Differing Versions of William Shakespeare's Hamlet
TNT Britain’s Theatrical version and Ethan Hawke’s movie version of
the play ‘Hamlet’ were vastly different in virtually all aspects. From
the portrayal of characters in performances, the sets, paraphernalia
and especially the fact that one is based in our modern world, (New
York, 2000) both differ to large extents. Hamlet in the TNT’s version
does not dwell on about his Father’s death in contrast to the Hamlet
played by Ethan Hawke, who is constantly watching videos to reminisce
about times he had with his Father.
The two actors portray Hamlet, the main character, in a different way.
In the play version, he is very vocal and blunt. Hamlet’s interaction
with the ghost however, is more dramatic in the theater version, with
ear-splitting shrieks and squeals. This reflected the influence of the
supernatural and unworldly during Shakespeare’s time in the
Renaissance Period. The movie version had a very different influence
on me compared to TNT’s play version. For example, in TNT’s version,
Hamlet is a Prince with zero influence; however, he illustrated as a
photographer who instantaneously shows his peripheral nature towards
the King.
A great deal of the sound effects used was very apt and imaginative in
TNT’s play. The ghost in TNT’s play was interesting and original. I
feel, in general, that TNT’s version was easier to relate to, rather
than the movie version. TNT’s version also had an abundance of emotion
in its scenes (e.g. dialogue), along with humor, had a large amount of
vigor and enthusiasm, compared to the movie version, where Hamlet is
quiet and shows few real emotions...
... middle of paper ...
...on
depicted today’s world, the use of Shakespearean tongue did not made
it easier to relate to but made it feel out of place.
In conclusion, I felt to a large extent the TNT’s version was better
then the movie version. It was exciting and original and the
characters were profound. Furthermore, for a person who has never read
even an abridged version of ‘Hamlet’ it gave me sufficient
understanding. The absence of creativity in the movie version could be
because of the director’s reluctance to stray to far from the actual
script, (but Shakespeare in the year 2000?) For example, all we saw
about Ophelia was a crying woman with a depressed countenance the
entire length of the movie. It was also very disappointing as I
anticipated relating better to the movie version, as it was closer to
us as it had a modern setting.
My mother told Claudius that I murdered Polonius. Claudius told Gertrude that they must ship me to England at once and find a way to explain my misdeed to the court and to the people and sent them to find me. After I safely stowed Polonius’s body Rosencrantz and Guildenstern found me and asked me where I placed the body. I refused to give them a straight answer. Feigning offense at being questioned, he accuses them of being spies in the service of Claudius. I agreed to allow Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to escort him to Claudius. All Claudius did was tell everyone why he was sending me to England. After I left with Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern on our way to the ship bound for England, we ran into the captain of Prince
Hamlet by William Shakespeare is one of the world’s most revered literature. The main character, Hamlet, is arguably one of the most intriguing characters the playwright ever developed. Hamlet is daring, philosophical, mentally unstable at times, and clever. Throughout the play though, these characteristics change and/or diminish as Hamlet is put through a plethora of unfortunate events. His father is murdered by Claudius, his mother soon after marries Claudius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern betray him, and his girlfriend most likely commits suicide. While Hamlet is incredibly philosophical, indecisive, and full of resentment in the beginning of the play, he becomes violent, instinctive, caring and sympathetic towards the end of the play.
Instead of a grand tragedy of a royal house, the modern Hamlet is a detective story about a dead rich guy and his son the beginner detective. Yet, the acting of the actors and the special effects more or less manage to make up for the flaw. Bill Murray who plays Polonious is harsh and tight. Ethan Hawke is illustrated as a weak and normal prince. Julia Stiles does not do Ophelia any justice. Ther...
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 name only a few creative liberties modern productions of Hamlet have taken.
...ears or express emotions over her death or her madness. Therefore the Kenneth Branagh version of Hamlet was able to show a closer interpretation of the play Hamlet and the significance of the characters.
