Gibson and Branagh in the Movie Versions of Shakespeare’s Hamlet

1241 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Hamlet;Themes,setting and characters

Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most well-known and most frequently performed plays. Many people have enjoyed reading and watching hamlet, both on stage and theatrically, Tragedy of Prince Hamlet revolves around the idea of tragedy, incest and revenge. However, Hamlet uses puns to lighten the mood.

Franco Zeffirelli’s version of Hamlet was released in 1990, with Mel Gibson playing as hamlet, Glenn Close as Gertrude, Alan Bates as Claudius, and lastly Helena Bonham Carter as Ophelia. The setting took place in Scotland, but in the movie was supposed to be filmed in Denmark around the 1300th century with the main theme being a tragedy, and they did a great job at trying to make the castle, and the landscape seem as uninhabited as possible, so there weren’t any modern day equipment.

From the beginning of the movie, until the end Hamlet is furious by the hasty marriage of Gertrude (Hamlets mother) to Claudius (hamlets uncle), especially since his father died only two months ago. Hamlet is quite literally mad, he even thinks about committing suicide and this is known because of the famous soliloquy “to be or not to be, that is the question”. However, hamlet is visited by ghost and is told that he was murdered by his Uncle by having poison poured into his ear and the king’s ghost asks hamlet to avenge the king’s death. Hamlet demonstrates his cleverness when he sets up a play which is very similar to what take place on the day that the king was murdered. Hamlet tells Horatio to observe Claudius’ reaction to the play, and if Claudius seems to be troubled by the play, that will confirm the ghosts accusation. Within all of this chaos, hamlet mistakenly kills Polonius and leaves for France. This causes Ophelia to ...

... middle of paper ...

...looked more modern, and the soldiers carried rifles that weren’t made at the time. Franco Zeffirelli brought out the classical hamlet, with castles, swords and the proper attire for that period. Nevertheless Kenneth Branagh brought the modern Hamlet, with modern weapons, trains and using a mansion instead of a castle.

The differences between the movie and were not big enough to distract from the power and meaning of the story. Even though there are a few differences, the movie and the play are telling the same story. All in all, the movie was an excellent depiction of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Works Cited
McCarthy, Todd. "Hamlet." Variety. 6 Dec. 1996. Web. 15 Jan. 2010.

.

"Zeffirelli's Hamlet for Today." 123HelpMe.com. 15 Jan 2010

.

Show More
Related

  • Explain The Ways In Which Scene Would You Cut From Hamlet

    874 Words  | 2 Pages

    What can we say about Hamlet that has not being said before? Almost nothing and we do not consider ourselves worthy of even commenting on such an incredible play. What we can say for sure is that its tragic tones still serve as a referent for the modern theater. The play has approximately 4,000 lines, and since the story is tightly knit, it is hard to choose parts to cull, as it has to be done carefully in order to the play keep its original meaning. In the same way, it will depend on which format we are planning on presenting the play, if it will be presented at a theater, we might keep closer to the original. On the other hand, if the cuts would have to be done for a movie, we would have to cull it severely, so it fits the timeframe.

    Read More

  • Lion King vs Hamlet

    1136 Words  | 3 Pages

    The two stories had similar plots and characters. But in the end, the small differences in how the characters acted separated the tragedy of Hamlet from the happy ending of Disney’s The Lion King.

    Read More

  • Modernizing Hamlet: Michael Almereyda

    1014 Words  | 3 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Hamlet's Soliloquy

    691 Words  | 2 Pages

    An orchestral background that enters the scene halfway through, as if to add emphasis to the point that Hamlet was driving toward, cheapens the scene even more. David Tennant’s approach to the scene is the opposite of the Branagh interpretation. Tennant’s Hamlet in a manner in which he is isolated and the only audio that the audience hears is the actor’s voice, in addition to a slow, detached speech pattern during the recital of the lines that Branagh seemingly sped through without necessary pause. Tennant’s version connects with the audience in a more real way, making the onlooker feel as if he or she could be in Hamlet’s position and the weight that he feels in that moment.

    Read More

  • Production History of Hamlet

    1879 Words  | 4 Pages

    The story is brilliant. A brooding young prince, scorned by those he loves, betrayed by his Uncle, and yet “too much in the Sun” to accept defeat. Revenge, sexual tension, bloodshed, and tears—Hamlet has it all. Hamlet is a relatable character to an audience on a multitude of levels. Whether one is coming into their own, accepting major changes in their lives, feeling betrayed by loved ones, or merely experiencing a lover’s quarrel, they can certainly relate to Hamlet. Above all, Hamlet exudes the one element inherent to all human beings—a strong sense of pride, perhaps excessively so.

