To Be or Not To Be

The following links will bring you to the videos that we viewed in class.  Take a moment to review them before considering the prompt.

Olivier's Hamlet             Zeffirelli's Hamlet  

Branagh's Hamlet      Almereyda's Hamlet

Your Task:

Reflect on each film version of Hamlet's soliloquy in more depth. Consider using some of your notes about what Hamlet is saying in this speech to guide your analysis of how the directors and actors interpret this scene.  Use the follow questions to guide your note-taking as you view each version, then evaluate each interpretation of this scene in no fewer than 500 words (due Wednesday).

• In each version of the play, what is the setting? What effect does this have? What is the director trying to convey by setting the scene here?
• Is there any music? What mood does this set?
• What choices does the director make about lighting or props? Do these choices reinforce the theme of his speech?
• What figurative aspects of the speech are represented literally (if any)? How does the director use these symbols throughout the speech?
• What is the emotion with which the actor repeats the lines? How does this change throughout the speech, if at all? What effect does this have?
• More broadly - Why are there so many versions of this play? What do you think that says about the universality of Hamlet? Which version of the play did you like the most (do not think of putting Schwarzenegger's)? What about this version was most effective in your opinion?

Just for fun...The Last Action Hero

The Ghost Scene

Analyze

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.

First Version

Director: (Franco) Zeffirelli     Hamlet: (Mel) Gibson

Second Version

Director: (Kenneth) Branagh    Hamlet: (Kenneth) Branagh

Third Version

Director: (Michael) Almereyda   Hamlet: (Ethan) Hawke

 Film Version Links

Zeffirelli Version (short clip, but enough to see part of it)

Branagh Version

Almereyda Version (jumpy, but good enough if you missed it)

Director's Commentary on the Branagh Version