Analyze
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| William Blake is an artist and poet whose work you will read next year. |
Using the three versions of the ghost scene that we watched in class, offer your commentary on each film. Consider some of the following points in your critique:
- How did the actors portray the characters? (consider emotion, attitude, actions, tone of voice, etc.)
- Was there music? If so, what tone did it set?
- What was the lighting like? Did it contribute to or take away from the scene?
- Were there special effects?
- How did the director use visual elements (such as flashback) to add depth to the scene?
- What props were used, if any, and did they provide symbolic emphasis to the scene?
Overall what was the effect of these choices? Do you agree or disagree with the choices the director made? Which version resonated with you the most?
Extend
If you were to interpret this scene through film yourself, how would you approach it? What in particular would you focus on? What in your opinion, is important about this scene and how would you want to convey that?
For example, what do you want to leave your audience with after watching this scene? Is it the despair that the ghost feels? Or Hamlet's frustration? Do you find fault with Gertrude and want to cast doubt about her involvement? Or is Hamlet imagining this scene? Could you, through directorial choices, convey that Hamlet is imagining all this?
Assignment
Address these questions ON YOUR BLOG, or other topics which you feel are relevant, in a critique of these productions in no less than 300-500 words (Hint: This prompt is about 340). When you refer to the movies you should use the director's last name to note the different versions and when you refer to the characters, use the actor's last names. Remember that you are publishing these posts on YOUR blog. Remember that you are publishing this to the world, so proofread and be mindful of grammar, paragraph length, etc.
Director: (Franco) Zeffirelli Hamlet: (Mel) Gibson
Director: (Kenneth) Branagh Hamlet: (Kenneth) Branagh
Director: (Michael) Almereyda Hamlet: (Ethan) Hawke
Film Version Links
Zeffirelli Version (short clip, but enough to see part of it)
In the Zeffirelli version the tone of the ghost scene was more emotional than the other two. Hamlet showed the signs of grief and sorrow towards his fathers ghost. After the ghost leaves he becomes enraged with madness. The music expressed the sadness in the ghost. In the Branagh version the music was more fast paced and hit tones to expressed the ghosts feeling of what he endured by the hands of his brother. In that scene they were more descriptive in showing the scene of his death. The flashback I believe where done in a way to give hamlet a vision of what his father endured. The third version directed by Almereyda was more modernized and the actor portraying the father was hands on then the last two. In the first two in Zeffirelli and Branagh hamlet didn’t get a chance to touch his father’s ghost because it would already vanish. The music in the third version expressed hurt and pain.
ReplyDeleteThe first did not use any special effects, the second showed the ghost looking a bit demonic and frightening. In the third version the ghost simply spoke but there were not any special effects. The lighting in Version one and two helped set the tone for a ghost by showing dark and gloomy lighting. The third showed a lot of light. I believe that the third version took away some of the mysteriousness of what we usually expect when there is a ghost close by.
The third version, the ghost kept dabbing his ear, indicating that he was experiencing pain, though there was not anything present.
The more emotional of the three versions was the Zeffireli version. In this one Hamlet showed sorrow for his fathers ghost and later growing angry when the ghost leaves. As the ghost talks he has tears in his eyes showing that he truely misses his son but must tell him how he actually died. The music in this version set a very depressed and dismal mood. In the Branagh version they should a flashback, as the ghost was talking, of when his brother poisoned him. This helped Hamlet better understand how his father actually does. This version had fast paced music that expressed how the ghost felt while he was being poisoned. The third version, by Almereyda, was a more modern day version. I personally did not like this version bc the ghost seemed too real and there was very little emotion put into it. The father in this version actually touched his son as if he was not a ghost which made it much less realistic. The music expressed pain and grief as the father talked.
ReplyDeleteNot many props were used in Zeffirelli's version or in Almeyerda's version. In Branagh's version the flash back used many props to fully get across how he died. It also used props to make the father's ghost scary and actually seem like a spirit.
The lighting in Zeffirelli's version was slightly dimmed to set a mysterious mood while the lighting in Branagh's version was dark to set a scarier mood. The lighting in Almeyerda's version is too bright and gives off no special feeling.
If I had to recommend one version it would definitely be Branagh's.
I agree to which in the extent that Zefferelli's version is the most emotional of them all. Through the lighting, music, and rage contributed to the empathetic scene. Also I agree that Almeyerda's version is a bit too bright and thus doesn't portray that supernatural creepy effect. However in Branagh's his flash backs and close ups that were used helped pass the eerie sensation. Overall, I too agree with many of Branagh's strategies of the three.
DeleteIn the first version by Zeffrelli, the scene is very dark. Zeffrelli uses the dark scene to keep the viewers intrigued with what the ghost is saying. When Gibson sees the ghost of his father for the first time, he is shocked to see him. After Gibson learns the truth about his father, he is very overwhelmed and angry. After the ghost disappears, Gibson shows his anger by hitting his sword against some rocks. The music in the background is sad when the ghost is talking. Zeffrelli’s choice of music makes the viewers sad about what the ghost is saying. In the second version, Branagh uses many special effects to get his point across. When Branagh is running through the woods to get to the ghost, the talking gets faster and faster. The woods are dark and smoke alone with other effects go off. This builds the suspense of what will happen next when he sees the ghost. The director use of flashbacks also help to better understand what the ghost is saying. Seeing and hearing what happened to the ghost helps reiterates what the director wants the viewer to understand. Also, the ghost’s voice is different then the other characters, making the view concentrate more when the ghost is speaking. In version three, Almereyda makes the scene very modern. Hawke is shocked and unsure what to make of the ghost when they first meet. Almereyda shows this by having Hawke sweat and fall down when the ghost gets close to him. The setting was very bright and almost normal even thought there was a ghost in the room. I think the second version was directed the best because Branagh emphasizes the key points that he wants the viewers to understand. The special effects and flashbacks help demonstrate what happen during the scene.
ReplyDeleteThe second version of the film being the most exaggerated happened to explain the act the best. Showing the flashbacks of the of the murder of Hamlet and a quick glimpse of Hamlet's wife, helped explain the actual death of Hamlet. Though the ghost of Hamlet appeared frightening, the viewer's can feel the pain and anger the ghost had through the tone of his voice. Using thr special effects, having the ground shake, the Ghost yelling, & the dark setting helped portray act 1. Different from the other films , Branagh's version on the act stood out the most, and gave the readers a better understanding of the act. If I were to direct this video, my focus would be all on Hamlet's ghost. Having the typical blue eyes and blonde hair, Hamlet would have his voice changed and his tone sound very angry yet very confident to show the viewer's that hurt his wife caused. Flashbacks wouldn't be used but I would make the ghost appear with an extremely stern face and very strong voice when he talks about the murder and wife. Smoke would definitely be used in the background to give the ghost a more exaggerated look, also I would use the smoke when the ghost disappears and have Horatio then yelling for the ghost to speak. Not far from the Branagh's version, my film would focus way more on the ghost than any other character, just to get the readers to understand the scene and feel the anger.
ReplyDeleteThanks ladies, but you should include these on your personal blogs, not in the comments.
ReplyDelete