Tuesday, April 28, 2015

The Ghost Scene:
Video 1:
In Zeffirelli's version of Hamlet Mel Gibson plays Hamlet as a frantic, irrational, grief-stricken character. He is still morning the death of his father and he is disgusted with his mother's remarriage to his uncle in a two month span. There is music and the music gives off a eerie feel to the setting. The lighting was very dark and feeds into the depth of the storyline. The ghost in this version is spooky. There were no special effects used in this version. The director did not used flashback for this scene. There were no props used in this version. 
Video 2:
In Branagh's version of Hamlet, the ghost was very creepy with the way he spoke and the way he looked. The scene alone was very dramatic because of the music of the Hamlet and ghost's acting. The lighting was dark and took place in a forest. This version connected all elements of a creepy scene. There was no special effects. The director did not use flashback. There were no props used.
Video 3:
In Almereyda's version its placed in modern day. This version may be easy to relate to but the vibe it gives off about the ghost is not spooky or eerie. The ghost in this version is very forceful and Hamlet unlike in the other versions is a timid teenager instead of dramatic and forceful. Hamlet in this version seems intimidated by the ghost and frightened as well. There is no music to help with the mood of the scene. The lighting in this version is also very bright and welcoming unlike the dark and eerie setting which for me personally goes more with Shakespeare's original text. There is no special effects used. There was no flashback used. There was no props used in this version as well.
Conclusion:
The second version, Branagh, resonates the most with me because it gives off the eerie-spookie effect which is necessary in a scene in which a ghost is seen. Each director used a different approach and had a different vision for Hamlet. Branagh's version to me captured Shakespeare's original vision of Hamlet.

1 comment:

  1. I completely disagree with you for the most part. The ghost in the first version was not spooky, it was very ghost like but not spooky. The darkness of the scene didn't add to the scene instead it took away. The ghost in the third version was not "forceful" it was affectionate. Hamlet was most likely frightened because his dead father was not only in his room but was also talking and touching him. Lastly I think Branagh's version was the worse one... Sorry not sorry.

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