Ophelia Madness

In honor of Ophelia, She was a young girl who was just stuck in a situation where she was considering of  whether or not in keeping Hamlet or stop seeing him for the sake of her fathers' happiness. We all know she choose not to see him because it was her father wish. Then at the end we know what hit her (Death). To reconsider the whole outcast. Ophelia was not crazy or mad, she was just heart broken. Sometimes some girls (am just saying), do not know how to handle the situation where one her father is dead, second thinking the death was her fault. I deeply can understand why and how she feels in that particular way.

To put myself in her situation. Think about it this way in today's society. If you are that type of person that has no one to tell how you actually feel then automatically for sure you will not know how to actually react to the situation. Depression is what Ophelia was feeling. As a poor young girl she has everything running through her mind. For example: Loosing her thing to the one she loved is what would have affected her the most. It might not be stated but it seem as if it is. In that time those type of standard was highly respected. She died for a cause which in my opinion would be sad and depressed. Honestly, she did not deserve it but she wanted it and for you to die singing and not caring you are drowning. Just staying clam just shows a lot you have nothing else to live for. I respected her action in wanting to die. But then I do think that she should have called for help while being drowned when she was fallen off of the broken branch. Life is life, such is such, hope is hope, while action says it all.

Hamlet

Yes, I am 100 percent on agreeing with Hamlet(son) to kill Claudius(Uncle) because he really deserve it. He is as guilty as his concision. Claudius had the mind to kill his own blood which was his brother then Hamlet should have the same mind to kill Claudius. Because of what he did in order to gain the throne. The decision between life and death is giving Hamlet second thought of whether he should proceed in order to complete his father revenge (death). Not to be cruel but I would love to see Claudius have a painful death.

Hamlet is right in one way in order to think whether or not he should have kill him. Why, because he is giving it a closer look to look at the consequences and taking it step by step in order to make the death a successful one. Just stating. If he would have went right away then the people would have thought that he was going for the throne. But it is a smart conclusion for him to give it a second thought act it out meaning acting like he is crazy. So people will have second thought and not thinking it is because he want the throne. Hamlet knows what he is doing and I believe for sure he will kill Claudius slowly but surly.

To be or not to be

Almereyda's Hamlet Version Response:

The setting took place at Blockbuster and it seems as if it was night time. Like Miss. Mergott stated; the ghost actually visit Hamlet in the night so obviously it has to be in the night. They weren't a lot of people in the store maybe because it was late too. It seem as if he is crazy by walking into Blockbuster and starting to give his speech "to be or not to be." The effect it has is to show why he is wanting to take revenge. He is thinking and talking to himself about life, death, fear, what will happen when things are settle/etc. The director is trying to convey by making it more modern. But to me it is a waste of time. Not trying to be rude. It makes no sense. Music was good, it went with the flow. Very interesting for the scene. The directors choice towards the lighting was just right because it was bright. The part where the fire was on the television was a reinforcing theme for his speech. The only symbols was the first blazing on the TV. The emotions was okay and the way it change throughout the scene is it was not too dramatic but a little on the attention side. The effects to me shows no interest. Am still not over the fact that he was in Blockbuster making the speech. Really (sarcasm!) They are many versions for you to see a glimpse of how different characters acts differently and for you to decide which one draws you closer to what is being said. The most effective version was Mil Gibson.

To be or not to be

Zeffirelli's Hamlet Version Response:

The setting is pretty much beneath the castle. It was very little light and other part not so much of lights. The effect is to show what is happening around the surroundings to show why his enthusiastic is so strong in order to achieve his unfinished goal. The director is trying to convey life and death. How it is to be alive and how it is to be dead. I didn't hear no music. But the mood of the set is powerful to me. I like it. The choices that the director make about the lighting is the way he motion the light at a certain point where it should be bright. It does actually reinforce the theme of his speech. The figurative aspects of the speech for me is to show whether he should take action upon the unfinished business because the dead king wants him to take revenge. The symbol that the director uses was the statue. It was outstanding because it symbolized death. The emotion with which the actor repeats the line is "thus conscience does make cowards of us all." Very motivate line. It changes through the scene by showing that fear do control you by giving you lots of thinking. Where cowardliness is being brought into action. They are so many version for you to make so many different comments/opinions. I like the Mil Gibson version more because it really drawn my attention into paying more attention to what is going on and why it is happening.