Different adaptations of William Shakespeare’s works have taken various forms. Through the creative license that artists, directors, and actors take, diverse incarnations of his classic works continue to arise. Gregory Doran’s Hamlet and Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet bring William Shakespeare’s work by the same title to the screen. These two film adaptations take different approaches in presenting the turmoil of Hamlet. From the diverging takes on atmosphere to the characterization of the characters themselves, the many possible readings of Hamlet create the ability for the modification of the presentation and the meaning of the play itself. Doran presents David Tenant as Hamlet in a dark, eerie, and minimal setting; his direction highlighting the
During class we have reviewed many versions of the play Hamlet. The two movie versions that I chose to compare on the play Hamlet are the David Tennant version and the Kenneth Branagh version. I chose these two versions because these were the two that most interested me. I believe that some scenes from each movie were better than the other, but overall I liked these two versions just as equally. The three main scenes that stood out to me that I will be comparing are ‘Ophelia’s Mad Scene’, the ‘Hamlet Kills Polonius’ scene, and Hamlet’s ‘To be or not to be’ scene.
Hamlet grants himself the opportunity to momentarily direct himself, yet it remains unknown as to whether he directs a representation of truth or a falsity. He exemplifies madness so well, as the sight of "a damned ghost" (77) insanely induces his imagination and comfortably transforms his identity to one of lunacy. This role he acquires is one he portrays so explicitly well as an actor that he easily utilizes it as the foundation for his players. He instructs the players:
“I like the movie but it was not as good as the book” is a saying that is said by most people. In most cases, a movie changes drastically from the book it is based on. Hamlet is one of those cases. Although it does not change completely, there are some big differences and similarities within the book and movie. Reading the play and then watching the movie makes it easier to pick out the differences and similarities. Being able to compare and contrast the movie and play of Hamlet might make it easier to decide which one is better or which one gives a better story. The movie and play of Hamlet are different because of the chronological order, parts being left out and parts being added. They are the same in ways through dialogue, characters,
...sign, lighting, casting, and costumes in the to be or not to be scene and Ophelia’s madness scene. His specific use of having the setting of the to be or not to be scene in the family mortuary made the atmosphere dark, and suspenseful which added intensity to Hamlet’s soliloquy. The lighting used in that scene also allowed the audience to see the blunt contrast between good and evil, making the scene more dramatic. Additionally, casting Helena Bonham Carter as Ophelia made Ophelia’s insanity more believable because of her innocent features in her madness scene. Moreover, the costumes worn by the characters in the movie were more historically accurate for that time period and allowed the audience to see why each character behaved the way they did. All these different components of the film added to create a very effective interpretation of the famous play, Hamlet.
Hamlet the Play and the Movie 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.
... the mother-son relationship, Hamlet’s reaction to the ghost and Gertrude’s guilt is closer to the original text in which Shakespeare leaves room for audience interpretation. Had Shakespeare not penned a true reflection of human behaviour in all its subtleties, the Dovan and Scott versions of Hamlet might not have been questioned for their legitimacy.
The perfection of Hamlet’s character has been called in question - perhaps by those who do not understand it. The character of Hamlet stands by itself. It is not a character marked by strength of will or even of passion, but by refinement of thought and sentiment. Hamlet is as little of the hero as a man can be. He is a young and princely novice, full of high enthusiasm and quick sensibility - the sport of circumstances, questioning with fortune and refining on his own feelings, and forced from his natural disposition by the strangeness of his situation.
Keys to Interpretation of Hamlet & nbsp; William Shakespeare's Hamlet is, at heart, a play about suicide. Though it is surrounded by a fairly standard revenge plot, the play's core is an intense psychodrama about a prince gone mad from the pressures of his station and his unrequited love for Ophelia. He longs for the ultimate release of killing himself - but why? In this respect, Hamlet is equivocal - he gives several different motives depending on the situation. But we learn to trust his soliloquies - his thoughts - more than his actions.
Much of the negative criticism Hamlet has received is in regard to vague characterization. This only helps the play. It allows the reader to make his or her own inferences about the character. Prince Hamlet is the best example of this. There is no quintessential Hamlet to be discovered by poring over the text, and there is no need for such a discovery; yet one can hardly shrug their shoulders in resignation, for the pleasure of this play comes largely from the quest to solve its mysteries, to interrogate its ghost; and if one fails to seek what it never surrenders, they fail to enjoy what it renders (Bloom 31). Many shortcomings of other works come in overdeveloping characters.