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Branagh Hamlet Comparison

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It’s amazing how different directors can interpret the same exact scene in their production of Hamlet. The four scenes of Shakespeare’s Hamlet are unique in their own way with each director breathing life into their production of a classic Shakespeare play. The differences in each production whether subtle or extreme can make or break the film adaptation. The actors, costuming, music and set design also play a pivotal role in comprehending a production such as Hamlet. There are those who appreciate a more pared down simplistic version of Shakespeare’s work or, like myself, yearn for a complete visual masterpiece that not only seduces the eyes but also speaks to the mind as well as the heart. I’ll break each Hamlet film version separately …show more content…

This is my favorite Hamlet production for many reasons. Branagh’s take on Hamlet appeals to me the most. He stays true to the character by not over-acting as some Shakespearean actors tend to do and he doesn’t give to the character anything other than how Shakespeare envisioned Hamlet to be. This version shows an actual romantic moment between Ophelia and Hamlet that actually has passion behind it. This helps the audience to see that there was an intimate connection between the young couple and that it wasn’t merely something we made up in our hopelessly romantic minds. Branagh’s portrayal of Hamlet emits real emotions and raw pain that the other actors seem to be lacking somewhat. The real tears in Hamlet’s eyes as he tells Ophelia, “I did love you once” (III, i), gave me chills and had my heart breaking for her. Kate Winslet’s portrayal of Ophelia is so spot on. She oozes a child-like vulnerability that the audience can connect with a few pity for her later on as she falls into insanity. I loved how the audience gets a mildly voyeuristic view of Act three, scene one with a two-way mirror approach. In his heated state, Hamlet drags Ophelia across the room and slams her against the mirror as Claudius and Polonius hopelessly look on. Ophelia’s cheek is pressed firmly to the mirror as Hamlet utters, “Those that are married already, all but one, shall live. The rest shall keep as they are” (III, ii). The Bard himself would give this adaptation two thumbs

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221 Words | 1 Pages

My version of Hamlet would combine elements from Branagh and Cumberbatch’s interpretations with some original ideas. The setting would be similar to Branagh’s version, and it would consist mainly of tracking shots. Hamlet would walk through a maze in his garden where Polonius is also wandering. The camera zooms out and shows and aerial view of the maze. It zooms back in on Polonius as he reaches Hamlet and the scene unfolds.

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748 Words | 3 Pages

Kenneth Branagh’s portrayal of Hamlet as a disgruntled young man, is much better than Rory Kinnear’s due to Branagh’s extensive use of facial expressions and pent-up fury in his tone of voice. However, Lawrence Olivier’s portrayal of Hamlet is the worse out of all the actors, as he uses very few methods used by the other two actors in effectively portraying Prince Hamlet. Kenneth Branagh acts as Hamlet the best due to his extensive use of facial

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1041 Words | 5 Pages

Zeffirelli placed emphasis on the motherly nature of Gertrude, which often can be absent within other films, and overly dramatized the incestuous relationships between Gertrude, Claudius, and, possibly, Hamlet. In contrast, Branagh instead focused most of his attention on the supposed “insane” elements found within Hamlet and Ophelia, and illustrated how relationships were transformed over the course of the play. Branagh’s emotionally-charged Hamlet had proved to be one of the best renditions of the tragedy, though many state the movie itself was less relatable due to it being the literal

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851 Words | 4 Pages

This can be proved by Elizabethan idea, film techniques and their actress’ portrayal. Branagh’s and Tennant’s Hamlet use the idea of Elizabethan era to create the

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993 Words | 4 Pages

The 2023 Guthrie Theater adaptation of Hamlet by director Joseph Haj proved to be an artful adaptation of the Shakespearean classic. Despite being set in an indistinguishable time period, the play continued to convey the majority of the traditional themes present in the original. However, the specific choice to portray Ophelia as pregnant ultimately undermines the gravity of her madness and shifts the focus away from her internal struggles. Additionally, this choice causes more blame to be placed on Ophelia for her condition, while Hamlet does not receive any criticism regarding the situation.

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1162 Words | 5 Pages

Hamlet Film Study Media Essay The famous play “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare has been recreated by many different film directors based on their standpoint of the play. By analyzing the acting, lighting, direction, and the costume in act 3 scene 1, act 3, scene 4, and act 5, scene 2, both Branagh and Zefferelli's version of Hamlet have effective media components that develop both of their films in different ways. The acting in act 3, scene 4 in Branagh’s film is done exquisitely, Kenneth brought out the character of Hamlet to its full potential, The lighting in this scene of Zeffirelli's film was also very well done. The direction in act 3, scene 1 is played out perfectly and in a very intelligent manner. Lastly the Costume selection was chosen

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955 Words | 4 Pages

Franco Zeffirelli and Kenneth Branagh both have a very similar yet also contrasting approach with their adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. The two films share similarities as well as differs with the inclusion and omission of the Freudian theory, which can affect the audience’s interpretation and understanding of the themes and plot of Hamlet. For example, Zeffirelli and Branagh share similarities in including Freud’s theory of id, ego, and superego. This can be seen in the climactic scene when Hamlet talks to his mother in the bedroom. In both adaptations, Hamlet’s id takes over as the conversation progresses and Hamlet progressively becomes more aggressive.

