Compare the opening sections of Kenneth Branagh's and Franco Zeffirelli's film versions of Hamlet.

Compare the opening sections of Kenneth Branagh's and Franco Zeffirelli's film versions of Hamlet. So exactly why is it that Hamlet is still so popular with our modern day audiences when it was written for the naïve audiences of the 17th century? Personally I believe this is because Hamlet deals with many fresh issues including corruption, love and the supernatural, which still appeal to contemporary audiences. These issues are also present in many films made recently e.g. 'The Exorcist,' 'The Others' and 'Sixth Sense' all these films are also popular. Shakespeare's Hamlet is a play filled with revenge, ambition and faithlessness. It was written in the 17th century though Shakespeare set it long before his own time. Hamlet is significant as the first of Shakespeare's four great tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth. People are still entertained by ordinary passions and ambitions with which a modern day audience can still identify and relate to. Hamlet is Shakespeare's longest play due to the fact that it has to deal with the complex and complicated moral dilemma the viewers find Hamlet facing, whether to avenge the death of his father or not. There are many interpretations of Shakespeare's Hamlet, some say the Lion King is based on Hamlet and though there may not be a direct and obvious link there are many similarities, like the murder of the king for the uncle

  • Word count: 3357
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Directors Kenneth Branagh and Franco Zeffirelli have both released fantastic productions of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. These directors have come up with two contrasting movie versions

BRANAGH IS TRIUMPHANT WITH HAMLET Directors Kenneth Branagh and Franco Zeffirelli have both released fantastic productions of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. These directors have come up with two contrasting movie versions of the same play by manipulating film conventions in their own ways. The greatest aspect of watching the Mel Gibson's and Branagh's films together is noticing the subtle differences them. Both versions address, or evade, some of the most controversial issues in interpreting this play: Hamlet's possible madness and the nunnery scene, the chamber scene in which the ghost appears, and Ophelia's madness along with her suicidal demise. However, by the gradual development of the vicious themes of betrayal, revenge and death, Branagh's movie is much more effective in translating the theatrical Hamlet into a cinematic masterpiece. Branagh's production is more enhanced and he successfully masters the role of Hamlet. The talented actors, excellent direction and magnificent set designs help Branagh's movie excel over Zeffirelli's version. Zeffirelli strays too far from the original text and layout of the play unlike Branagh. The foremost thing to enhance Branagh's film is its star cast. Firstly, the actors chosen for Branagh's movie captivate the essence of Hamlet by penetrating themselves into the soul of their respective characters. Branagh as Hamlet is able to bring

  • Word count: 1276
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Hamlet Media Assignment

Hamlet Media Assignment The film of Hamlet has become one of Shakespeare's most famous works. Many different directors have each given their own interpretation of Hamlet. We have looked at three different film versions. Kenneth Brannagh, Lawrence Olivier and Franco Zefirelli. The part of the play I am going to look at is Hamlets monologue; "To be, or not to be" I have chosen this monologue because it is the section of the play which most people remember. It is also a very strong powerful monologue. This speech is important to the play because Hamlet is asking the one question that many people ask...why should I carry on living in this disrupted, sinful world? This makes it an important scene to the audience. Hamlet follows his argument through talking about the bad things in the world, but he moves on to talk about life after death. He finally persuades himself against the idea of suicide. I will look at the different methods used by the directors to create their desired impact on this scene. In the Franco Zefirelli version (1990) of Hamlet this scene is set in a crypt in the cellars of Elsinore Castle. The lighting is very dark, which adds a sense of mysteriousness and evil. Hamlets face is lit from above which makes his features and the shadows more defined. The way Hamlets face is lit creates the image that there are two sides to life, a dark side and a light side.

  • Word count: 2133
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Discussing the sanity of Hamlet.

Throughout the entire play, Hamlet portrays an irrational behavior that affects the work as a whole. His sanity is questionable and he could have been pretending to be mad in order to kill King Claudius. Through his conversations with Horatio, it is seen that he plans to pretend to be mad, but his actions during the course of the play call the reality of his madness into question. Hamlet's first act of strange behavior is demonstrated through spurned love. Hamlet approaches Ophelia, stares at her, simply runs his hand down her arm, and leaves. Polonius uses this action as a reasoning to Hamlet's irrational behavior , stating that Hamlet is mad for her love. Although Hamlet does show complete madness when speaking to Polonius, during his soliloquies he demonstrates complete lucidity when he plans to find guilt in the King. Hamlet reenacts a play of his father's murder and uses his madness to make sly remarks in order to prick the king's conscience. His behavior can be judged reasonable if his madness is indeed an act to provoke responses from the King and at last avenge his father. There is a cause to question whether Hamlet's mind is entirely stable because after the play, he encounters Gertrude and loses complete control of his temper. During this enraged scene, he encounters the ghost of his father again, but Gertrude does not seem to see the ghost. Because only Hamlet

  • Word count: 998
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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My Final Version of the Ghost Scene of 'Hamlet'.

