1996 Interpretation Of Hamlet

The 1996 interpretation of Hamlet gives an interesting flare to the original play. They seem to have updated the costumes, location and other accessories to match a Victorian-esque time period (1837-1901) rather than the actual time period for which this play was meant to take place (medieval era). Whether this was a calculated move to be ironic and express the natural secrecy and air of corruption often associated with that time period or simply for the fact that it looked good, I found this movie enjoyable.

I found the cutting from scene to scene in the films entirety to be rather overwhelming or harsh however. Due to the fact that the film follows the dialogue of the play to the T, there leaves very little room for which the film can allow

Reading it on a page, it is easy to envision the emotions his face would take and the body language he would use, however the interpretation of it while acting it out is appealing and extremely accurate. When lost in thought or overcome by feeling, his eyes tend to glaze over almost, as if his body is there but mind not so much. When he is overcome with emotion, his voice softens as though to be delicate and when angry his voice rises and the facial expressions mimic the internal feeling. When he is hysterical from learning the truths regarding his father’s death, his motions are scattered, his speech is detached. When he is said to be going through his phase of madness, his erratic behavior accentuates complete madness, his way of speech, his mannerisms. All of his behavior and movement is portrayed in the most humanly way

In the play it is very simply written that their encounter is on the upper walls of the castle. In this film, the meeting appears in the middle of a dark wooded area. I was slightly confused when watching the film because I was following along with the book, when Hamlet branches off and has this entire internal dialogue as he’s running through the woods that was not actually present in my version of the book. I also found it disorienting because as he’s running through the woods, the ground is cracking and blowing up, there are flashes of light and this ridiculous fog that makes the entire scene seem eery. Although it was an interesting take on the scene, for which I assume the director was trying to portray instances of “supernatural happenings” I would have much rather had this scene played out as it was in the play/book. I found that when reading of his encounter with his father on the castle walls that it seemed to me to be a very personal encounter, like a father having his last words with his son, telling him to avenge his death as some sort of closure for Hamlet, for him to be able to solidify what exactly has happened and know where to go from there. Acknowledging the fact that technology was not in 1996 as it is today, I think as a director I would completely edit the