The Branagh version of the ghost seen begins with very fast spoken dialogue as a panicky Hamlet runs through a spooky forest. Branagh emphasizes the spookiness of the forest by using blue light, smoke, and eerie music. You actually see the ghost in this version, plus he's wearing the suit of armor you read about in the play. Branagh uses flashbacks as the ghost is speaking so the audience can visually see how the Hamlet senior died. Because of these flashbacks, you can make clear assumptions as to why Claudius murdered his brother and you can speculate Gertrude's involvement. After the ghost disappears, you can tell how determined Hamlet became to avenge his father.
Almereyda's version of Hamlet is modernized and the confrontation between Hamlet and his father's spirit takes place in his apartment. It was pretty strange how casual this scene started because the ghost just leisurely walks into his son's apartment like a visiting relative. The ghost intensifies the scene by getting into Hamlet's face and embracing his head as he's informs him of his demise. All throughout the scene, you could see how intimidated Hamlet was of his dead father. At the end, the ghost actually hugs Hamlet before disappearing, which probably means that he wanted his son to requite his honor.
I totally agree with your analysis KIbwe. All three versions have their own twist to Hamlet but they all have the same meaning, which is that Hamlet figure out how his father really died and the plot of his revenge. I agree that Zeffirelli version is more realistic to the time period of language. Zeffirelli's version was really dark, maybe to put you in the firm of mind of what a encounter with a ghost would be like. Branagh's version was really helpful to me because you get to see what King Hamlet was describing in the flashback. Not to say Branagh's version was really scary and panicky. Almereyda's version was really a offset for me because of how modern it was, with the old English. Almereyda's version had more anger in it and physical contact.
ReplyDeleteYour analysis was great Mr. Brandon. I completely agree with your view on the Almereyda version. I too felt the peculiarness of how nonchalant the ghost just walks into his sons apartment and begins interraction with him. For the Zeffirelli version, I felt that the inability to distinguish the characters helped pertain to the fact there was a ghost in the scene. Although the lighting and editing of Almereyda's fed the scene well, I think it took too much away from the ghost scene serving as a little distraction
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