Pick one of the following 2 prompts (February 10th)
1. Compare and/or contrast the Mel Gibson scene with the David Tennant scene we watched in class. Why do you think the directors made the choices they did? Once you write your response, check out what other people have said and reply to at least one other post.
2. Write a reaction to the two different versions of Act 3 scene 4. Once you write your response, check out what other people have said and reply to at least one other post.
In the first version, I really liked that one shot of Hamlet seeing himself through the broken mirror. I think it was a pretty interesting direction choice. Also, different from the second version, Claudius(?) appears really suddenly behind Gertrude which is startling and scary, and I think that was an interesting effect as well. I have no idea what was the point of having them kiss like that in the second version. I did like the necklaces they had in the second version, however. In the first version, the ghost walks up and stands right behind Gertrude while Hamlet looks on, which is pretty scary and ominous, while in the second version, the ghost stands a short distance away near the door. I personally liked the first version better and thought it was pretty cool, the design of the room looked nice as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the version with the ghost standing really close to Gertrude was better; it adds to the scene by making it more ominous. The design of the room looked nice, and so did the lighting and color, but that took away from what was supposed to be an unpleasant scene in my opinion.
DeleteThe point of having them kiss like that in the second version is to emphasize Hamlet's obsession with his mother's sexuality and highlight the theory of the Oedipus Complex existing throughout the story.
I also liked the first version more. I found it more dramatic and fun to watch. An interesting note about the ghost in the first scene is that when Hamlet senior touches his mother's hair, his mom brushes her hair. It sort of hints at how the ghost is real, which is contradictory to what the mother tells Hamlet.
DeleteI thought the BBC version was better as well. I thought that David Tennant did a much better job at portraying the character than Mel Gibson, and the direction of the scene for the BBC version had stronger choices and made more sense overall
DeleteI was surprised when I saw both versions of Act 3 Scene 4, as they were much more intense than the plain text or the app interpretation. The David Tennant one was hard to take seriously because he had such cartoonish facial expressions. Along with the color scheme of the shot, the directors/producers ended up with a version of Act 3 Scene 4 that was a little too lighthearted.
ReplyDeleteThe Mel Gibson version got it right with the drab color scheme. However, especially in the Mel Gibson version, Hamlet was touching his mother way more than I would ever; it gets really weird when Mel Gibson starts making out with Gertrude, but I guess the directors/producers/writers are really trying to drive in that Oedipus Complex concept in the movie.
Interesting how the directors remembered the Oedipus Complex aspect of Hamlet's character and included it in the scene.
DeleteI was also surprised by both versions and how the directors interpreted Act 3 Scene 4. The director in the BBC version really made Hamlet feel much more modern unlike what many people think. To me, I preferred the BBC version because it felt more of a "modern action movie" than Zeffirelli's "historical" themed movie. I expected Hamlet to take place in the olden times so it wasn't a shock when I saw the Zeffirelli version but I was shocked when I saw the BBC interpretation of Hamlet.
DeleteI thought that out of the two movies, the one directed by Zeffirelli was the better one. The one by BBC was more modern and used guns and newspapers and did not have the same setting as the original Hamlet story. The one by Zeffirelli on the other hand was more in the setting of Hamlet and the actors did a good job portraying the characters emotions in the scene.
ReplyDeleteI think having the BBC one take place in a more modern setting actually made it more interesting and relatable to the audience instead of a predictable scene where you would expect it to take place in the "olden times".
DeleteI agree that the actors in Zeffirelli's film did a better job, as well as the setting. The BBC version use of color was too much I think.
DeleteWhen I watched both versions, I could immediately know the differences. The BBC version takes place more of a modern era with newspapers and guns while the Zeffirelli version takes the traditional "olden times" setting. At first, I was surprised that the BBC version made Hamlet take place in the modern era because the whole time I saw Hamlet take place during the time of Kings and Queens with swords. However, I can say that both versions are correct since Shakespeare did not include many stage directions and the directors were left to make the decision for themselves. The BBC version also to me felt more emotional and "mad" while the Zeffirelli version felt more sarcastic and sad. I enjoyed the modern version more because it really is a different approach to what many people think of Hamlet to be and has more of the "action" plot unlike the Zeffirelli version where everything seems subdued.
ReplyDeleteDavid I completely agree and that was what made the scenes so interesting is that since there were very few stage directions the actors could interpret the character as they pleased it gave them the freedom to act out what they thought was how the play would have been back in the time of Shakespeare and they could also add their own twist on the characters to put a little more action or comedy into the scene.
DeleteI agree how both movies contrast so differently in terms of the setting. The BBC version had modern clothing, rooms, and weapons. However, I feel like both movies had its strengths in trying to convey the emotions felt by Hamlet and his mother. I also enjoyed the modern version more because it felt like there was more going on.
DeleteI agree that BBC version was much more dramatic in terms of acting. It felt like the scene had a lot more action. The Zeffirelli version seemed to stick to the original versions of what the play would be like, but it definitely lacked some of the anger that should have been shown off.
DeleteI also saw the BBC version as more emotional because of the tension in the scene and between the characters. However, I enjoyed the Zeffirelli version better because it seemed like a stronger representation of Shakespeares idea of the story. I feel like the scene was suppsoed to be more tense and serious rather than the action in the modern version.
DeleteMy reaction of the two films is that they were very well performed by the actors who played Gertrude and Hamlet they really developed their character and put a lot of heart into the performance especially since anger is a huge factor that takes place in this scene. I would have to say that I enjoyed Mel Gibson's part as Hamlet the most with his symbolism of the necklaces that him and his mother wear that have the pictures of the old king Hamlet and the present king Claudius it gave the scene a little more background to what happened when Hamlet is explaining. Although I liked the way at the end of the scene from BBC how queen Gertrude laughed then cried it made it seem like madness ran in the family.
ReplyDeleteHi Jordan,
DeleteI'm going to have to agree with you. Anger is a big source of energy fueling this scene. I also agree that using the necklace is great because it is another great form of symbolism.
I agree with this, I think they both showed a lot of emotion but I believe there was more emotion shown in the second version by Mel Gibson. I like how you connected madness to running in the family with the first one but I don't know if that is true however because they are all just going through a very rough time right not and I think the most mad one was Claudius because he started the entire thing.
DeleteBoth these scenes really surprised me, and were not really what i expected when I was reading the text. In the first version of the film with David Tennant, the mentally unstable state of Hamlet is really showcased. Although we knew he was not in a right state of mind, after watching this, one could maybe even classify him as gone crazy. THis makes the audience more prone to believe that the ghost isn't actually there and Hamlet is just crazy. The relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude also really surprised me. THe way they were acting towards each other didn't seem very mother/son-y at all. THere was a weird chemistry between them, which was more evident in the version with David Tennant than with Mel Gibson. In the version with Mel Gibson, Hamlet, seemed a little less insane, although still crazier than the average bear. In this version, i noticed that Gertrude seemed more scared of Hamlet than worried, like she did in the first version. I also liked how in the first version, the director had the ghost of the king stand right behind Gertrude instead of at a distance because it just made it seem more unauspicious. Both of these versions made the scenes out to be much more intense than i had imagined.
ReplyDeleteYa, you could actually see the madness in Hamlet's eyes in the Zeffirelli version. David Tennant did a good job at acting as Hamlet because you could actually sense the pain that he has.
Delete2. I thought that the way the directors interpreted the scene in the David Tennant movie was very interesting because of how modern it looked. All the characters had modern clothing and Hamlet killed Polonius with a gun. I feel like the director chose to make the play take place in a more modern setting was to try to reboot the story, but I still feel like the way Zeffirelli interpreted the scene was a lot more authentic. I also noticed that despite Hamlet's age in the play, the actors who portrayed him in the movies were a lot older than what he was in the story. I liked how in the second film by Zeffirelli, when ever Gertrude tried to find the ghost the shot would switch between showing the ghost and not showing the ghost depending on who was looking at it. Overall, I feel like both movies created a good representation of the scenes.
ReplyDeletePersonally I felt that the modernization of Hamlet wasn't really an attempt at a reboot as more as an statement that Shakespeare's work is universal that can fit in multiple time settings. But I do agree that both created respectable representations of the scene.
DeleteI definitely preferred the David Tennant version. While there were some things that were off, I thought it was more accurate to the play in terms of the positioning of Gertrude and Hamlet. I thought the way Gertrude was portrayed was also a good choice. The director had her take off her hair extensions and hair clips which showed her in a vulnerable state at the time of the conversation.
ReplyDeleteI also thought some of the portrayals of the different aspects of the scene were very creative. The gunshot to kill Polonius and the newspapers were the ones that stood out the most to me. I definitely imagined it as a sword and portraits on a wall, but if I were to see the rest of that film version, I'm sure it would add that much more to it.
I also liked the amount of passion there was in David Tennant's acting - the small details added so much, like the way he threw the blankets and pillows after telling her how wretched it was to be sleeping with Claudius.
That's a great point about taking off her hair extensions and hair clips, I didn't think about that. But you're right.
DeleteIn my opinion, David Tennant's version of Act 3 Scene 4 was directed better. I liked the way the characters spoke their lines with much more dramatic tones. For example, Hamlet did an excellent job at expressing his anger towards Gertrude. I could feel the distress in his voice as he screamed and yelled. He really had a way of making Gertrude feel the guilt of her crimes. The actor behind Gertrude did an amazing job at showing ignorance at first and then signs of regret later on. I also found the lighting in that version more appealing. Unlike the darker and gloomier setting of Mel Gibson's scene, David Tennant's version was more visible under the light. The powerful voice of the ghost elevated the whole scene. In contrast, I felt that Mel Gibson's approach was more reserved. I did not feel as absorbed into the acting as I did in the other version. However, it was portraying the play better in the sense that it was not modernized with guns and newspapers.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way about the second version. Hamlet's character was much calmer when Mel Gibson played him, and it didn't create quite as much suspense for the scene.
DeleteThe Mel Gibson version did recreate the play in a more literal sense with the swords and the set of Gertrude's room, but I feel like the guns and newspapers were fitting for the David Tennant version, based on the surroundings, outfits, etc.
I agree that the BBC version was better than the other. The actors did a really good job of portraying the tension in the scene. I feel like the Mel Gibson version was aiming to be more faithful to the original, but the David Tennant version tried to modernize this classic, which is probably why it seems more interesting to us.
Delete2. There are many similarities between the first and second version. There's a consistent sense of tension in both versions and almost every character is on edge during the scene. The first video was in a more modern setting, and the second was during the real time period of when the story occurred. In the second film Hamlet seems more aware/serious compared to the first film,; in the first film he was kind of lackadaisical and seemed like he was a bit intoxicated. In both films, the mothers reaction was the same.
ReplyDeleteBabak, I completely agree with you there is so much tension in both films. I agree about the second film being a lot more serious as well.
DeleteI agree, except I think the queen's reaction wasn't the same in both films. While they both had the first surprised and then fearful and then very distressed reaction, in the first version Hamlet pecks his mother a goodnight kiss on the lips while in the second version, his mother is the one who silences Hamlet by kissing him on the lips. To me, this is the main difference.
Delete2. I thought the two different versions of Act 3 scene 4 had minor differences but overall captured the same emotions and message of the scene. The Mel Gibson version had a more modern setting while the Franco Zeffirelli version kept true to the original setting of the play. I felt both of the scenes fleshed out Hamlet's rage towards Gertrude and made it to be thrilling and an active scene. However, it was somewhat disturbing for Hamlet to be so physical with Gertrude, but I feel the directors made that choice in order to keep the scene's liveliness.
