Hamlet Film Analysis

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.

In Elizabeth Era men wore codpieces, stockings and hose but Banagh’s version of the play Hamlet, Hamlet himself is not wearing any of those. When Hamlet is walking towards Ophelia to greet her, you get a glimpses of his outfit. He is wearing a dark blue coat with black pants. Costumes changes over years because fashion changes. Fashion changed because different cultures share their fashion sense to the world, making it popular so others follow. When the play was original written in 1603 people in that time wear bigger and bulker clothes, while in the 1996 production the characters are not wearing heavy weighted clothes because in 1996 people started wearing comfier clothes. Clothing is impacted by time because of the change clothes so the production

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.

Hamlet by William Shakespeare is a story about a king that was murdered by his brother and the prince has been asked by his father?s ghost to avenge his murder. The original story line has been altered a few times since it has been written. The original Hamlet the play and the altered Hamlet the movie are shown differently in many different ways. Hamlet the movie with Mel Gibson shows different things than the play, but there are three major differences between the two. The three major differences are in the way both of the productions start out, differences in the scene that the players put on a play, and differences in the way the productions end.

“To be, or not to be, that is the question,” (3.1.64). This famous line in William Shakespeare's Hamlet perfectly encapsulates Hamlet’s internal struggle throughout the play. Hamlet tells the story of the young prince of Denmark and his desire for revenge on the uncle, Claudius, who murdered his father. As is the case in many works of literature, Hamlet changes greatly throughout the play. However, because of his attempts to act insane, it can be difficult to precisely map the changes in Hamlet’s character. By carefully investigating his seven soliloquies, where he is alone and has no need to “put on an antic disposition,” one can understand and interpret how Hamlet’s character develops throughout the play.

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark has been performed thousands of times since it was “written in 1599–1601 and published in a quarto edition in 1603” (Britannica.com). It’s popularity stems from its themes that translate across time. These themes, are seen to be relatable even to this day with the ever growing audience. Readers and viewers are able to find similarities between the current state and or even relate to one of the characters or events taking place over the course of Shakespeare’s five act masterpiece. Shakespeare's, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark remains a viable text for contemporary readers in that it functions as a mirror.

Hamlet proves himself a temperamental, twisted character in William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. The Prince of Denmark conveys his facetious demeanor with his behavior and sharp tongue, especially in scenes with Ophelia and Gertrude. Although Hamlet’s situation is difficult and easily sympathized by viewers, his aggression should ultimately be focused on his murderous uncle.

Hamlet is a very well-known play across the world. Many students have been required to read the play in school. Although the poem has been read by many students, student usually don’t further their experience with Hamlet by watching the movie. There are many remakes of the play in movie form, new movies have been evolved since the play was originally made. There are movies that follow the play and the time period of the play and then there are newer or more modern versions of the play. The comparison being made in this paper is, the originally play versus the 2009 movie version of Hamlet.

When transforming any type of literary work into film there are certain areas that have to be manipulated in order to fit into the mold of a film. The play Hamlet, by Shakespeare, is no exception. As Hamlet is Shakespeare’s longest play, made up of more than 4,000 lines, there is no other choice than to have it cut down to fit into the standard parameters of a film. Along with the play being subject to being cut down, certain liberties are given to a director to adapt the work in a way to make it more unique. Almereyda made Hamlet much more modern in relation to scenery and character representations. Many of the

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

Shakespeare develops Hamlet’s character in relation to claudius. Claudius said, “We pray you, throw to earth this unprevailing woe, and think of us as your father” (Shakespeare 24). Claudius is telling Hamlet to forget about his father’s death and to start thinking of him as his father. He then said, “And we beseech you, bend you to remain here in the cheer and comfort of our eye, our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son” (Shakespeare 26). Claudius wants to get close to Hamlet. So he wants Hamlet to stay in Denmark with them. He really wants a good relationship with him. But Hamlet is being odd and distant. He then said, “I entreat you both that, being of so young days brought up with him and since so neighbored to his youth and ‘havior, that you vouchsafe your rest here in our court some little time so by your companies to draw him on to pleasure and to gather, so much as from occasion you may glean, weather aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus that, opened, lies within our remedy” (shakespeare 28). Claudius wants to know everything about Hamlet. But he knows that Hamlet

Having never watched the play or movie, or read the book, Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, is new to me. While watching the DVD I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat with my hands clasped tightly together. Not in excitement or anticipation, but in an attempt to interpret and understand the story. In the beginning I was struggling to understand what was happening. However, as the play continued I found myself occasionally muttering “Oh, yes” as I actually started to understand some of the content.

Kenneth Branagh 's Hamlet (1996) is the most complete retelling of William Shakespeare 's Hamlet. In four hours, Branagh details the complicated relationships and mental anguish of the royalty of Denmark as they navigate the murder of the king of Denmark, notably Hamlet, the heir to the throne of Denmark. As Hamlet has been tackled by many actors and filmmakers over centuries, there is no one true way to perform Hamlet. Nor has Hamlet been approached such as Branagh has, creating a screenplay using the full text from both the Quartos and the First Folio. Therefore, Branagh has taken the liberty of fully fleshing out his film through advanced cinematography techniques and meticulous attention to details. Kenneth Branagh 's Hamlet uses framing of shots and accompanying color schemes, detailed flashbacks, and an emotionally charged musical score to project Hamlet 's internal conflicts onto his environment, creating a tangible representation for viewers.

Almereyda’s film adaptation of Hamlet shows the struggle Hamlet is having with the death of his father, but also focuses on the internal pain he is experiencing, supporting the country of Denmark. This portrayal of Hamlet can be seen through the interpretation of Hamlet’s mental pain and Physical appearance. Almereyda’s Hamlet shows a new way of viewing Hamlet's character, and a deeper understanding of the moral changes he is facing during Act 3 scene 1, by being more relatable to a 21st-century audience. Shakespeare writes few stage directions, which gives freedom to the director to show what Hamlet is doing during the act 3 scene 1 soliloquy.