Analyzing The Closet Scene In Mel Gibson's Hamlet

The purpose of this report is to compare and contrast two movies made about Hamlet. I will present and discuss different aspects of the version directed by Kenneth Branagh to that of Franco Zefirelli. During this paper you will be presented with my opinions in reference to determining which version of Hamlet best reflects the original text by Shakespeare. I will end this paper with my belief and explanation of which movie is true to the original play.

To play one of Shakespeare’s most complex roles successfully on stage or on screen has been the aspiration of many actors. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet has been the focus on various accounts throughout the 20th Century, each actor attempting to bring something unique and unmarked to the focal character. Franco Zeffirelli and Kenneth Branagh, both film directors, introduce varying levels of success on the screen through downright differences in ways of translation and original ideas. Zeffirelli’s much shorter interpretation of the film is able to convey the importance of Hamlet as a masterwork by using modern approaches to film but still capturing the traditional work behind Shakespeare’s well-known play.

The props and costumes the Kenneth Branagh version used are very modern and unique while the Mel Gibson version of Hamlet costumes are more old and traditional. In the Kenneth Branagh version the costumes are very elegant while the costumes worn in the Mel Gibson version is seen more as rags. For instance, Ophelia is seen wearing old rags covering her when she acts insane in Act 4 Scene 5. In the Kenneth Branagh’s film the director uses flashbacks as a way to illustrate scenes like the scene where Gertrude explains Ophelia drowning in the river. Camera techniques in the Kenneth Branagh version of Hamlet were creative as the camera slowly pulls back in Act 4 Scene 4 of Hamlet’s soliloquy. However in the Kenneth Branagh version the scenery and props adapt more to the Shakespeare’s play Hamlet.

Even more in this version of the story, Hamlet's father's ghost is not shown when he is speaking to his mother about saving herself. If Laurence Olivier's version had actually shown the ghost they would have done that scene perfectly. In the scene, only a voice is heard by hamlet as he is speaking with his mother. When looking at the BBC version of the mother's closet scene we see Polonius giving advice to Gertrude, the queen informing Hamlet that Claudius is angry, Hamlet showing pictures of both brothers and saying his father was the better man, hamlet's ghost appearing, hamlet dragging Polonius's body away after killing him, and Hamlet telling her to repent for her mistakes and to not sleep with Claudius. All of the things mentioned prior in the BBC were all key details laid out in the book that cannot be left out. The only gripe that I had with this scene was BBC changing Polonius's stabbing into getting shot with a gun. That moment somewhat took my interest away from the clip. Lastly, Ophelia's mad scene was done very well in all of the

In Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, doubt is one of the most important themes. In fact, the whole play is based on the story of a ghost who claims to be Hamlet’s father, and nobody can be sure if what he says is the truth. In this essay, I am going to focus on the theme of doubt throughout the play. I will first speak about the opening scene, and then I will talk about the ghost, which is a supernatural element used by Shakespeare to create doubt in the play. I will also analyse the passage in which Hamlet declares his love to Ophelia. Finally, I will briefly discuss Hamlet’s sanity.

In comparing the David Tennant version of Hamlet to other movie adaptations, it is clear that each one has it’s own unique way of presenting the story. The Mel Gibson version of hamlet takes place in a more traditional and medieval time. In adapting the play, this take on

   One of the most emotional and moving scenes in William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet is in Act III, Scene I lines 90-155 in which the title character becomes somewhat abusive toward his once loved girlfriend Ophelia. It is interesting to examine the possible motives behind Hamlet's blatant harshness in this "Get the to a nunnery" scene toward the easily manipulated and mild mannered girl. While watching Kenneth Branagh and Mel Gibson's film adaptations of the play, the audience may recognize two possibilities of the many that may exist which may explain the Prince's contemptible behavior; Kenneth Branaugh seems to suggest that this display of animosity will help the troubled

Over the course of the past fifty years there have been many cinematic productions of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, some of which remain true to the text while others take greater liberties with the original format. Director Kenneth Branagh’s 1996 production of Hamlet was true to Shakespeare’s work in that the film’s dialogue was delivered word or word as it is presented in the text. In contrast, Franco Zeffirelli conducted his 1990 production of Hamlet in a much more liberal direction in which lines, scenes and characters were omitted from the film. I argue that from the perspective of an individual with moderate knowledge in Shakespearian literature, that the best film versions of Hamlet are those that take the most liberties from the text. I

In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet there are many unanswered questions such as if Hamlet is really mad or if it is just an act. There are many film adaptations which use their movie elements in order to hint towards the answer of these questions. In Gregory Doran’s film interpretation Hamlet starring David Tennant, David Tennant truly shows the raw emotions of Hamlet. He shows how Hamlet feels through his movements and facial expressions. These little things allow the viewer to see the true meaning and intention behind Hamlet’s words.