ReplyDeleteYeah i definitely agree Clarence; the emotions and message from the scene managed to stay the same even though many aspects changed. Well said!
DeleteBecause we watched the BBC version first, I was suprised by how mad
ReplyDeleteHamlet was and all the modern aspects in the story. When we watched the Mel Gibson scene, his portrayal of Hamlet seemed much tamer and more sane compared to the BBC version. The Mel Gibson scene seemed more orthodox as it was a closer representation of what I imagined the scene to be. I was also suprised by the relationship that Hamlet had with his mother. In the Mel Gibson scene, Hamlet apeared to be as old as his mother which I found strange as in the David Tennant scene Hamlet appeared much younger than the Queen
I agree that the Mel Gibson version was much more calm than the David Tennant version, but I think the appearance of the characters matter less than their acting. I also found the relationship between Hamlet and his mother surprising, especially when the scene started to get more dramatic.
DeleteI agree with what Eric said. David Tennant's Hamlet had a massive age difference between him and his mother, while Mel Gibson's were both similar in age. In addition, Hamlet seemed more in control of the situation and angry rather than mad, in stark contrast with David Tennant's Hamlet, who seemed wildly out of control.
DeleteI also think that the modern aspects in the BBC Hamlet scene was very shocking, and it almost seems odd to me. I definitely think that Hamlet was much more controlled in the Zeffirelli version. In the BBC one, he seems like he actually is crazy at times.
Delete2. I think the first film we watched it portrayed Hamlet as more like 'silly' by how he comes in and is talking, which i didn't necessarily like. But in the second one I feel it was a lot more like shakespeare intended it to be. In both of the scenes the mother and son kiss, which was super weird. In both scenes polonius dies but I thought the first scene did a better job of his death in the second scene it was just seemed really fake. One thing the film had in common was the way it showed how Hamlet really needed his mother. Overall I feel like i prefered the second one better.
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ReplyDelete1. At first, I thought that Tennant was more violent than Gibson when he told his mother to sit down. Tennant was quite literally shoving her down on the bed. However, while it was shocking to watch, Gibson forced his mother down with a sword, which is far more deadly. A surprising detail that was in both versions was a kiss between Hamlet and his mother. In the BBC version, Hamlet kissed his mom good night, a quick peck on the lips. I thought it was a little strange, especially considering that he just killed someone. On the other hand, the kiss in the Gibson scene was way too passionate and fairly disgusting to see, especially considering the familial circumstances. An interesting difference I noted was in the death of Polonius. In the Gibson version, Hamlet discovers the dead body of Polonius on the floor behind a tapestry. In the BBC version, Polonius is actually still alive for a few moments after he was shot. He walks toward Hamlet with a look of surprise and then collapses. Also, I thought the symbolism with the mirror was very well done in the BBC version. The mirror cracked the instant Hamlet murdered Polonius, and later on his mother says he's insane, Hamlet just looks at his broken image and says he isn't.
ReplyDelete1. In the first one we watched, the queen appeared a little older than the second version. In addition, Hamlet kills Polonius with a gun instead of stabbing him through the tapestry. In both versions, Hamlet sits, or or more like forces, Gertrude onto her bed, where most of the dialog take place. Even though there is kissing involved in both versions, I felt like the second one was more sexual. In the first film Hamlet is the one who kisses his mother on the lips. In the second version, they are both on Gertrude's bed and it is Gertrude who kisses Hamlet, who takes it until he sees Old Hamlet's ghost. I think in the first one we watched, the queen, as an older looking woman, acted more distressed but also closed to Hamlet when they hugged and cried- a bit more like mother and son. Perhaps in the first version, with the slightly older queen, it would be weird if she kissed Hamlet (like in the second version). With the younger queen (she appeared his age, or even younger), it did not seem as weird when she kissed him. Perhaps the directors chose to do this based on the actor and actress.
ReplyDeleteHmm, that's an interesting thought. That the scenes were dictated based on who was cast. I agree though, the BBC version has their relationship more of a mother/son like whereas the Mel Gibson one just adds on to Gertrude's incest
DeleteI also think that it's weird to put the kiss scene in the movie. Mel Gibson's kiss scene is more sexual than David Tennant's. I also think Hamlet was very scare to see his father after he kisses his mother rather than in the other one is Hamlet is scare because he's being rude to his mother.
DeleteInteresting indeed, I never thought about how much more sexual the Mel Gibson version was. However, they both convey how Hamlet was feeling very accurately.
DeleteThe conversation between Hamlet and his mother was portrayed very differently in the two different versions. The one by BBC was very contemporary and I thought that the combination of the shakespearean language and the modern household and clothing was odd. I felt that the two did not fit very well together especially after reading the scene. Also, their argument felt different compared to when I read the play. Hamlet seems to actually be crazy in this version. Since I had a more classical envision of the play, I liked the Zeffirelli version much more. In the older version everything was more classical and was similar to what I pictured the scene to be like. ALthough there were some odd moments, everything else gave me the feeling that the play gave me. I thought that this acting was very different from the more contemporary version, and I thought that the Zeffirelli version matched the book much more.
ReplyDeleteI liked the new version more. It showed more emotions and reflected on Hamlet's madness very well.
DeleteI think the directors interpreted each scene in their own way to suit the audience of that time. The Mel Gibson scene directed by Zeffirelli was produced in 1990. I think the director was going for a more traditional interpretation of the scene from the play. The David Tennant scene was more modern not just because of the props and setting, but also the way the actors portrayed each character. Although the surroundings have been modernized, the conversations and interactions between the two are still well acted.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I thought the interaction between Hamlet and his mother in the Mel Gibson version was a bit too dramatic and sexual. They stuck to more traditional roles with swords and a castle setting, and the play was very interesting. I, however, found the David Tennant scene more entertaining because it had a modern touch to it. The emotions portrayed were a bit different than the play and the older version. This gave a different feeling to it, which I found to be better.
I agree that the modern touch in the David Tennant made it more interesting and relatable, but I thought that the acting and the stage directions in that portrayed Hamlet and Gertrude both as a little crazy, something that Shakespeare was not trying to portray them as. In the Mel Gibson scene, Hamlet and Gertrude are both clear-headed and it is clear they know what they are saying and doing. Although it is a set in an earlier time period and may not be as relatable, I believe that it is a better depiction of what Shakespeare was trying to portray.
Delete1. Both were very easy to understand, but in different ways. The David Tennant scene very relatable because of the time period it was set in. The scene was set in as from the 2000s rather than in Shakespearian times. The fact that the characters wore tuxedos and used guns rather than swords made it easier for me to understand what was going on, since the props and setting were all things I could easily understand. The Mel Gibson scene had better acting, and good camera work. The actors were not as chaotic as in the David Tennant scene, and the chronology of events and dialogue was extremely clear. They adhered to what Shakespeare wanted well, and it was easy to follow along and understand what was happening.
ReplyDelete2. My reaction to the David Tennant scene is that Hamlet and Gertrude are both crazy. The fact that Hamlet entered the room completely joyful and got furious in a matter of 2 seconds shows that he is not alright, and that there actually may be something wrong with him mentally. Gertrude got way too emotional, and went over the top in reacting to Hamlet's accusations, showing that she is not alright either. My reaction to the Mel Gibson scene is that Hamlet is clear-headed. Although he is mad at his mother, he is clear in what he is trying to do, and talks to his mother in a composed manner, though mad.
I agree that the time in history each film took place affected the way madness was shown, which also explains why the David Tennant version is generally more liked because it is more relatable to our time.
DeleteThe BBC version emphasized more of Hamlet and Gertrude's weirdly close relationship that they have with each other and David Tennant got the crazy part down--I guess. Zeffirelli's version portrayed the scene really well, everyone's reactions was too intense in the other film.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you Mercedes, I think the BBC version did not portray the feelings of the scene well and just overall did not get the scene.
Delete1. The differences between the Mel Gibson scene and David Tennant scene were more obvious than the similarities. To start with, the David Tennant scene was more centered around Hamlet and his mother repairing their relationship, Hamlet offering an explanation for the madness he'd been feigning as of late and an attempt to set his mother onto the right and virtuous path. It can be seen in this scene that Hamlet still loves his mother. However, the Mel Gibson scene was as if Hamlet were berating his mother constantly, without really acting as a loving son to her. However, it does properly explain why his mother was scared for his life when he was berating her, as he had a sword aimed at her. David Tennant's Hamlet, however, was completely unarmed and, as a result, it is unexplained why his mother was so fearful for her life. Similarities between the interpretation, however, are that the basic lines and actions still occurred.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the Mel Gibson version is more antagonistic compared to the david tennet version. In BBC, they focus more on reconciling the relationship rather than the conflict.
DeleteIn both versions,we can see how close Hamlet is to his mother. However, the two scenes are very different.
ReplyDeleteIn the more modern scene,the tapistry is replaced with a mirror, which is very symbolical because the mirror often represents the truth and seeing it shatter reflects on how the queen is feeling deep inside. During the speech by hamlet, he knocked over the bedside lamp. It's symbolical because light often symbolizes morality. When Hamlet is about to walk out, the queen is reflected in her vanity mirror (which is not shattered), making it clear that the queen has been "cleansed" and she knows the truth.
I really don't have much to say about the older version because that one is very close to the actual play. One thing i did found interesting is how both hamlet and gertrude are wearing amulets. Hamlet's locket has old Hamet while Gertrude has Claudius. It shows how Gertrude has moved on from old Hamlet. Gertude and Hamlet also end up making out (which I was kinda disturbed by). It's supposed to show how close they are but I just found it creepy.
I agree that the imagery of the mirror was interesting. Tennant's Hamlet described the mirror as the door through which his father left, while his father really vanished through the mirror, as if disappearing into another world. He also stares into the cracked mirror, symbolizing his madness and fractured view of the world.
Delete*tapestry
DeleteIn the end, both scenes portray the same thing: Hamlet's indecisiveness and losing control of his emotions. I do agree that the older version is closer because of the locket.
2) I saw some similarities, that are based off of Hamlet in this act. 3.4. First, Hamlet kills Claudius. Second, Hamlet shows affection to his mother. Third, Hamlet seeing the ghostly father, not his mother seeing. The last similarity that I've noticed is that Hamlet in both scenes in both movies say the same lines with some changes in tone. Plus, I don't feel sad/ sorry for Claudius because he murdered Hamlet's father.
ReplyDeleteThey are supposed to be similar in that form, as it is the same act and there is a script!
Delete1. For one, David Tennant and Mel Gibson did a fantastic job portraying Hamlet losing his mind. It's interesting how well people can translate old plays into modern times, like the newspaper and the gun. In Mel Gibson's scene, Hamlet had a brasher way of talking to Gertrude, while David Tennant had a more ruthless one. However, both versions capture Hamlet's character very well, and the actors did a fantastic job recreating this scene.
ReplyDelete2. Wow, David Tennant and Mel Gibson were fantastic actors for this scene. As mentioned before, I believe that they captured Hamlet's character very well. I really liked the way how Hamlet spoke to Gertrude initially with an "idle tongue".
I also agree that both David Tennant and Mel Gibson's portrayal of this scene is magnificent. The actors did very well in order for the audience to feel the tension going on in the scene. I also found that it was interesting how the directors incorporated some modern day items like the gun.