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939 Words | 4 Pages

Ophelia’s character went through quite a large transformation. In the play her father tells her that she is to stay away from Hamlet and she readily agrees. In the movie Ophelia doesn’t disagree with her father but she also doesn’t agree just to please him. This shows that Ophelia isn’t easily persuaded, even by her own father. Despite her father’s warning about Hamlet, Ophelia met with him in secret at her apartment until her father found out.

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735 Words | 3 Pages

There are many productions of Hamlet, but the two most popular are the 2009 film featuring David Tennant and the 1996 film featuring Kenneth Branagh. Overall, I believe that Hamlet was portrayed better in the movie with Kenneth Branagh, rather than the movie featuring David Tennant. One of the most significant scenes of the play is Act V Scene 2, where Claudius dies. In the Kenneth Branagh film, the costumes in this scene are very fitting of the time period of when Hamlet was alive. The men were mostly wearing tight pants with trousers and patterned jackets, while the women were all wearing colorful, poofy dresses.

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1102 Words | 5 Pages

In the Branagh adaptation, more emphasis is placed on feelings of betrayal due to Hamlet and Ophelia’s secret relationship. Most of the scene is focused on Ophelia’s father conversing with King Claudius, rather than focusing on Hamlet’s plotting. This takes the attention away from Hamlet focusing on avenging his father, instead making the conflict between Laertes and Hamlet for significant. In opposition, the Zeffirelli version fails to even include the important conversation between Claudius, Gertrude and Ophelia’s father. Instead, the emphasis was placed on Hamlet discussing with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about how he could go about killing Claudius.

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1099 Words | 5 Pages

Branagh amplifies the scene by doing a lengthy medium shot that turns into a close up of Hamlet, doing a soliloquy, while the audience knows who lurks behind the mirror. The scene was really clever because it builds suspense when the audience knows something that one of the characters does not. Even though it may seem like it at first, the scene actually is not shown from Hamlets point of view in the film. The camera is ever-so-slightly positioned off of Hamlets shoulder, alluding to the fact Claudius and Polonius are watching his every move. After a timely shot of Hamlet doing his soliloquy, the atmosphere of the scene shifts from a slow, dark, drawn out speech, to a conversation with Ophelia.

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567 Words | 3 Pages

As with all written works that are turned into movies, Hamlet the movie was different from Hamlet the play. One difference that I noted was the time setting of the story. The play is set in the late middle ages while the movie representation is set in the modern era. Another difference that I noted was that Hamlet in the movie, as well as Ophelia in the movie, seemed a lot crazier than I had pictured when reading the play. Hamlet was represented as psychotic in the movie, while in the play I pictured a man who was crazy over the death of his father, the marriage of his mother, and his love for Ophelia, but not to the point of an absolute psychotic man.

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1596 Words | 7 Pages

In Franco Zeffirellis’ honest adaptation of Hamlet, the theme of revenge, portrayed by a grieving Hamlet, is the singular focus of this film by emphasizing on the dialogue of Prince Hamlet and the various degree of shots that give priority to the Prince and his activities. Secondary themes and side plots were seemingly excluded from the movie as to completely shift the focus to the young Prince and his intriguing behavior. Franco Zeffirellis in his cinematic adaptation of the famous play cut dialogue that he felt did not work well in his movie, or that did not play of enough importance. Camera angles and prolonged shots seemed to focus on Prince Hamlet, his face and emotions were made of importance over the characters.

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714 Words | 3 Pages

Hamlet in my opinion was hard for me to follow what was going on because of how it’s written by Shakespeare. Besides it being hard to follow for me, I thought the set, costumes, acting, and many more aspects of the play was great. I thought the set design was cool. It was the same for all the scenes, so it was simple. There

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582 Words | 3 Pages

He is a good actor because he understood the character of Hamlet and you need to know how to be able to understand the character so you can play the part. Definitely wouldn’t recommend this movie to someone from my generation, because my generation is corrupt and would watch five minutes of the movie, then turn it off. But I would probably recommend it to one of my parents or grandparents because they would have more of an understanding to the

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