Luke Morley 11 GV My Final Version of the Ghost Scene of 'Hamlet' We have been studying the play 'Hamlet' by William Shakespeare. We have read the original text as well as watching three film versions of the play one by Zefferelli, Branagh and Almieda. We have been concentrating mainly on the ghost scenes in these three films. We also worked on an unusual ghost scene, which we made into a comical ghost scene in a little booklet. I have chosen to do a film production. I have chosen to do this because after watching the three film versions of the ghost scene it has given me ideas of costumes, settings and how to produce the ghost to make him stand out, also in the film you can use special effects and a lot more than you can do in a theatre production of the ghost scene in 'Hamlet'. I want my setting to be set in a castle on a staircase leading down towards the cellar/basement of the castle. I want the set to seem very cold, dark and musty with a real feel of tension in the air. I want the sound of the ghosts voice to be unnatural and decayed, with slow unnatural music playing quietly in the background and I want a sharp possibly loud noise of music on certain words Hamlet or the ghost use to emphasise them so people know the word has some sort of strong meaning to it. On this ghost scene at first the only lighting will be Hamlets candle as he is walking towards the

  • Word count: 615
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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HAMLET: The Assignment

Tan Wei Jie Joel (31) 3.11 HAMLET: The Assignment 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

  • Word count: 1243
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Examining the theme of revenge in Hamlet.

Josh Davies 10M. 30/06/02 Examining the theme of revenge in Hamlet. Shakespeare's play Hamlet has 5 acts like most plays of its time. There are 20 scenes in this play, which was first published in 1603. Hamlet is a revenge tragedy. This is a special form of tragedy, which concentrates on the protagonist's pursuit of vengeance against those who have done him wrong. These plays often concentrate on the moral confusion caused by the need to answer evil with evil. These plays often had a ghost who could not rest until their murderer was killed. Shakespeare uses soliloquy to show the audience the characters feelings, motives and decisions. Through soliloquy the theme of revenge and fate of the main characters can be charted. To explain the importance of revenge in the soliloquies I am going to write about the following: the Elizabethan convention of soliloquy and how it has evolved in today's performances, two versions of hamlet, one by Kenneth Branagh and one by Franco Zefferelli, and the way hamlets character is shown through the language of his soliloquies. I will also look at why Shakespeare stops using soliloquy after act 4. I will also make actors note on one of the soliloquies. We are shown through out the play what the characters are thinking by the use of soliloquy. This is a dramatic convention, which allows a character in a play to speak directly to

  • Word count: 1552
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Nunn and Polanski's Versions of Macbeth - comparing the two versions.

Nunn and Polanski's Versions of Macbeth I am going to be comparing two versions of Macbeth, Trevor Nunn and Roman Polanski. I will be comparing different aspects of both versions, things like costumes, colour, lighting, setting, props etc and then stating which I think is the best and why. Firstly I am going to be comparing the costumes worn by both sets of actors. In Nunn's version the only colours used are black and white. He uses these to extreme colours for two extreme circumstances, good and evil. Dark, drab clothes are used for evil characters such as the witches, while white for good characters like Duncan. I think this method of using the costumes isn't as good as having full colour because instantly the viewer can see who is good and evil. If there was colour the viewers would have to work this out for themselves and it would add excitement to the story line. In Polanski's version the costumes are in full colour. Again the evil witches are in dull, dark colours. Their clothes are old and in rags suggesting that they are evil. The settings of both versions of the same play are very different. In Nunn's version there is no real background pictures or objects, which would suggest the position of a character at a specific time. In fact the background is just darkened all the way through the play. Although this may limit what can be done with the setting, I think that

  • Word count: 1128
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Drama
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Write about your reactions to the final part of 'Hamlet'. You should discuss how Shakespeare has made this dramatic and fitting ending to the play. You can also refer to any film versions you have seenAt the start of the

Write about your reactions to the final part of 'Hamlet'. You should discuss how Shakespeare has made this dramatic and fitting ending to the play. You can also refer to any film versions you have seen At the start of the play we see Hamlet returning to Denmark from university, as he has heard the news of his farther, Old-Hamlets death. He arrives home perhaps thinking that he shall now take the place as the king of Denmark, only to discover that while he was away Claudius, his uncle and Gertrude, his mother have been wed. Therefore Claudius, not Hamlet, takes the place as King of Denmark. When Hamlet discovers this he becomes almost deranged, especially when Old-Hamlet appears to him in a form of a ghost, revealing that Claudius killed Old-Hamlet. This knowledge forces him to feel betrayed by all around him, such as the politicians that once supported his father and now show that same respect to Claudius. He feels that he can not trust his mother or Ophelia, his girlfriend. When travelling actors arrive Hamlet decides to put on a play to draw Claudius out, by seeing if he would react to a play about a brother killing a king to steal the crown. Claudius rushes out when the play is acted, showing that he is responsible for the killing of old-Hamlet. Hamlet follows quickly behind him and is about to strike Claudius down when he hears him committing his acts to god. Hamlet

  • Word count: 1655
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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The Character Of Prince Hamlet In William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'.

Parminder Sandhu 120 The Character Of Prince Hamlet In William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' In this essay I will examine the complex character of Prince Hamlet of William Shakespeare's classic play entitled 'Hamlet'. My aim is to discuss what I consider the most important aspects of Hamlet's character. I shall look at Hamlet's change in character over the course of the play and Hamlet's relationship with his mother. We are first introduced to Hamlet in the Act 1 scene 2; Hamlet appears dressed in black, which is reflective of the sense of bereavement he is feeling after the death of his father, King Hamlet. As the scene progresses Hamlet speaks his first soliloquy, 'O that this sullied flesh would melt'. This is the first line the audience sees in his speech therefore indicating to us his disturbed frame of mind. This is a prelude to his future madness. S.T.Coleridge stated the following opinion on the character of Prince Hamlet: ''..all that is amiable and excellent in nature in combined in Hamlet, with the exception of one quality... the great object of his life is defeated by continually resolving to do, yet doing nothing but resolve''. Coleridge alludes to Hamlet's future inaction and self-chastisement at his inability to complete his main purpose in life due to no other person than himself. This relates to the classic notion in Greek revenge tragedies of the hero

  • Word count: 1916
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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