DeleteI thought that Tennant's performance was more dramatic and dynamic that Gibson's performance. It was interesting because at the end of the scene, Hamlet begins to treat his mother as a confidant rather than an adversary, even talking about his situation with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in an almost joking manner. Gibson's performance delves more deeply into the Oedipal Complex between Hamlet and Gertrude, and the Ghost appears as if he's warning Hamlet to deescalate the situation before he lapses further into insanity. Overall, I preferred Tennant's performance because it reflected the old relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude, a normal mother and son relationship. Hamlet still hasn't completely alienated himself from his mother; traces of his love and kindness still remain.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The Mel gibson version does seem to focus on Hamlet's Oedipal complex and insanity whereas the David Tennet version seems to portray him as a more stable character.
DeleteI enjoyed both versions for the differences they had. While reading, I didn't think that Hamlet and Gertrude were that physical with each other, but in both films, Hamlet and Gertrude were grabbing each other almost violently.
ReplyDeleteIn the BBC version, I liked how well the actors and setting flowed with the Shakespeare's language. The symbolism in the first film was amazing, and scene where Hamlet looks at himself in the broken mirror reflecting how scattered he feels was a fantastic choice to show the audience how Hamlet feels without directly saying so. The room had dark curtains, also symbolizing the death of Polonius and the sin that Gertrude is committed by marrying her husband's brother.
In the Mel Gibson film, I found it a little strange that Gertrude kisses Hamlet in the second film and I don't get what that was suppose to tell the audience. However, the rest of the film was more of what I had expected to see.
Overall I enjoyed both of the films very well. Both Mel Gibson and David Tennant did a wonderful job in portraying the passion and emotions of the characters.
I agree with you regarding both the films. The intimate scene between Gertrude and Hamlet in the Mel Gibson version was definitely a surprise that doesn't seem to fit in. Majority of the portrayal of the scene in both the versions of the film are pretty accurate in comparison to the actual text.
DeleteZeffirelli's and BBC's versions of Hamlet have many differences. The BBC version is more modern than the Zeffirelli one. In the BBC version, Hamlet appears more crazy because of his clothes and actions. He is barefoot and his bowtie is untied, and when he talks to Gertrude he yells often and throws blankets and the actor was better at acting crazy. I liked this representation of Hamlet better because it showed how unstable he was trying to be. In the Zeffirelli version Hamlet didn't seem as crazy. Another difference was that in the BBC version Gertrude didn't look directly at where the ghost was when Hamlet asks her if she sees the ghost or not, and she acted scared and turned away quickly to deny that she could see the ghost each time Hamlet made her look. This makes it seem as if Gertrude actually could see the ghost and was trying to hide the fact that she could. In the Zeffirelli version Gertrude was looking for the ghost everywhere so it was obvious that she couldn't see it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the time periods were different for both the versions. I also noticed that ghost himself in the BBC version was more presentable than in the Zeffirelli version where the ghost, in my assumption, was intentionally hiding from the dark and then showing up to Gertrude's room. I also felt that the usage of word style in the BBC version is sightly more casual and modern than in the Zeffirelli version. I thought that Zeffirelli's version was more emotional and less superficial than in the BBC version. The BBC version, after Hamlet warned Gertrude to repent what is past, Gertrude later has a stronger sense of satisfaction for Hamlet than in Zeffirelli's version.
DeleteI was very surprised when I watched both the Mel Gibson scene and the David Tennant scene. The actors acted out this scene very well and they made the scene look more intense than in the book. These two scenes were very different from each other; however, they both portray some similarities. For example, both Hamlets killed Polonius, but in a different way; one killed Polonius with a gun and one with a sword. I thought the David Tennant scene corresponded to the book more than the Mel Gibson scene. I didn’t know that in this scene, Hamlet and Gertrude had an intimate moment. That part from the Mel Gibson scene was very surprising to me and it was very unexpected. At the end of Hamlet’s big speech in the Mel Gibson scene, I was very confused when Gertrude’s laugh turned into a silent sob. All in all, both scenes are very good views on different interpretations of Act 3 Scene 4 and I would encourage others to watch both versions if they have time.
ReplyDelete2. The David Tennant version of act 3 scene 4 was better in my opinion. The glass shattering as he shot the gun at Polonius was very symbolic of Hamlet's world shattering as well. The Mel Gibson version had some very strange parts that I felt were not necessary to the scene. David Tennant was supposed to be drunk in the BBC version which was a good reason for his violence towards Gertrude. Overall I believe the BBC version was shot better than the Zeffirelli version and although it is a modern take on Hamlet, is more accurate.
ReplyDeletePersonally I felt that the David Tennant version portrayed the play better. The fact that the BBC version is more modern gives the director more creativity, for example, having Polonius hide behind the mirror and using the gun to make the cracked mirror was something I enjoyed a lot. The director was able to have Hamlet look through the broken glass and have the ghost pass through the "portal". Because Tennant drawn out the length of the scene, the dynamic felt more natural to me than the Mel Gibson one. I was also surprised when Gertrude kissed Hamlet in the Gibson version as I didn't imagine that to happen at all in the text version.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the BBC version was a better portrayal of act 3 scene 4. The modern twist added some wiggle room for the writer while telling the same story. I thought the mirror cracking was symbolic to Hamlet feeling like his life is shattering around him. The Gibson version kiss scene was strange to me as well.
DeleteI was very shocked that both directors of the films decided to make Hamlet and Gertrude kiss. I think it was quite disturbing to watch. In the book, there is no indication of any physical tension between Hamlet and his mother. The films made it seem like Hamlet almost raped her mother, which is not necessarily the case in the book. In the eyes of Shakespeare, it seems like they were having a heated argument. I wouldn't recommend watching the films as they are not what Shakespeare's vision of Hamlet was.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the amount of physical contact between the two characters seemed unnatural for a mother and son relationship. It is strange since Hamlet goes on and on about incestuous sheets in previous scenes and in these films he gets close to doing so.
DeleteI was really surprised with how both interpretations thought that Hamlet and Gertrude should have a moment when the two kissed. Overall, the two did a good job at interpreting the scene, and I would say that they were rather similar in how the scene was portrayed. The level of emotional tension in this scene is very evident and both films did a good job at showing this. However, both of them made a choice that I wouldn't exactly agree with, and that's Gertrude kissing Hamlet. Even though the two differed in that in the Zeffirelli version Gertrude kissed Hamlet and in the BBC version Hamlet kissed Gertrude, I just thought that it was unnecessary and that it didn't exactly match Hamlet's character. Hamlet has always criticized his mother for remarrying with the old king's brother, which could be considered incest, yet Hamlet in this scene is having an intimate moment with his mother. Additionally, it doesn't really add anything to the scene, as the scenes carry on as if it never really happened and didn't have an impact. Despite this, both versions did a really good job of interpreting this scene.
ReplyDeleteI agree that having an intimate moment with his mother adds nothing to the scene, and that he is always criticizing his mother for being too sexual, and remarrying so quickly. I think they could have left that part out of the scene and it would have been fine.
DeleteThe actors in both scenes were very talented, and portrayed their characters very well. I was very surprised to see how physical Gertrude and Hamlet were with each other; I did not think that it had to be so intimate and I wish they hadn't shown that part because I do not think the intimacy added much to the plot or to the characters. Personally, I preferred that Hamlet kill Polonius with a sword instead of a gun, since it is more realistic and suitable to the time period that Shakespeare intended.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the intimacy was too much. The intimacy does not really follow the plot line or make sense with what has happened so far. Throughout the first two acts, Hamlet and his mother do not seem like they talk to each other much, or share any feelings. Also, I agree that in the second version, the fact that Hamlet killed Polonius with a gun made no sense because during that time guns were not the common weapon. It was daggers. It was weird and confusing to see Hamlet using a gun, and it should have been a dagger. This would have been more suitable to the time of Hamlet.
DeleteI found the interpretation of madness for each actor for Hamlet to be interesting. The types of madness are separated not only by interpretation but also the time the play is taking place. Mel Gibson's film takes place closer to medieval times while David Tennant's film takes place closer to the cold war. Mel Gibson portrayed madness more with the word choice of Hamlet's dialogue but David Tennant portrayed madness with wild and erratic movements paired with a shrill voice. I believe the directors made their decisions based on the time in history their films were placed in.
ReplyDeleteFor the Zelfirelli version, I was very surprised by the way the director chose to portray this scene. I was shocked by the beginning of the scene when we first saw Hamlet. Hamlet was very old, and his mother looked very young. How he killed Polonius was an accurate representation of what happened in the play. I was especially shocked by the make-out session between Hamlet and his mother. I was confused about why the director chose to put that in because I do not see a significance of making Hamlet and his mother kiss each other. In the second version we watched, it was a more modern version of Hamlet. Polonius was killed by a gun, not by a dagger like the first version. Polonius also seemed much older in the second than the first. Also, in the second version, there was more contact between the mother and Hamlet. I think the contact made the scene more surprising and more captivating, but I do believe that Hamlet's way of treating his mother was too extreme for the scene that happened in the book. The second version was more intimate between the two, especially with the kiss at the end. In conclusion, both scenes accurately portrayed how mad and crazy Hamlet was going, and also how scared his mother was. David Tennant version more closely to the real book and what actually happened. Both had unexpected moments, but I can understand the connection between Hamlet and his mother.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the intimate scenes were very unexpected and different from the book itself. The fact that Hamlet looked very old in the first version was kind of disturbing as well. However, I also agree that both versions accurately displayed Hamlet's craziness and emotions. I do think however that the first version had much more intimacy than the second version.
DeleteI agree with you that there didn't need to be such an intimate scene between Gertrude and Hamlet. I also agree that killing Polonius with a sword was more suitable, since it fit the time period and was an accurate representation of what we read in the book.
DeleteI agree about the intimacy how in the first scene Hamlet and Gertrude were closer. By reading the play you would not expect their actions to play out like we had scene in the film. However, I believe the Ghost seeing Hamlet and Gertrude kissing is important because he can understand how his son is changing.
DeleteI personally liked the second version more than the first. In the first version, I really did not understand why they had to kiss like that. In the second version the kiss was shorter, which got me thinking maybe it was just a thing of their time period. Also, I really liked how in the second version we could really see the emotional instability of Hamlet much more clearly. I also liked how Hamlet looked into the broken mirror, I feel like the director was trying to symbolize something with that scene. But in the first version I think the ghost was more true to how I read in the book, in the second version the ghost came too close to the queen. Also, I was surprised to see how in the second version Claudius appeared so suddenly behind the queen. In both versions I thought the emotions were well portrayed with the Shakespearean dialogue. One thing I didn't expect when reading the book was that Hamlet and the Queen would be so physical and violent with each other, so I was surprised to see the scenes directed that way.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. The first version made me confused and I was not able to understand why they kissed in an intimate matter. I think that the second version was better because it showed more intensity than the first version.