    Read More

  • Applying Showalter’s Idea’s to Branagh's Film of Hamlet

    1997 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hamlet. Dir. Kenneth Branagh. Perf. Kenneth Branagh, Kate Winslet, Brian Blessed, Richard Briars, Julie Cristie, Billy Crystal, Derek Jacobi, Michael Malony. Castle Rock, 1996.

    Read More

  • An Analytical Essay Of The Tragedy Of Hamlet, Prince Of Denmark

    1156 Words  | 3 Pages

    Originally titled The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke, this tragedy has been reproduced more times than any other play written by William Shakespeare (en.wikipedia.org 1 of 9). Prince Hamlet also has the lengthiest appearance of any character in all of Shakespeare's plays (en.wikpedia.org 6 of 9). In the play, Prince Hamlet is caught between balancing his need to avenge his father's death, dealing with the disgust he felt for Gertrude and Claudius' love affair, and maintaining the relationship he has with Ophelia without exposing his plans to kill his uncle Claudius for the murder of King Hamlet.

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: Hamlet Father and Son

    709 Words  | 2 Pages

    King Hamlet and Hamlet compare in that they are both upset by the Queen’s marriage, they both hate Claudius, they are both brave, and they are both dead by the end of the play. They contrast in that while Hamlet’s father was king, Hamlet will never have the kingship, Hamlet does not leave a legacy and they die differently. Hamlet looked up to his father because he felt that he was a great leader and the bravest man that he knew, as Hamlet mentioned, "so excellent a king” (I. ii.149).  He wanted to be so much like him, but couldn't because of a couple of barriers that he had to deal with. He became a lot like his father in the end. Hamlet was very disappointed with his life because he knew that becoming king was one thing that he didn't have in common with his father, because his stepfather was king, “married with my uncle, my father's brother" (I. ii.

    Read More

  • Hamlet: Mel Gibson vs Kenneth Branagh

    1124 Words  | 3 Pages

    In conclusion, The Kenneth Branagh version of Hamlet was the most successful because it was very similar to the original play of Hamlet written by Shakespeare. The film version of Hamlet featuring Kenneth Branagh is a more successful production of Shakespeare’s play of Act IV according to its setting, editing choices and character portrayal. The two film versions of Act IV of Hamlet have many differences and similarities. Therefore the adaptation of Kenneth Branagh version of Hamlet brings the audience closer to the play.

    Read More

  • A Comparison Of Hamlet And Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet

    1613 Words  | 4 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Comparison of Ethan Hawke and Kenneth Branagh's Versions of Hamlet

    1045 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ter development was sophisticated and artisitic. In this version, the audience was absorbed with Hamlet’s character. This introduced a variety of thought and reflection making the film more appealing to a widespread audience.

    Read More

  • Hamlet Film Analysis

    1210 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare was a very famous English poet, playwright, and actor. One of the famous plays that he wrote was “Hamlet”. Hamlet is a very famous play and many play writers or directors interpret Shakespeare’s play differently. A Great scene to compares is Act5 scene 2. The two films that will be compared are “Hamlet” from 1996 directed by Kenneth Branagh and “Hamlet” from 2009 directed by Gregory Doran. The two different directors took the same play and made it reflect their own interpretation. The films are very different, but similar in many ways. “Hamlet” from 1996 directed by Kenneth Branagh and “Hamlet” from 2009 directed by Gregory Doran both use the theme guilt. The theme of guilt will be explain through the comparison of how Gertrude

    Read More

  • Hamlet Movie Vs Play

    1353 Words  | 3 Pages

    “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,

    Read More

  • Hamlet the Play and the Movie

    554 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Hamlet Movie Vs Movie Comparison

    1004 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is said that Shakespeare wrote plays, not scripts. His work was meant to be read aloud and not just read. This became apparent while I watching the BBC 's 2009 version of Hamlet. I choose this version because the director Gregory Doran put a modern twist on the classic tale. The director’s display of contemporary technology, dress, and presentation of relationships enhanced the idea that Hamlet’s madness was simply a dramatic act.

    Read More

More about Gibson and Branagh in the Movie Versions of Shakespeare’s Hamlet

Open Document