiences through the use of special effects which plays cannot employ, such as a singular perspective and visual editing. Lastly, the way that film is captured and edited is an art in and of itself. Things like lighting and set design add meaning that can simplify the story or make it more intricate. This simply cannot be done with plays to the extent which it is done in film.
This quote is significant due to Hamlet’s slight distrust of the ghost, and the use of the play to revile the truth of Claudius’ malevolent decision. Hamlet asks the only person he trust Horatio to help him watch over Claudius’, in order to finally determine his guilt. With the help of Horatio, Hamlet can continue on with the revenge plot and rightfully go through with the plan. That is representative to the theme of revenge because Hamlet will use the play to avenge his father’s sick murder. The motif of play and actors are relevant in this quote, because Hamlet has the actors play out a similar death of his father.
There are many productions of Hamlet, but the two most popular are the 2009 film featuring David Tennant and the 1996 film featuring Kenneth Branagh. Overall, I believe that Hamlet was portrayed better in the movie with Kenneth Branagh, rather than the movie featuring David Tennant. One of the most significant scenes of the play is Act V Scene 2, where Claudius dies. In the Kenneth Branagh film, the costumes in this scene are very fitting of the time period of when Hamlet was alive. The men were mostly wearing tight pants with trousers and patterned jackets, while the women were all wearing colorful, poofy dresses.
Hamlet is one of the most remarkable tragedy plays in the world, thus there are many reproductions to create same sensation. Films of Hamlet are the most famous versions of these and there are so several films created. These include Branagh’s version released in 1996 and Tennant’s version released in 2009. Branagh 's film is four hours long movie trying to create the exact version of story Hamlet on the screen and Tennant’s is three hours long television film, famous because it is a modernized version of Hamlet. Although Branagh’s and Tennant’s versions films have vast differences, they are both be able to convey the play’s theme of madness in their films.
He is arguing with his mother and things begin to get physical. Gertrude then calls out and so does Polonius, giving away his location behind the tapestry. Thinking it was the king in his wifes bedroom, Hamlet stabs the mystery person behind the curtain and unfortunately for Hamlet, it was
Out of the three versions of the “To be or not to be” soliloquies, Kenneth Branagh’s version stands out more than the other two. Going into depth, Branagh’s version shows a mirror to where he is supposed to look at himself. He approaches closer as if somebody was leering him, and he makes physical motions such as drawing up his dagger. During his dagger movement, he approaches closely to the mirror as he assumes that he is drawing towards the murder, but he’s actually approaching closer to himself in the mirror. He actually goes into consideration to a philosophical question about life or death, and he tends to be brave throughout his soliloquy.
The setting of the movie is the first obvious difference that can be seen. The movie was set in New York City, New York in 2000 while the play was set in Elsinore, Denmark in the late middle ages. This greatly affects the way the movie is viewed because it is essentially an entirely different world. In the movie there are video cameras, cars, phones and skyscrapers, all things that obviously weren’t around during Shakespeare’s time. Even if the movie and the play had been based in the same year, the story still would have been slightly different.
As with all written works that are turned into movies, Hamlet the movie was different from Hamlet the play. One difference that I noted was the time setting of the story. The play is set in the late middle ages while the movie representation is set in the modern era. Another difference that I noted was that Hamlet in the movie, as well as Ophelia in the movie, seemed a lot crazier than I had pictured when reading the play. Hamlet was represented as psychotic in the movie, while in the play I pictured a man who was crazy over the death of his father, the marriage of his mother, and his love for Ophelia, but not to the point of an absolute psychotic man.
In Branagh’s version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the ‘To be, or not to be’ speech is interpreted differently than other actors’. Branagh’s character, Hamlet, knows he is being watched by Claudius and Polonius. His disclosure about not committing suicide for fear of the afterlife is part of his plan to keep Claudius at bay until he can convince himself that Claudius is the assassin and find a way to get revenge. The set of this scene includes mirrors and mirrored doors but it is difficult to tell them apart. These are used very intriguingly by Branagh.
Known for producing one of the most renowned and successful depictions of Hamlet, director Kenneth Branagh has transformed the world of Shakespearean films. Within his film, Branagh placed a fair amount of
In Kenneth Branaugh’s version of act 3: scene 1, Hamlet is seen standing in front of a mirror. In this portrayal, the mirror represents an appearance of a false reality as it acts as a distorted depiction of something that is not actually real. Throughout the scene, the only visual image that the audience is allowed of Hamlet is that of the illustration of his reflection in the mirror. Hamlet is aware that Claudius is spying on him, and takes this into account throughout the progression of the soliloquy. This image that is depicted of Hamlet represents an act that he is portraying to hoax everyone into believing a false appearance.
Throughout the Zeffirelli and Branagh adaptations of Hamlet and the actual text itself, a variety of different views can be
In the ever changing world of literature, one play stands the test and that is William Shakespeare's Hamlet. This dramatic, thrilling, tragic play tells the story of a “young prince of Denmark, Hamlet, who is seeking vengeance for his father’s murder.” () The storyline itself is able to grasp the reader, and take them alongside Hamlet as he slowly takes down his enemies and uncovers the secrets, betrayal, and scheming nature of his family. Aside from the storyline, what makes this play great is the monologues, as well as dialogues between characters. Shakespeare incorporates an array of vivid imagery, metaphors, and exquisite vocabulary to make known the passion and heart behind every single character.
Revenge is a very strong and powerful theme found in stories across all ages and all cultures. During the course of this class two books have also held this theme, Shakespeare's Hamlet and Shelley's Frankenstein. Revenge seems to be such a large theme for both Hamlet and Frankenstein's monster because they both feel utterly betrayed by the people closest to them. In Hamlet, King Hamlet is murdered by his brother, his ghost reveals this to Prince Hamlet.
Throughout Hamlet there are many parallels. Hamlet is shown standing about 6 feet in front of a mirror. He begins talking in a low voice, almost a whisper slowly walking towards the mirror. After saying, “what dreams May come” (65) music begins playing, intensifying the scene.