DeleteThe acting in the mel gibson scene and the overall direction that Zeffirelli took the scene in was much worse than the BBC version with David Tennant. Mel Gibson´s hamlet was very different, and he took the character in a direction that doesn't seem consistent with what happened in the play. He did a poor job of portraying Hamlet as a mad figure, instead he was all anger, and that made the scene significantly worse, because it changed Hamlets motivation in the scene. Insanity is difficult to portray but I would have thought that Mel Gibson would have been up to that. David Tennant acted much better overall, and the scene was more consistant with the motivation of Hamlet in the play. He acted insane well enough that you couldn´t tell if he was pretending to be mad or not. Overall it was much more clear what Tennant intended to do, and despite him playing a character that was insane, his objective remained clear throughout the scene, whereas Gibson´s was all over the place.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I felt like Mel Gibson's character was just pure anger instead of madness, and because of that, the point of the scene became a little lost. Instead, it just felt very energized but with no intention. However, I don't think David Tennant was much better because his characterization was so exaggerated that it felt a little forced. On top of the modernized backdrop and the present-day wardrobe, it felt less authentic to me.
DeleteI also agree that Mel Gibson's Hamlet seemed just really angry as opposed to crazy, which ruined it a bit. But I will argue that Tennant's portrayal worked pretty well because it was exaggerated and sort of forced. After all, Hamlet is supposed to only be pretending to be insane. The more exaggerated it is, the more strange and uncomfortable, and ironically the more convincing. My thoughts on it anyway.
DeleteBoth the Mel Gibson and the David Tennant scene well describe what happens in Act 3 Scene 4. They both follow the flow of the scene, but have key differences. They both kill off Polonius after the mother yells help. In the Mel Gibson scene he kills Polonius with his sword stabbing him through the tapestry, but in the David Tennant scene he killed him with a sword. I also didn't realize how close of a family they were to get on the bed together and kiss. In the Mel Gibson they make out, and in the David Tennant scene they also kiss. The two scene have very different interpretations, but they are both very good. Act 3 Scene 4 is portrayed very well in these two movies, and I would tell people to watch both.
ReplyDeleteI agree I think that they both potray it well. I think the movies were both great.
Delete1) One thing that the two movies had was that Hamlet kissed his mother, not on the cheek as family may kiss each other, but full on the lips as lovers do. This is done in order to display that in Hamlet's quest for revenge, he is slowly turning into the villain himself. Claudius is seen as the main villain, and one of his principal sins is marrying his sister in law, which is seen as an incestuous union. By showing Hamlet commit an incestuous action, he is implying that Hamlet too is degenerating to the level of Claudius as his murder of Polonius shows.
ReplyDelete2)I was quite frankly shocked by the incest displayed in both movies, but looking back, they do seem to have a reason for it, and could be seen as genius even. On to other things, I feel that the choice of different times, the BBC version being modern, serves to remind us that the lessons from Hamlet and Shakespeare transcend time and apply to this day.
The major difference between the two is that obviously Tenant's version is a modern spin/twist on it. I think another way that the director/actors can add creativity to the scene is through the actions not mentioned explicitly in the script (the grabbing of the head, the way they move around, pushing Gertrude, etc). I feel like this is the next significant way that these two interpretations differ. In the modern Tenant's version, the character of Hamlet seems more lunatic, more vivid, and silly almost, while Mel Gibson is more sarcastic but violent. In Tenant's version, Gertrude also appears to be more crazy and loony, as she laughs in response to the stress and rips at her face. All in all, these two interpretations are both well thought out and acted, and no one is more correct or better than the other.
ReplyDeleteThe both versions have a lot of similarities and differences. In both version, when the old Hamlet appears, Hamlet are very scare and being more gentle to his mother. And also both versions' Hamlet kisses his mother, but one of them is before seeing the ghost, and another is after seeing the ghost. I did not know what Mel Gibson tried to tell audience about the kiss, but I think David Tennant tried to show Hamlet listens to his father and being nice to his mother. That's why he gives her a kiss. Another differences is in Mel Gibson's version, Hamlet felt more guilt after he knows he killed Polonius, and even close Polonius' eyes for him. But in David Tennant's version, Hamlet shows no guilt for Polonius.
ReplyDeleteI thought that both of the scenes were acted out very nicely. Both felt much more intense than in the book. I think it was interesting how for the BBC version they made it set in a more modern time compared to the Mel Gibson version where it was set in the Shakespearean time. I think that the Mel Gibson version gave me a clearer image of how the people of the time lived like. The BBC version allowed me to feel more intensity. I was surprised to see the intimate moment in the Mel Gibson version. It made me confused and I was not able to connect to the scene as much. But I think that both versions had good interpretations of the Act but I would encourage other people to watch them.
ReplyDeleteIndeed,Mel Gibson's version gave more information on what it felt like to live in that time, doesn't modernization make the story easier to understand since it is similar to how we live today in modern society. I totally agree that Mel Gibson's edition was more intimidating and intense.
DeleteI feel like the Mel Gibson version of Act 3 Scene 4 is a very different interpretation of Hamlet than the other versions. I like how the director chose to stick with the traditional setting, but his interpretation of Hamlet's relationship with his mother is really shocking. I feel like he does this to add on to her "incestuous" behavior and maybe highlight why their relationship is so tense. The director also cuts out a couple of the original lines so viewers could focus on this relationship. The BBC version seems to showcase Hamlet's apparent madness (or maybe it's just David Tennant being David Tennant). When Hamlet enters the room, he's seemingly drunk and wearing a crown on his head, his tie undone. Tennant's portrayal in this scene is of complete maybe at his situation, or pretending to be insane, or just being mad at his mother. The director has Hamlet running around the entire room and going through many different emotions in this one scene.
ReplyDeleteI agree with how the director really chose to highlight this incestuous relationship between Hamlet and his mother. It seems as though the director wanted to focus more on this relationship by showing the sexualized actions, rather than showcasing these actions as the result of the anger that Hamlet has against Claudius and his mother.
DeleteThe director of Mel Gibson, made the scene a lot more dramatic with mainly anger being portrayed, and also trying to recreate the actual time frame of the scene with castle and sword etc... On the other hand, David Tennant, and his director from BBC made the scene dramatic not just with anger, but with high and low of anger and sadness. Not only Hamlet but, making the Queen act like she is in hell and acting sad, but also like a mad person at the same time. In addition it was more clear on the BBC edition that Queen could not see the ghost. Although I liked both editions, personally BBC edition seemed to be better since it is modernized, and presents more drama over all.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the high and low of anger and sadness in the BBC version made the scene more tensed and powerful.
DeleteI felt the Zeffirelli showed a lot of sexual tension. It seems like Hamlet raped his mother. After stabbing his uncle they spend a lot of time on the bed talking. Also his mother does not seem as crazy after seeing the killing. In the BBC version there is not as much sexual tension however Hamlet's mother seems a lot crazier. She also sees the ghost at the end of the scene. I think the BBC version was much more accurate however both versions were good.
ReplyDeleteI was also very confused on why the director added the sexual tension. I also agree that the BBC version was eaiser to understand.
DeleteI agree that the BBC version was easier to understand, however I believe that Mel Gibson's version more accurately portrays the play because it is set in the same time period as the actual play
DeleteI was very surprised at the Zeffirelli version as the way Hamlet was portrayed was very confusing and weird. The way Hamlet looked seemed to be off as he looked much older than he is said to be in the original play. Although the actor seemed to be older than he should be I think he portrayed the character well. I also think that the actress who played Gertrude did a good job. The way their relationship was portrayed seemed very weird and strayed far away from the original play.
ReplyDeleteI think the BBC version portrayed the mother and son relationship better than the Mel Gibson version. The way David Tennant played a mad Hamlet also seemed to be how I would think of it, although the actor still seems too old.
I agree, the Zeffirelli version confused me. However, I don't agree that the character depiction was off in any way. I actually thought it was spot on. I do agree with the age problem, but in my opinion, the actor managed to do a great job regardless.
DeleteBoth the directions were quite different in minute way. First of, the Zeffirelli version had a setting more closer to the time of Hamlet, whereas the BBC version was way more modern. The Queen was drinking and smoking and Hamlet used a gun to shoot Polonius whereas in the play and in the first version it was a sword. What shook me was the fact that in both versions, Hamlet kisses Gertrude. I found that very absurd and unable to understand the deeper meaning, if there is one. I think both Hamlet's were very true to their character and acted as insane as possible. Gertrude was more softer I feel in the Zeffirelli version than the BBC one. The one scene where Gertrude's laugh turned into a sob in the BBC version was a part I found quite powerful to showcase her state of mind and situation. Overall, both versions had scenes that were unexpected and depicted a perspective I never thought of.
ReplyDeleteI agree, both versions gave unexpected perspectives. The laugh-turned-sob definitely shows Gertrude's confusion and frustration well. I also found the kissing scenes difficult to understand and find a deeper meaning, and both Hamlets were true to character. I did think that David Tennant was a more "insane" version of Hamlet, instead of the other one who was slightly more tame (he sounded exactly like he did in the book).
DeleteI think both directors interpreted the scene in a similar way, with Hamlet's emotions and Gertrude's emotions displayed in similar fashions. The way the directors went forth explaining the play was different, however, with Mel Gibson's version being more set in the time of the play and David Tennant's film being in a more modern. This is evident with the way Polonius was killed, with a sword in the Gibson version and with a gun in the Tennant version. I was surprised about how crazy Hamlet appeared in the scene and yet still showed vulnerability. Watching the movie definitely gave me a better idea on what Hamlet was thinking, because through body language it is easier to understand Hamlet. It was also interesting seeing the two reactions to the ghost appearing, as they both were very similar. Both versions maintained the same form of speech which was impressive. Putting aside the differences, the Tennant version seemed easier to understand while the Gibson version made me more confused.
ReplyDeleteI found it surprising that Mel Gibson's version of Hamlet had an intimate moment as well. Why do you think Mel Gibson did this?
DeleteThe Mel Gibson version of the Hamlet was set in the past while the David Tennant's scene was set in the modern time. I think David Tennant did this because the audience can relate more to the film and maybe enjoy the film more. Although they were set in two different time periods, they both follow the script from the original play and uses Shakespeare's language rather than modern language. I was surprised that Hamlet in the Mel Gibson version was so old and that Hamlet and Gertrude have an intimate moment while fighting. Although a little change was made, both scenes do a good job of portraying the play.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I felt that the BBC version was much more relatable and appealing. Also that Mel Gibson's interpretation was supposed to be set in the same time, but with a weird twist in it. I think both scenes were enjoyable to watch as well.
DeleteI believe the movie directors made the choices they made simply because that's how they interpreted the text. If you read the book, there definitely is scope for different portrayals in this scene. Nevertheless, both versions seem like possibilities of what Shakespeare originally intended and both the actors who played Hamlet emoted very well. Both the Mel Gibson scene and David Tennant scene came as a huge surprise to me. Although both scenes keep majority of the lines and the situation from the book the same, it was really surprising how they portrayed Hamlet and Gertrude. I found it kind of disturbing as no one imagined this from what was in the book. I feel that the BBC version a little more accurate in the portrayal of the book because Hamlet and Gertrude seemed to be a little less physical and the emotions they portrayed in film seem more similar to those shown in the book.
ReplyDeleteI agree the BBC version did seem to be the more accurate version, the intimacy in Zeffirelli version was quite intense throughout the entire scene. I also totally agree that the scene can be interpreted in multiple ways which is why the two scenes were so different.
DeleteI agree that the tension and implied relationship between Hamlet and his mother in the Mel Gibson version was very different than what would be typically expected. Their weird interaction completely threw off the scene, causing the audience to wonder if Hamlet is jealous of Claudius for having a relationship with his mom - which is not accurate. I agree that the BBC version portrayed the relationship between Hamlet and his mother way more accurately.