To be or not to be

Olivier's Hamlet Version Response:

The setting of this play is to answer the question that the mind is concluding. The setting is foggy, dark, unclear and boring because all that he is doing there is sitting on the rock. Making it seem as if he doesn't want to be there acting it. It was less dramatic and it didn't feel like he believe in what he was saying. Some might think is because of the black and white, No, don't get me wrong it doesn't feel the way it should be seen. The director seem like he was trying to send the focus point to what the message was about, it looks like it is not going through. To be honest the focus point on his face was actually interested. The music was okay and the mood of the set wasn't as good as it should be. There wasn't enough of lightening because the movie is actually pretty old. The choice didn't reinforce the theme of his speech. Sorry to say it like this but is like he was just wasting his time siting there. But he tired. The dagger was the main focal point. It was interesting. It sends a message right to my mind of me having an idea of what he wants to do. The emotion was where the different voices was speaking from one person to the other. It was nice. It did not change too much but a little. They are so many versions there for you to be the judge to see which one best interests you. Think about it this way if there was only one version like the Olivier's one then you would be lost. This version was okay.

To be or no to be

Branaugh's Hamlet Version response:

The setting in this particular version seems to be happening in the castle. Where Hamlet is looking in the mirror and speaking his true mind out in whether he should approach his goal or keep thinking too much.  He listed very strong details in order to take action of what is to be accomplished! The effect that this have is towards his uncle because the men that was listening have gotten to know the true fact of why he is misbehaving like this. The director is trying to convey that fear is what is keeping people back in other to make an approach of  a better situation. When you fear, it gives you less courage to complete what should have been completed. If you keep thinking and thinking then thinking takes you no where but into more thinking. There was music and it was very slow and went along with the motion of the words that was being said. It is sort of a mood where its like showing that "O," you better watch out, trouble is coming. The lighting was simple and it blend in with the action. Yes, these choices reinforce the theme of his speech because it is being place like the way it was being written in the book. The emotion with which the actor repeats the lines is where the part he took out the dagger, this was when it was interesting and dramatic. It changed throughout the speech by making you as a  viewer see the reason why he wants to approach his goal before his fear hold him back. They are many versions so you can see which one really draw you more into the action. Which one makes you have a better understanding of what is happening. It might not take you one but two maybe three to see what is the main purpose of what is being said. It says that different ideas leads to different conclusion where different settings are being played by the same words to see which one best fits your interest. The version that I really liked was to be and not to be with Zeffirelli's Hamlet. I chose this because it actually showed that he took the dagger out to send a message to the uncle "O," am coming for you. And I like the fact that he knows what the message is. Why, well so that his guiltiness should boil up inside of him to make him want to take action. Meaning drama is on its way!! :)

The First Ghost Scene

The scene that interest me the most was the where Gibson was being more realistic in his role. He actually made me have a better understanding of what is actually happening. It shows the funeral then it shows how he actually was reacting the way he was in the book. It is so dramatic that I actually know what is being said and the meaning to it. I also like the first video where Kenneth Branagh played Hamlet. He show a very strong approach of anger towards his uncle when he found out what his uncle did. It describe in a rich way how mother reacts towards the whole situation. Come on your husband just died and for her to move on that quickly shows that she is desperate. The very interesting part that really stand out to me, was where the uncle throw the poison in the King's ear. My reaction was "What a Criminal."


The main point for the revenge is for the throne. If you do think about it.. It is obvious that if the King was alive then the son wouldn't have been seeking revenge. I did not like the third video with the New York City because it makes no sense. Like really, you are that special for a ghost to come to your hotel to tell you to go seek revenge. I know he is your father, "yes,". But he should have told you in the beginning if there was a funeral. I  seriously think that the third video was just over reacting. And Hamlet wasn't even dramatic.. Its like his body language was like whatever. I do not see the whole point of paying attention to the third video because it is crappy. :)