Differences Between Hamlet Movies

In all three versions of Hamlet's ghost scene, King Hamlet shows his emotions to his son Prince Hamlet, about his death and how it happened; But each director took a different approach on the setting and tone of voice. For example in the Franco Zeffirelli edition, King Hamlet's ghost appeared in the shadows, and was more sensitive explaining the details of his death(when a tear fell from his eye), while in the Kenneth Branagh edition he seemed enraged, wanting his son to avenge his death asap. Directors Franco Zeffirelli Kenneth Branagh, used similar settings, while Michael Almereyda's version took place in 2000. Although it was in a modern setting, the language was still the same. Music also was a key concept that created suspense and anxiety to the viewer. Branagh uses more of a dark or evil background music, while the others tended to change music as the mood changed. Also the Lightning was violent, and Branagh used the sense of danger to introduce the type of tone King Hamlet will have, for example violent lightning strikes and earthquakes.

In the first two versions shown in class, the flashbacks gave us the viewers a visual scenery of who poisoned King Hamlet and how his brother did so. The flashbacks add depth so that we can understand what events took place and where it occurred. The special effects such as the blood oozing out in Branagh's version, and the facial expression in both Zeffirelli and Almereyda's film. Furthermore the vial full of poison was used as a prop to symbolize the death and beginning of vengeance in the play Hamlet.

Overall the effect of the choices each director chose, creates more of a twist  to each movie. I personally liked the second edition because of the built up excitement, while the third version lacked the idea of a good plot line. You cannot make a movie on Hamlet in the 21st century, I thought this was Hamlet not Back to the Future. I would focus on changing the setting in the third version and nothing about the first two. Finally I feel as if each director took their own approach, which as a viewer enjoy the creativity, but may not like the storyline itself.