DeleteThe BBC interpretation of Hamlet is far more modern and detailed than the Mel Gibson version. His clothes, his facial expressions, and his actions display his madness more directly than the Mel Gibson version. In the BBC interpretation, Hamlet also murders Polonius, but with a gun instead of a sword. Although modern, I believe that the BBC interpretation follows the original Shakespearean play more closely. I was surprised when Hamlet and his mother started kissing in the Mel Gibson version. It is evident that the Mel Gibson version had more of a twist to what most of the readers interpret the play as, and that the director definitely attempted to change the meaning of the scene and leave people surprised. Also, in the BBC version, there are small details that likely not everyone would notice that displays Hamlet's inner emotions. When Hamlet looked into the broken mirror after he saw the ghost of his father fade away, it is as if he is looking at his own emotions and state of mind. Because of everything that had happened to him, he is broken inside and does not know what he is doing, and where he should head.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the BBC interpretation of hamlet seems to be more modern and detailed. I also noticed that his clothing and facial expressions were better portrayed in the BBC version.
DeleteI think with both versions of Act 3, Scene 4 the directors tried to make changes so that their own production of Hamlet would be unique. I think that with the Zeffirelli version, I was taken more aback and was unsure if Hamlet was raping his mother in the scene or not, but I guess that was left to the audience to infer. I think I enjoyed the BBC version more, just because it followed the original more and did not have weird changes like with the Mel Gibson one. I enjoyed both of them, and Mel Gibson's interpretation made me think more about Hamlet possibly being crazy, but I think they both were trying to depict Hamlet on different levels of craziness.
ReplyDeleteI was very confused while watching Act 3 Scene 4 from both versions of Hamlet. After seeing the Mel Gibson version, I was really disgusted. When I read Act 3 Scene 4 from the book, I did not imagine that Hamlet and his mother would get sexual. I did not even think they would kiss. But I was wrong, and grossed out. The David Tennant version was a bit more tame, relating to the sexual tension between Hamlet and his mother. At the same time, this version had more emotions demonstrated by both characters. I was still weirded out when they kissed, but I guess it helped exaggerate the plot.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it was a bit weird but the acting really helped push the idea that Hamlet was very pissed off and annoyed with the death of his father and the remarriage of his mother.
DeleteI found the film interpretations to be accurate with how I imagined the scene to be. I was however, taken aback by the directors' interpretation of the relationship dynamic of Hamlet and his mother. I didn't imagine that Hamlet would ever kiss him mother on the mouth in an intimate way. However, the interpretation was very good. Both actors who played Hamlet showed real emotions and really acted like a teenager with angst over the death of his father and his mother's remarriage. I would definitely love to continue watching both interpretations to see what other ideas the directors had in mind.
ReplyDeleteYes, I was very surprised at the way the directors chose to portray the relationship between Hamlet and his mother as well. But despite these awkward scenes, I also feel like the Mel Gibson film did a better job of accurately depicting the play that Shakespeare originally wrote.
Delete1. I thought the differences between the two versions were really interesting. The BBC version took a completely different step in the idea of eras. Like Leonardo DiCaprio's version of Romeo and Juliet, rather than using swords, this version of Hamlet seems to be more modern with newspapers and guns while the Zeffirelli version stuck with swords and lockets. It was also interesting that though both versions included a kiss, the context for them were very different and helped show their relationships differently. In the Zeffirelli version, as it happens in the middle of an argument it feels like it was just due to a build up of tension in the moment and tension that may of existed before, while in the BBC version it seems more like an afterthought of affection.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the different ways the directors chose to conduct this scene is interesting. Your point about the timing of the kiss is very true. By placing it in different moments of their argument, it develops a different dynamic between Hamlet and his mother.
DeleteI agree that the directing made it seem like two different relationships. The Mel Gibson version was much more like an incestuous relationship and seemed to add a factor of surprise, while I felt that the David Tennant version was more accurate to the original intent of the play.
DeleteBoth scenes of Act 3 scene 4 definitely shocked me. In the Zeffirelli version, I was very surprised when Hamlet appeared to look closer to 50 than 18. His mother really didn't seem like she was old enough to be his mother, but looked the age of someone who could be his other half. The BBC version was a modern Hamlet. Instead of killing Polonius with a sword, Hamlet killed him with a gun. The actors were wearing suits and modern nightgowns instead of traditional robes. In both versions, Hamlet and Gertrude share a kiss, which honestly just really confused me. Both had some very similar aspects to the book, but neither of them were similar to what I had imagined.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Zeffirelli’s Hamlet seems more realistic compared to Tennant’s version. Tennant’s modern interpretation of Hamlet seemed very unnatural and made it harder to understand. Both directors accurately captured the character’s emotions well, but I was able to relate better to Mel Gibson. Many directors transform Shakespeare’s plays in a modern setting, but I personally think it takes away from the plot and the Playwright’s intents.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion both films are equally bad. The modern film made it hard to understand, and both adaptations didn't make it seem like a mother and son relationship. The first film had too much physical contact and the second film had terrible casting making Hamlet seem older. However both adaptations provided the viewer with the general knowledge of what was going on with Hamlet.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree with the fact casting was a big role in taking away from the realism. In both films, and especially the second one, the actor was much older than 18.
DeleteI don't think Hamlet seemed older than his mother in the Mel Gibson interpretation - he has black hair while his mother has grey hair. However, I do agree with the fact that this relationship doesn't seem like anything close to a traditional mother-and-son relationship - Hamlet has no respect for his mother at all in either interpretation.
DeleteBoth interpretations of Act 3 Scene 4 were really surprising and hard to watch. But in my opinion, I think Zeffirelli's version seemed to be more accurate than the Tennant version. The Tennant version used a gun instead of the sword, which took away from the realism. Another aspect was the Hamlet and Gertrude's clothing, Hamlet was wearing a modern suit rather than the traditional robes that were worn during the time. Overall both aspect portrayed the story line of the scene accurately.
ReplyDeleteThe Zeffirelli version was definitely much more accurate to the time period. I agree with you the realism was taken away in the Tennant version. In fact, I did not even feel like I was watching Hamlet.
DeleteThe movie scenes were very different then what I imagined from the text and from the app. It was a lot more dramatic and intimate than I thought it would be. The sexual tension between Hamlet and his mother in both movies surprised me, since that was not how I interpreted it when we read the book in class. After watching the scene, I realized that I missed a lot of subtext. Personally, I understood more from David Tennant's version. Although, that film was modernized and not wholly accurate to the setting, I thought the modernization made it more relatable to me. Both used the lines from the book, but interpreted them differently than how I did, but I thought that their interpretations are probably more true to the story and to the emotions that Shakespeare intended to portray.
ReplyDeleteI think the characters in the David Tennant version looked more accurate than the characters in the Mel Gibson Version. In the Mel Gibson version, Gertrude looks like she is the same age as Hamlet. However, the David Tennant version had many flaws. First of all, when Hamlet is speaking to the Ghost, Gertrude is shown holding out her hand to Hamlet for a long time without saying anything. This looks very fake, because she definitely would not have stayed still while Hamlet was talking to the Ghost. Also, why was Hamlet on the floor? He was not supposed to be that scared of the Ghost, because he knew that the Ghost was the spirit of his father. The actors in the David Tennant version also looked as if they overreacted. Personally, I think that a modern setting does not go well with Shakespeare dialogue.
ReplyDeleteI wrote the same thing down below in that Tennant's actors seemed to be more on point regarding the tensions between them. We read that there may have been a sexual relationship between Hamlet and his mother, but not to the extent that Gibson took it.
Delete1. I think that in the first one we watched, the queen was older than the second version. I'm not sure if they made her younger in the second version on purpose or not. In addition, the first version we watched, Polonius was killed with a gun verses the second version where Polonius was stabbed by Hamlet through a tapestry. In both versions, Hamlet acts very forceful to his mother, from pushing her onto the bed to holding her down when he's yelling at her. Even though there was kissing involved in both versions, I think the second one was meant to be more sexual. In the second version they were both on the bed. I think both directors were going for a different feel for this particular scene. An example would be how Polonius dies with two different weapons in the two different versions. I disagree with either director on how they portrayed this scene to be because when I was reading the poem I did not find it to be so intimate between Hamlet and his mother. Maybe they did this for entertainment purposes since it is a movie.
ReplyDeleteI thought both scenes were quite similar to each other. Although the BBC version was a modern interpretation they harshness and intensity levels were consistent in both versions. One of the major differenfces was the sexual manner in which the older version was conducted which consisted of hamlet humping his mother and making out but the BBC version also highlighted that aspect with a small peck from Hamlet at the end as well. I believe the directors made their choices to appeal to the audience. The surprises and past of the BBC version was probably made to entertain the fast going world we live in while the older version had Hamlet speak much slower at times.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I noticed a lot of the same things when watching both versions. I was very surprised to see the sexual tension between both characters. The BBC version seemed to have a more modern appeal to it since it had newspapers and guns while the other version tried to emulate what Shakespeare was trying to present. Even though I think the 2effirelli version is closer to what Shakespeare wanted, I think the sexual actions made the version different.
DeleteI also noticed a lot of similarities, and I agree that the intensity was on a similar level. I like the point you made about the BBC version being made for modern people, I think it is really interesting. That point really makes a lot of sense because BBC version is made more recently than the Mel Gibson one.
DeleteTo the BBC version, my first reaction was surprising as I found it to be a modern twist on Hamlet. I did not expect to see Hamlet shoot with a gun, or newspapers used to compare the portraits of Claudius and Hamlet Sr. I found that Hamlet in this movie was extremely close to his mother as his emotions constantly display a form of connection with his mother. Also, the way that the actors performed in this first film was a bit exaggerated in that Gertrude continuously tries to please Hamlet, when she is indeed trying to understand the murder of Hamlet Sr.
ReplyDeleteThe Zeffirelli film had a good mix between intense, and calm moments. I found it to be weird that Hamlet imposes force on his mom, when in that position after killing Polonius. I find that the book adhered more to the area that he was angry, but not so much as to harm his mother. Furthermore, the fact that the ghost saw the two kissing each other seems a bit like the director wants the mother-son relationship to evolve into a more passionate/adultery form of relationship.
2. I personally had a bad impression of both movies after watching both clips. The first BBC version was seemed too modern to represent a work of Shakespeare. Starting with the way Hamlet killed Polonius, I thought using a gun would not be fitting for the type of play Shakespeare was trying to present. Furthermore, the BBC version had a different interpretation of what the characters looked like then what I imagined after reading part of Hamlet. For example, Hamlets father didn´t look like a king or a warrior. He almost looked the same as Polonius. Even the actor Hamlet didn´t give me the correct vibe. On the other version, I thought they did a better job setting the scene. The characters looked more realistic. I was a little thrown off after watching the kissing scene, but I thought the characters were closer to what Shakespeare wanted over the BBC version.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about how the characters looked. The visual of how an actor appears on screen is a part of the overall impression, and I think the casting was done poorly in both versions. I also agree that the modernization of the BBC versions takes away some of magic of Shakespeare.
DeleteI partially agree with what you mentioned about the BBC version being a little bit too modern to represent Shakespeare. I also think, however, that creating a modern version is simply just another way to look at the poem itself. Shakespeare's work is supposed to span over many years due to the universal aspect of the values and ideas in his poems. I wouldn't doubt in 1000 years if they create another version with laser guns and space outfits.