Franco Zefferelli’s film, Hamlet, adapted from Shakespeare’s text, Mel Gibson’s Hamlet, struts and frets his life in Denmark, convincing almost everyone that he is “mad.” The film bases the question of whether or not Hamlet is actually insane almost solely on Gibson’s acting interpretations, but Zefferelli’s editing choices assist in making the point that Hamlet is not insane, but either in a fog of confusion and anger from his grief, or pretending to be mad to manipulate others.

Shakespeare’s Hamlet has countlessly been formatted into film depictions of the play. Each film seemed to be on one end of the spectrum of either being closely interpreted or completely remodeled a different idea of what Hamlet is. The film version of Hamlet released in 2000 seems to follow closely to the play in some aspects, yet at the same time having its own unique identity Despite there being many differences with the play Hamlet and the film adaptation of Hamlet (2000) by Michael Almereyda there are three categories that really stand out, those are the character portrayal, interrelationship between the characters, and some of the essential themes differ as well. Although there are many differences, one aspect that remains the same is the dialogue of the characters which stays true to the Shakespearean dialect.

In Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, Prince Hamlet’s speech or soliloquy from Act 4, Scene 4 effectively targets both the plays audience and other characters in the play. In Hamlets speech, he is reflecting on how he is meaninglessly prolonging Claudius’s death, even though he could have killed him at anytime and how he has everything he needs to accomplish his goal. He is also reflecting on how God has blessed humans with the power of thought to use when needed and that blessing is what makes humans different from animals. Hamlet’s speech opens the eyes of the audience by showing them how humans are capable of doing anything they put their minds too and the consequences of overthinking and not taking action to

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is one of the most produced plays of all time. Written during the height of Shakespeare’s fame—1600—Hamlet has been read, produced, and researched by more individuals now than during Shakespeare’s own lifetime. It is has very few stage directions, because Shakespeare served as the director, even though no such official position existed at the time. Throughout its over 400 years of production history, Hamlet has seen several changes. Several textual cuts have been made, in addition to the liberties taken through each production. In recent years, Hamlet has seen character changes, plot changes, gender role reversals, alternate endings, time period shifts, and thematic alternations, to

Hamlet, starring Ethan Hawke and directed by Michael Almereyda, is an interesting adaptation, changing the time period of the original Hamlet, setting it in modern day New York City. Hamlet is struggling, working for Denmark Corporation. Similar to the original play, Hamlet’s father is killed by his power hungry brother, and becomes the “king”, however in this case; it is the CEO of the company. Almereyda modernizes this tale through the use of surveillance cameras and setting. Overall, the plot of the play is the same, however, positions, such as the king, are changed to company positions, such as CEO. Like most movies, ambient sound is prevalent through the entire movie, creating suspense and other tones. Though most critics praised Almereyda for his work, not all agreed that it was a great adaptation. Hamlet (2003) is an adaptation that creates a different take on the Shakespearean play,

During this scene, Hamlet is being spied on by Polonius through his interactions with Ophelia to test if Hamlet is mad for her love. However, Hamlet loses his mind when Ophelia rejects him and proceeds by telling Ophelia, “Get thee to a nunnery” (3.1.121). The director uses a variety of camera angles and shots to successfully portrait his interpretations. For example, when Hamlet and Ophelia first meet each other in the scene, the camera angle is showing Hamlet in one side of the hallway and Ophelia in the other. The director is trying to show that they contrast each other as perhaps Hamlet represents reality and Ophelia represents appearance. Ophelia is pretending to not love Hamlet as she is ordered by Polonius to reject his love. However, Hamlet later finds out that Ophelia is being used by Polonius thus he finds out the truth. The director decided to add a noise during Hamlet’s interaction with Ophelia to raise Hamlet’s suspicion of being spied on. Thus Hamlet asks, “Where’s your father?” (3.1.131) however, in the book, there is no stage direction indicating that anything happened that caused Hamlet to ask this. Branagh improvises well to interpret a different idea of how this event happens. Lastly, after Hamlet leaves Ophelia, the director chooses to have a camera angle pointing down at Ophelia as she lies on the ground. This emphasizes that Ophelia is feeling inferior after being insulted by Hamlet. Furthermore, she feels guilty for rejecting Hamlet