Acting out a play requires effort, hard work, and the feel as if the play is happening right then and is believable. Setting, costumes, gesture and facial experiences are amongst the many requirements to achieve a excellent play. In watching the different scenes of Hamlet act 3 scene four, it was evident that, although the same scene, were all done quite differently. Kenneth Branagh did an admirable job and portrayed Hamlet brilliantly all the while keeping the feel of “Shakespeare”. The Ethan Hawke version is more modern with guns and clothes, thus losing the feel of “Shakespeare”. In Kenneth Branagh’s version, the costumes are more medieval and aged that it is imaginable that the play were true, that would be the time period it would exist in. Ethan Hawke made his …show more content…
Branagh 's Hamlet when dealing with Gertrude is not overly violent, but it seems as if he is trying to talk some sense into her. On the other hand, Hawke is quite violent with his mother. At first he throws her against a mirror and is squishing her and then throws her on the bed with the sheets placed as if he is choking her. Branagh’s gestures are much more suited to a bit of violence, but more as if he wished his mother to repent, trying to make her understand. Hawke’s Hamlet is overly angry and less as if he wants her to understand what he sees. Both Hamlet’s are angry but it seems as of Hawke’s Hamlet was overly violent with his mother.
In conclusion, Branagh’s hamlet was much better suited to the feel of Hamlet, with better suited costumes, and more appropriate gestures and facial expressions. Hawke’s version, although meant to be modern, made it lose the Shakespearean feel altogether. Personally, it seemed as if it was a foreign film.The modern clothes, and the use of gestures and facial expressions made it seem out of place and it did not seem Shakespearean at all. Hamlet was best portrayed by Kenneth Branagh, who played Hamlet brilliantly, with the right setting of the moods and