DeleteBoth versions were absurd, but I think the second one represented the original play better. Although the second one was a bit more sexual. I do not understand why in both versions, there has to be the incestuous moment. Perhaps it is the modernization of Tennant's version that ruins the scene for me, but overall I just thought it was very awkward to watch. Both versions also seemed to have an excessive amount of physicality which I'm not sure really happens in the play. I imagined it to be more like Hamlet ranting verbally. I never imagined borderline abuse levels of physicality. I think the scenes may have done this to accentuate Hamlet's anger, because after all, this scene is where we see Hamlet at his angriest.
ReplyDeleteI agree. When reading the passage in class, I did not sense any sexual tensions between Hamlet and his mother; only rage. However, I can imagine physical (not sexual) interactions between Hamlet and his mother given the era Hamlet was written.
DeleteI agree when I pictured this scene, I also saw Hamlet ranting to his mother, without all the incestuous moments. I think that both scenes portrayed Hamlet's anguish really well, by making him seem delusional. It shows that his anger has blinded him to boundaries, and resorted him to grasping furiously at his mother.
DeleteI believe that there is a clear difference in the anger level in the two scenes. In the second version, he is definitely a lot angrier, and this is clearly shown through his increased shouting, screaming, and yelling throughout the film. This thematic difference is prevalent.
DeleteBoth of the Act 3 scene 4 movie clips were difficult to watch because they portrayed an uncomfortable situation. The Mel Gibson scene was especially hard to watch because we see Hamlet, who looks very young, and his mother rolling around on the bed together and being very intimate. Though Hamlet is yelling and criticizing her, the way they are positioned shows that there is a certain sexual tension between the two. I also liked how Shakespeare's style and meaning was kept the same even with the modern twist (like the shotgun). After watching this scene, I thought the David Tennant scene would not be as shocking to watch. However, Hamlet in this scene had even more energy than the one before. He was older and looked stronger and acted aggressively towards his mother. Additionally, they had a very passionate kiss when the Ghost starts walking in. I thought that was very iconic, though disturbing, that the Ghost sees what is happening in the relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude. Overall, both kept the content of the play very well.
ReplyDeleteZeffirelli's Hamlet scene is closer to what I imagine I would see in a Shakespearean play house except the sexual interactions between the two. The lighting, the attire, and the setting contributed to this realistic feeling.
ReplyDeleteThough Tennant's actors may have portrayed the sentiment between Hamlet and Gertrude better than those in Zeffirelli's, the modern setting, replacement of Hamlet's sword with a gun, and the white light took away from the authenticity of the scene and likely the film as a whole.
I agree with you that Zeffirelli's scene is more what I would have expected, but I actually preferred Tennant's version because putting the scene in more modern surroundings allowed me to better understand the characters (as I could compare them to myself and those aronud me in a similar-looking environment)
DeleteI was very surprised with both versions in the way they portrayed the relationship between Hamlet and his mother. Both versions portrayed their relationship in a very eccentric way that is not to be typically expected in a mother-son relationship. I was also surprised at the fact that both versions did not deviate much from the actual play. They both retained much of the same dialogue (at least to my knowledge), and preserved the general atmosphere of the scene. As to which version I liked better, I would have to say that the Franco Zeffirelli version was better since it preserved the setting and the time period of the play, whereas the BBC version abandoned the original setting and time period, and opted for a more modern approach.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your thoughts on the relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude. Zeffirelli's depiction made me feel very uncomfortable, especially since Hamlet looked older than he is supposed to be, even older than Gertrude. However, I don't have much of an opinion on the modernized setting of the BBC version. Though, I do appreciate how they tried to make a creative spin on things. Hamlet looking at his broken reflection was a pretty neat touch.
DeleteIt was interesting to look at the general differences in setting, acting, and atmosphere for the two different scenes.
ReplyDeleteIn the first scene, the play felt a little bit more modern, with mirrors being placed all around, clothing representing a suit/tie look, and guns instead of swords. The acting was far more dramatic and "explosive", with the lady crying, embracing her son, being scared on the bed, and the son screaming and talking about all over, standing up on the bed and moving around. The broken mirror was also an interesting element, as Hamlet briefly looked at himself through it, perhaps suggesting/hinting at his potential madness, as well as inability to situate himself and find who he is. It was also interesting to see Claudius having sneaked up on Gertrude.
In the second scene, the play felt like it was taking place in medieval times. There were candles lit, casting off a yellow glare, and the clothing choices more resembled actual queens and a prince, holding his sword as well. Both scenes showed elements of incest, though in the first scene the mother seemed to be disgusted by it (or not pleasantly taken, as we saw her in the mirror touching her lips). In the second scene, the son is actively on top of his mom and they definitely got a bit of tongue in there. The ghost walks up upon them during this section, and in the way the actor who played Hamlet showed his facial expressions, it was clear that he feels guilty, almost a little scared, that his father had seen this exchange.
Both followed the same lines and plot, though in the first one we can see elements of Hamlet's true "madness" come out, while in the second one we see how broken and disturbed the family matter is.
I found the modern interpretation by Zeffirelli to be rather awkward and out of place, as opposed to the clarity and flow of the traditional interpretation by Mel Gibson. The way that Hamlet handles the gun seems very implausible, and the use of the gun as opposed to the sword makes the murder of Polonius seem much less significant. Polonius hiding behind the tapestry in the Mel Gibson scene and Hamlet running his sword them convey the intensity of this scene much better than a simple gunshot. The tension between Hamlet and Gertrude is also far greater in the Mel Gibson scene. Both interpretations displayed very strong emotions, which is very different from how I interpreted the scene.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you as far as how Zeffirelli's scene was made rather than the more "modern version' of Tennent's. As far as how both interpretations were made, i agree with you when mention the clarity and flow of Mel Gibson's.
DeleteThe Mel Gibson scene, in my opinion, was a closer representation of the play, only because it was set in an older looking location. The version with David Tennant as Hamlet was stranger, simply because of the gun. The BBC version was better, in my opinion, mostly because the emotions were not as intense as the ones in Zeffirelli's version. I was quite shocked when, in both versions of Hamlet, the mother and son kiss, because "incest" suddenly became reality. The uncle and mother aren't blood related, but mother and son definitely are. I did find it hilarious that Gertrude kissed Hamlet (in Zeffirelli's version) to get "sweet Hamlet" to shut up.
ReplyDeleteI agree the Mel Gibson scene was a much more accurate rendition. It was much more comfortable to watch in my opinion. The modern setting of the Tennant version reminded me of Leonardo DiCaprio's Romeo and Juliet. Though it could be seen as an artistic twist, I much rather watch the medieval Shakespearean version of the play. Nevertheless, both scenes were full of intense emotion and great acting.
DeleteBoth the Zeffirelli and Tennant versions made me feel uncomfortable. However, in the Tennant version, that feeling was more of a good thing than bad. It builds up some suspense and tension using various cinematic cues like Hamlet looking at his broken reflection and Claudius suddenly appearing behind Gertrude at the end. In addition, Hamlet actually looks like his age unlike the Zeffirelli version. There, Hamlet looked a lot older than he was supposed to be. He even looked older than Gertrude. This makes the interaction between them very uncomfortable as there is some implied sexual context. In conclusion, I prefer the BBC version over the Zeffirelli version.
ReplyDeleteI believe the second version showed more emotion and you could actually feel what the characters were going through better. Both versions were much more intense than I originally thought I did not realize how much he was yelling at his mother which is strange because King Hamlet asked him to leave her alone. The first version was also too modern and did not really seem like Shakespeare. It was strange to see them kissing and then having the ghost of King Hamlet show up, since he was previously upset about the incest between Gertrude and Claudius.
ReplyDeleteI quite enjoyed seeing Shakespeare's words come to life in both renditions of Act 3 Scene 4. Both versions were able to capture the intensity and emotional tensions that arise between the characters. The differences between the two lie with the director's choice of actors and settings. I enjoyed watching the older (more medieval) setup of the Mel Gibson scene because it is much more accurate and similar to my own interpretation as I read. As for the character choice, I enjoyed the acting of Gertrude in the David Tennant scene more so than Mel Gibson's. Yet, preferred the ghost of Mel Gibson's scene in contrast to David Tennant's. The ghost in David Tennant's rendition seemed to lacked sympathy and love for his every loyal son Hamlet. I think it's also safe to say many if not all of the class was shocked at the mother-son-relationship present between Hamlet and Gertrude. It begs the questions of whether that was a norm back in the day, and where to draw the line of incest. Hopefully we will be able to enjoy the rest of the movie some time soon.
ReplyDeleteThere are many clear differences between the two versions of act 3 scene 4 that we saw in class. There are many different points of emphasis. In the first version, there are less acts of like forced love between Hamlet and his mother, but in the second, this plays a major role in the development of the scene. There is a great number of people would say that the scenes are very similar as they point towards the same themes, but in reality there are many difference in the way that they are shot and directed. The shouts and screams directed at the characters are placed differently between the two versions. Also, in the first version, there is a gun used to kill Polonius instead of a sword. The sword was seen used in the written version of Hamlet and the second version of the filmed scene. In the first version, Polonius shatters the glass first and then he dies, but in the second version, he opens the curtain and then falls to floor in death. Thus, there are many thematic and cinematic differences between the two versions.
ReplyDeleteBoth versions of the movie shot the scene in a way that was completely different than how I had pictured it. Both of these movies casted somebody a lot older than what Hamlet's age should be. These movies also made this scene a lot more sexual then I had depicted. Despite this, both of these movies were still well filmed. I really liked the scene where Hamlet looked into the broken glass, I thought it was a good metaphor for the emotional struggle inside of Hamlet. However I liked how Zeffirelli portrayed the ghost, he made the ghost seem more ominous, and supernatural. In the first version, I had to question whether the character was the ghost, or just another character.
ReplyDeleteI agree that in both films, the actors who played Hamlet appeared much older than the book version is said to be. It really added a layer of drama and tension that is hard to see in the books, because seeing an adult and almost middle-aged Hamlet makes the scene, in a way, more threatening and frightening than it would be with an actual eighteen year old. I agree with your point about the ghost too; Zeffirelli captured the mystery shrouding the ghost, and that really helped emphasize that the ghost could very well just be a part of Hamlet's imagination.
DeleteWhile the BBC version was far more modern than what we had expected, i thought that the acting was more realistic. In Zefferelli's version, the setting of the scene seemed to fit what we had expected as far as swords, tapestries, and the general look of the scene. In the BBC version, Hamlet used a gun to kill Polonius. I also found Zefferelli's scene odd because Hamlet and Getrude begin to make out and personally it threw me off.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement that the acting was more realistic in the BBC version. As someone who read the play before, also having watched the Gibson version, it is not a setting that we would expect to see. However, it makes sense in terms of a movie, as viewers are more likely to watch it if the characters relate more to themselves, explaining the changes.
Delete1)Both Mel Gibson and David Tennant had a very intimate interpretation of the relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude. Both directors added a very intimate kiss scene between the mother and son, which I found very disturbing. Tennant's version made me feel uncomfortable because of his choice in actors, while Gibson's interpretation made me uncomfortable because of how long and intimate the kiss between Gertrude and Hamlet was. The directors made the choices that they did because they viewed Hamlet's love for his mother as a much more intimate type of love.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to both of them, it was very uncomfortable to watch Hamlet's confrontation with his mother. Extremely uncomfortable. However, I think that was intentional. Also, the kissing made me disgusted. I think that they shouldn't have added that - however, the second version was worse.
