Comparing Hamlet And Branagh's Hamlet

Hamlet, by Shakespeare, is about Hamlet the prince of Denmark who has lost his father, and his mother married his uncle. In act, I scene V two directors take a distinctive look at the ghost scene where Hamlet’s father's ghost appears. Kenneth (Branagh, 1996) and Franco (Zeffirelli, 1990) both directed Hamlet. Both Branagh and Franco made a fantastic ghost scene, but Branagh did a superior job. The King's portrayal has a major effect on the emotions of the scene. In Branagh’s movie, the lighting is blue, the King's eyes are blue, and snow. The snow and blue represent coldness, which shows how cold-hearted King Hamlet died. King Hamlet was asleep in his garden when his brother poured poison down his ear killing him in cold blood. The King

The background gives the audience the feeling of the scene. Branagh sets the scene in a blue forest. When King Hamlet is talking about being trapped to repent his sins the camera looks at the ground which is bubbling with fog, and then the earth splits open and steam rises. These effects create a chilling atmosphere making the scene seem like hell. The background choice fits the scene because Hamlet is talking to his dead father’s ghost. At the time ghosts were thought to be a demon or spirit, so making the background spooky gives effect into the uncertainty as is this ghost is really Hamlet’s father. Zeffirelli's background choice was not a strong choice to make, but the use of shadows does help to make the ghost hidden, almost as if the spirit does not want to be seen as a demon or angel. Shadows are a great use, but making the scene in a castle does not create the scene that is portrayed in the play. The use of the castle and not fog can create a feeling that the ghost of King Hamlet is a friendly spirit, but in the play, Horatio warns Hamlet that the ghost may be a demon or angel that can kill him. Branagh’s use of fog and smoke creates the mood that is this ghost friendly and can Hamlet trust everything that comes out of the ghost