ReplyDeleteIn general I think the first version is better, both because David Tennant actually looks Hamlet's age, and I feel like the acting fit the character's derangement. Also the modern adaption was interesting.
I don't think this particular scene is supposed to be comfortable to watch. Disputes between family members while an outsider usually are incredibly uncomfortable to look when the family isn't royalty.
DeleteAnd while having you preferences about not seeing the kisses is fine, I feel it is incredibly short sighted to just dismiss it as unnecessary. Hamlet seems to have a fixation on his mother's sexuality in the story and it is a common subject of debate in literary circles about hamlet. While I agree that the David Tennant version was better, I dont think you can just dismiss the kissing as disgusting and unnecessary; filming shots and doing multiple takes of scenes like this is hard expensive and takes forever so if it was truly unnecessary the directors would absolutely never film is especially when reproducing Hamlet, one of the most beloved plays of all time.
Both Act 3 Scene 4 scenes were surprising to me, and both shared similarities and had their differences. I feel that both scenes displayed the main idea similarly, as Hamlet was seen in the first and second scene in the bedroom with his mother, assaulting her and questioning why she had basically back-stabbed Hamlet's father. She is seen crying in both scenes, obviously in distress from the result of Hamlet's actions towards her, and Hamlet shows signs of disorder with his interaction with his mother. The main difference I saw between the two scenes was the modern take on the scene. In the first scene, Hamlet pulls out a firearm to kill Polonius through the mirror he was hiding behind, while in the second scene, Hamlet uses his sword to stab the curtain Polonius was hiding behind. The modern attire both Gertrude and Hamlet wore in the first scene and the modern design of the bedroom appealed to the modern audience, or us. The second one, however, appeared to conform to the playwright's time, which seemed better to me as the meaning and purpose of the scene is preserved.
ReplyDeleteI agree, there were many similarities in both but the time with which it took place was definitely different and does impact the viewer's perception. Another interesting thing was how the second scene emphasized the pendant that Hamlet gave Gertrude and the fear that she had when Claudius entered the room. If we get to continue watching the movie, I think that will also hold interesting differences.
DeleteThe differences between the Mel Gibson scene and David Tennant surprised me since they both seemed to display an aggressive Hamlet talking to his mother and assaulting her about why she had changed into such a wanton character, but Gibson's interpretation portrayed their relationship in a loving way with their constant hugs and long kisses. The mother-son relationship between them seemed a lot stronger than I was expecting since I thought Hamlet would be more furious and less forgiving for her sins. Another major difference between the two was the modern account of Tennant's movie. It involved a lot more glamour and physical presence than the previous one, which may appeal to the audience more, but also distracts them from the content and movement of the characters themselves. To me, the first one was a more accurate representation of what Shakespeare was trying to display.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Hamlet was much more aggressive than I expected to be. Hamlet seemed to be much closer with his mother in the Mel Gibson scene, while in Tennant's, they do not appear to have a strong relationship. Gertrude kissing Hamlet in the Mel Gibson scene really surprised me, because it was not in the original play and was a very intense action.
DeleteI agree that the first version was definitely a more accurate representation of Shakespeare's thoughts when he originally made the play. The modern setting and items in the BBC version took away from the play in my opinion, as they distract the audience from the meaning of the words used by the characters. However, I think that the director did a good job of integrating modern items into the scene, as it must have been very difficult to do so in a way that does not change the scene significantly.
I actually disagree with your idea that the first version was more accurate for what Shakespeare was trying to portray. To me, the first version went way too far into the hysterical conversation between Hamlet and Gertrude. There was a lot more physical contact in the first version, and I thought that it was excessive. I don't think that Shakespeare really wanted to portray both characters as totally hysterical at that moment, and the first version seemed like it did. The second representation seemed more believable to me because I think that it did capture the intensity of Hamlet's conversation with his mother, which I think Shakespeare definitely intended, but it did not leave the viewer feeling as if both characters were losing their minds. At the end of the second interpretation, I feel that the way Gertrude seems to have composed herself a bit more and is ready to keep Hamlet's secret is also more of what Shakespeare intended as opposed to how she seems a lot more agitated even at the end of the first interpretation.
DeleteI was very surprised by the two interpretations. For one, I thought it was interesting how the second film we watched was set in a more modern scene, with newspapers and mirrors instead of paintings and cloth. I think that helps the viewer better empathize with the characters while retaining the real meat (and dialogue) of the interactions. Additionally, I was surprised at how sexual the film interpretations were, especially the first one. I don't remember the app interpretation having that much in it. Hamlet also seemed more crazy in the second one, with his undone bowtie, ruffled hair, and wide eyes, but part of that could also be due to the fact he was wearing a modern-looking shirt, so the contrast there was more powerful for me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, the film interpretations were a lot more than expected. I think that its necessary, because a film has to entertain an audience, and by adding more action into the films, it engages the audience better.
DeleteI also agree. I was very surprised at how sexual and violent the two versions were. I didn't imagine it would be that intense when I was reading the book.I think that the modern version seemed more violent because it's not something you're likely to see in the modern day. So it's more weird than the other version, which makes it seem very unusual and intense.
DeletePersonally, I liked the first one better because it fit better into the time that Hamlet takes place. Like Romeo and Juliet, I didn't like the version where they modernized everything, and I thought that it didn't work well in Hamlet. One thing that I didn't like was how the ghost was portrayed in both versions. He is portrayed as an actual person, and doesn't really look like a ghost, which may confuse audiences who don't know the ghost is supposed to be a ghost. Also, I noticed in both versions that Hamlet is very violent towards his mother, and that he seems superior to her. It is probably because of the time, when men were always superior to women, but in today's society, that wouldn't really happen.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I do not think that modernizing the play fit in very will with the old English dialogue that Shakespeare used. I think the Mel Gibson scene used good effects to portray King Hamlet as a ghost, although the David Tennant scene could have left viewers confused. I also agree that it seemed like Hamlet was dominating Gertrude in both scenes.
Delete2. I found the Mel Gibson scene to be much better than the Tennant one. Zeffirelli did an excellent job of creating the background in a realistic manner, including the more subdued colors used to signify the sadness and seriousness of the scene. The actors were able to display their emotions in a clear way and seemed genuine. Additionally, the characters mostly stuck to the lines that were in the original play. In contrast, the BBC version seemed to focus too much on trying to incorporate modern items with the scene, and as a result, some parts seemed unrealistic. The queen taking her wig off was pointless in my opinion and only distracted from the point of the scene. Similarly, the use of newspapers and guns didn't really add anything for me and made the scene appear more comical and lighthearted than it should have been. However, I did like how the ghost was kept in the scene for a longer time, as it added to the confusing Gertrude experiences when seeing Hamlet stare intently at empty space. I also liked the inclusion of Hamlet talking about leaving for England, which was not completely there in the Zeffirelli version.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed both scenes in different ways. The first one (Zeffirelli) was a more accurate depiction of the scene, with the drab colors of the background down to the wardrobe. For me, it was interesting to see how both portrayals of Hamlet became extremely violent. Simply reading the play, I assumed that Hamlet and Gertrude were just yelling at each other. But it got so physical and so extremely intimate in the first one that it felt much more raw to me and a little uncomfortable. I prefer that one much more to the second interpretation with David Tennant, where because the scene was translated into the modern day, a little bit of the authenticity and rawness was lost. As other people have said, I enjoyed how the King was sitting right beside Gertrude and even touching her hair. This suggests that the ghost is not just a figment of Hamlet's imagination but is actually real.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your observation that the Zeffirelli version was very physical and even a little strange. As you pointed out, I also felt like the physicality between the characters wasn't necessary and possibly not even intended by Shakespeare. However, I ultimately think both directors did a great job of making choices that complement Shakespeare's words and didn't just throw in random choices.
DeleteI thought that the first version was more realistic and followed with the book. For example, in the first version, Polonius hid behind a tapestry and was killed with a sword. The director imagined a scene even more powerful and intense than I did when I first read the book. I did not imagine Hamlet to be waving his sword near his mother and physically push his mother down. The scene was very intense. However, I do like the modern twist the second version had. I thought it was interesting and exciting to see how Hamlet would be like in the modern world. I really liked the scene where the ghost of Hamlet’s father walks through the broken mirror, which is also a door. Because a broken mirror means bad luck, it might be foreshadowing that something bad will happen very soon. Also the fact that Polonius hid behind the mirror-door and that Hamlet shoot him right through that door, causing the mirror to shatter, was really interesting because it might mean that the back luck will have to do something to do with Polonius— or those that are close to him. I was shocked at both the versions because they both portrayed Hamlet as very harsh with his mother both in terms of his actions and his words. The second version was a lot more intense because Hamlet was even more violent.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the Act 3 Scene 4 scenes on video, I feel like I have a much deeper understanding of the events that transpired. Both versions of the scene were very heartfelt and well acted in my opinion, although they were different. My overall reaction to watching the two scenes is that Gertrude may actually not be as weak and worthless as Hamlet has portrayed to us in the play so far. For example, in Act 1 he refers to her with "frailty, thy name is woman." Now, after watching the scenes, I do feel that Gertrude is still not the bravest and most self sufficient person, but maybe she can be counted on. My basis for this is that in both scenes, she did act very vulnerable and afraid of Hamlet. She did not stop to try to logically consider the situation or his arguments, but turned more to acting hysterical. I cannot put her down too much for this though because Hamlet was also rather hysterical and the circumstances are certainly dire. I feel that Gertrude has some worth and can be counted on because she very firmly agrees to keep Hamlet's secret that he is not mad. By the end of Act 3 Scene 4 in both versions, she seems to have calmed down a bit and is solid in her duty to keep Hamlet's secret. One difference I noticed between the two versions is that in the second version, she seemed to exhibit a bit more sanity and self assurance by the end of the scene, whereas in the first version she was still very hysterical.
ReplyDeleteBoth the Mel Gibson and David Tennant scenes surprised me, and the two share several similarities and differences. Both scenes portray an outraged Hamlet angrily tearing at the bed sheets, and Gertrude crying due to emotional distress from Hamlet's words and actions. However, there were several differences between the two scenes, as well. The David Tennant version was more modern, using guns and newspapers instead of swords and lockets, as the Mel Gibson version used. In addition, there was much more sexual intimacy in the Mel Gibson version, and I did not expect Hamlet to kiss his mother in that way. Looking back, both were valid interpretations of that scene, although I personally prefered the Mel Gibson scene because it adhered better to the clothing and weapons used in those times.
ReplyDeleteThe scenes shown in the movies were completely different from what I had expected from reading the text. Probably the most surprising was the sexual tension between Hamlet and Gertrude. This seems to be something they just added on for Hollywood appeal, because it's completely ridiculous in the context of the play (I don’t think Hamlet, who was so upset with his mother for marrying off the Claudius so soon, would be trying to make moves on her anytime soon). I liked the approach of the David Tennant version, since they modernized the setting and made it more relevant to the audience. Also, in the Mel Gibson version, Hamlet and Gertrude were much more physical. I prefer the BBC version since it seems to provide a more accurate portrayal of the Hamlet that we have read.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. The weird encounter between Hamlet and Gertrude in the first scene seems a little out of place and unplausible in the original work. However, I think that otherwise, the first one seemed more feasible as a version of Hamlet, as the second Hamlet's actions seemed kind of inconsistent. But his acting of craziness was very intense.
DeleteBoth of the Act 3 Scene 4 scenes were very different from each other. The Tennant version was much more modern when compared to the Mel Gibson version. The stage directions and the interpretations of the scene were different as well. I felt that the Mel Gibson version portrayed Hamlet's insanity in a much more vivid and clear way. When Hamlet is talking to his mother, he sees the ghost in a distant part of the room and abruptly stops his conversation. He gazes at the ghost from across, almost as if he is entranced by the presence of the ghost. This stark difference in Hamlet's actions creates a very dramatic entrance for the ghost and accentuates Hamlet's insanity. The Tennant version was less clear in portraying Hamlet's madness. Because Hamlet seems irrational throughout the entire scene, there is not enough of a difference in his actions before he sees the ghost and after he sees the ghost. It was much less dramatic. The scene where the ghost is sitting directly behind Hamlet's mother is so strange that it was almost comedic. In this way, I think that the Mel Gibson version was more dramatic and vivid in portraying the emotions of the Hamlet.
ReplyDeleteThese two scenes are very different, and despite the same lines, the feeling and the emotions in the scene were completely different. In the first scene, the setting was in the more time and era-appropriate room, with a castle and rooms made of stone. This director seemed to have wanted to keep to the original and show what Shakespeare meant in the way that suited Shakespeare. The anger and other churning emotions that Hamlet displayed seemed more similar to the righteousness of a knight, and when they talked in Shakespearean English, it kind of made sense. The second version seemed to be less of just Hamlet and more of a modern adaptation of Hamlet, despite the lines not changing, which made it a little weirder. This version of Hamlet seemed very insane, like truly insane and high off drugs or something, because this Hamlet’s act of craziness seemed more truly crazy to the audience than the previous. In addition, this Hamlet’s actions were highly inconsistent, which may be that the director is more focusing on Hamlet’s outer appearance to others for the audience.
ReplyDeleteThe two versions are very similar because they both do a great job of telling the complex story in an effortless way. In both versions, Hamlet and Gertrude are very over-the-top. They are also very similar because both versions made the scene weirdly sexual, with Gertrude kissing Hamlet. It was interesting that both David Tennant and Mel Gibson added that in when I did not get the impression that it should be added in when I read the play. In both versions, there was a lot of contact between the two characters. When I read the play, I imagined that they would be yelling at each other, but I didn't expect them to be grabbing on to each other's heads and to have Hamlet hover over his mother. As for the contrasting elements, David Tennant's version was much more modern. Hamlet uses a gun to kill Polonius. The setting and clothing choices were also more in line with what we would wear today.
ReplyDeleteI agree that they are both very similar and the interpretation of the scene was very on point. Although it was kinda weird that Hamlet and Gertrude kissed, I guess it was added to make the story bit more interesting.
DeleteBoth interpretations of Act 3 Scene 4 were surprising to me, because although the tension and violence of the situation is implied in the text, I didn't really imagine it to be so dramatic while I was reading it. It was interesting that the directors added elements of sexual tension in the films, as it seems like the book version of Hamlet would be unlikely to engage in such acts, being so young and so unhappy with his mother. I felt that in both versions Hamlet is portrayed to be much older than he actually is in the play, so the violence that is depicted in the movies seems much more intense and threatening that it perhaps would have if an actual eighteen year old played Hamlet on screen. In general, the intimacy between Hamlet and his mother was unexpected and shocking, and I don't quite understand it because nothing in the text really suggests to me that they could have this kind of relationship; however, it is possible that the directors added it in for dramatic effect, to make the film more exciting and attention-grabbing than it already is. I don't really agree with the choice, but it certainly added to the shock and entertainment value of the movies.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Mel Gibson version set the scene in the same time period as Shakespeare's Hamlet was but focused much more heavily on the commonly perceived Oedipus complex Hamlet has surrounding Gertrude. Furthermore the Mel Gibson version removed a fair amount of dialogue.
ReplyDeleteThe David Tennant version is ,in my opinion, much more closely based on the text with every line from this dialogue kept unchanged and despite its more modern setting, was closer to the story than the Mel Gibson's. Furthermore, this version showed a sort of reconciliation between Gertrude and Hamlet that Mel Gibson's didn't show and still acknowledged the incestuous undertones but didn't over-focus on them how I felt the Mel Gibson version did. Finally I feel like David Tennant was a better cast as Hamlet as he looks relatively young and debonair (Like how Hamlet is presented) while Mel Gibson looked a lot older and gruffer because of his beard and body type.
I found the two interpretations to be quite surprising because of how Hamlet treats his mother. In the first scene, I found it quite weird how long and intimate the kiss was that Hamlet and his mother had was. It was disturbing and made my feel kind of uncomfortable. At the same time I was confused at how Hamlet calls out Claudius and Gertrude's relationship as incest but then he like makes out with his mom. To me that's also cutting it close to incest. In the second scene, the kiss is much less intimate and doesn't make you feel as uncomfortable. In the Second scene, I also felt as though Hamlet was more crazy and that the first. One similarity I thought was weird was how Hamlet and his mother react to the death of Polonius. Neither Hamlet or his mother seem that upset at his death. Overall I think I liked the more modern scene because I liked the Hamlet character more.
ReplyDeleteThere are quite a few significant differences between the two versions of the film. The main one, the time period and setting, gives a different feel to the argument. The Tennant version is shown in a more modern age, presumably to help modern viewers understand and relate to the characters easier. Though the lines are the same, the setting and appearance of the characters themselves is closer to the way that such an argument would look like today. Though it does not help in the fundamental understanding behind the meaning of the words, it does help the viewer grasp the general point of the meeting, even if they do not understand exactly what is being said.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the more modern feeling lets me connect to the characters more. The modern one I felt more connected and aware of what was happening but in the original it was a little vague. Or maybe I was just confused over Hamlet and his mom making out...
DeleteAfter watching both versions, I could see clear differences between the two. The Zefferelli one is in a more traditional setting, which fits the original setting in the play. The BBC version is definitely more modern as seen with the guns and newspapers. Both scenes were very shocking to me and it was not like how I imagined it. I did not think Hamlet would act as crazily as he did for both versions. While reading the play, I thought that Hamlet was much more calm and not as violent with his mother. As for the ghost, I liked how the BBC version made the ghost play a bigger role. There was more interaction with the ghost and Gertrude which I found to be a really interesting approach. Also, the reactions of Gertrude to Claudius was very interesting as well. In the first version, Gertrude hides the portrait and it seems like a turning point of the play, where Gertrude is more aware and suspicious of Claudius. In the BBC version, Gertrude is much more scared of Claudius and is more shocked by his touch, which is also a turning point as well since she no longer trusts him. Although the versions were quite different, I found that they both made a lasting impact.
ReplyDeleteBoth of the interpretations were surprising, because they both included a lot of intimacy that Shakespeare never conveyed in the actual text of the play. Both of them conveyed the information accurately, but there were a lot of discrepancies between the two versions. The first scene felt more like it was set in the time of Shakespeare, while the second was more modern. The fancy curtains, Hamlet's attire, and the fact that he used to sword to kill Polonius near the curtain made it more realistic. However, it was odd that Hamlet and Gertrude got so close to each other. In the second scene, everyone is wearing modern fancy attire, and Hamlet uses a gun to kill Polonius. This makes the play lose its effect on the audience a little bit, because it is not accurate of what Shakespeare wanted.
ReplyDeleteMel Gibson and David Tennant's scenes both interpreted Act 3 Scene 4 in a different way. One major difference is that David Tennant's version is set in a relatively modern time period, because he shoots Polonius instead of stabbing him like Mel Gibson's version. In David Tennant's version, Hamlet acted more violently towards her mother than in Mel Gibson's version. He throws her around and grabs her by the head. He seemed more psychotic than Mel Gibson's version, and you could tell that he lost his mind when he was on the ground looking at his father's ghost. Near the end, in Tennant's version, Claudius pops up right behind Gertrude. This sudden action causes her to panic, because she is holding her dead ex-husband's pendant. This was different from Gibson's version because Claudius was not there at all.
ReplyDeleteI thought that it was interesting how both Act 3 Scene 4 scenes portrayed Hamlet as a really crazy person. It was pretty shocking to see that both portayals of the scene included Hamlet kissing his mother, which was not a part of the play written by Hamlet. I liked how the BBC version gave a more modern approach to the scene with Hamlet killing Polonius by using a gun instead of stabbing him with a sword. I thought that the modernization of the scene was to appeal to the modern audience. Although the whole modernization of the story was appealing, I feel like the Mel Gibson version was better fitted for the play written at that time.
ReplyDeleteAlthough both versions were derived from the same scene, what ultimately caught my attention was their different uses of time (era) for their respective versions. Gibson's version had a much more traditional approach, while Tennant chose to modernize it. I also felt as though in Gibson's version, Hamlet was much more physical where as in Tennant's Hamlet uses his diction to attack his mother. Personally I liked Gibson's version better because Tennant's version seems out of place with the words he was saying.
ReplyDeleteI also found it interesting how the different versions were set in different times. I also liked Gibson's version better, mostly because it fit with the story's timeline better.
DeleteBoth of the two different versions of Act 3 scene 4 were very intense and captured the emotion of the scene. I find it very interesting how different the scene can be interpreted, even though the dialogue remains the same. I enjoyed seeing especially the director’s different choice in props for the part when Hamlet compares Old Hamlet to Claudius. The first scene used amulets that both Hamlet and his mother were wearing, which further show who they are loyal to. The second scene uses newspapers, which is an interesting use of the time shift. The newspapers help emphasize the aspect of time and also begs another question, of why Gertrude has a newspaper article of Old Hamlet. Overall, watching these scenes helped me understand the play more and opened my eyes to Hamlet and his mother’s relationship.
ReplyDeleteSo, some differences. The Zefferelli version had Hamlet act sort of just really angry rather than crazy, while the Tennant version did a better job of showcasing his (fake) instability I think. Hamlet's reaction to the ghost in the latter version was also interesting, since he acted sort of afraid of it unlike in the former.
ReplyDeleteThe differences between the depiction of Gertrude were also interesting. She acts as one would expect in the Zefferelli version, which is to say really scared of Hamlet. In the Tennant version though, she acts more, for lack of a better word, composed. She's still panicked, but not overly. And as the scene progresses she tries to comfort Hamlet at several points as it becomes evident just how distraught Hamlet actually is. Acting a bit motherly here I think.
Also just a side note, but the modernization of the Tennant version was a nice spin in my opinion, even if the language doesn't end up fitting the setting very much. Gives it a special sort of feel.
For the first version, which depicts an older time period, I thought that the relationships between Gertrude and Hamlet was a lot worse than the second version, which depicts a more recent time period. There was a lot of exaggeration portrayed with the first version where Gertrude out of utmost annoyance slapped Hamlet in the face. However, in the second version, Gertrude was more calm and flexible with the situation, but it was Hamlet who created the tension with Gertrude. Overall, the situation was the same where Hamlet kills Polonius and both his mother and he get into an intimate relationship. Hamlet also sees the ghost as well, but it was the fact that Hamlet flees in the first version to bury Polonius´s body, but in the second scene another person comes to alleviate the situation Gertrude has.
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