Play Hamlet vs. Mel Gibson’s movie version Essay

Performance Analysis of Shakespeares The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark My performance analysis is based on Shakespeares The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. This drudgery was directed by Franco Zeffirelli and starred Mel Gibson, Glenn oddment, Alan Bates, and Paul Scofield. In this production of Hamlet, the original old English is used. However, I noticed that any dialog that was too uncontrollable to comprehend or too wordy was deleted from the scenes. Some of the scenes had in like manner been altered. For example, In Act 2, Scene 1, the director has Polonius spy on Ophelia and Hamlet, and this is how he learns of Hamlets strange visit with his daughter and Hamlets madness. In the original text of Act 2, scene 1, Ophelia informs Polonius of Hamlets visit and his apparent madness. I believe the director chose to have Polonius spy on them to obtain this information, because the audience would observe for themselves just how mad Hamlet appears. It was also probably don e to keep back time so that the movie wouldnt drag. In Kenneth Branaughs version the movie is contained on two tapes, and his version was a little too slow moving for my taste.The lines 207-0 213 in Act 2, scene2, where Polonius has a lengthy monologue, also appears to have been cut from the script. In that very(prenominal) act the lines where Guildenstern and Rosencranz enter the scene have been locomote to Act 3, Scene 1, a stop everyplace directly after Hamlets Mousetrap play. There were also several other modifications to the placement of scenes in this play, including Shakespeares famous speech, To be or not to be , which had been moved to Act 1, scene 2. I believe all of these changes were made due to the beneficial nature of the film media. It was possible for the director to show several shots of different actors and events, shifting back and forth amongst scenes. This gave the effect of the scenes occurring simultaneously. Since these scenes appeared to have occurred at the same time in the movie, it probably made sense or seemed more than effective to the director to move the scenes or acts around to what seemed the most logical point in the film.As a result of these modifications, I felt this version of Hamlet was more fast-paced and engaging. It did not drag. I appreciated this production over the other Hamlet films I have seen, because it was made more interesting through directors shifting camera technique. The setting and costumes of this play were also historically accurate for that time period. And the lighting was well done -not too dark. As far as the actors go, Mel Gibsongave an energetic interpretation of the melancholy Hamlet and Glenn Close was so intense and very believable as Gertrude, Hamlets mother. The other actors also performed their parts very well. In summary, I enjoyed this performance more than Kenneth Branaughs production, because I felt it was faster paced and more combat-ready. I feel this effect was achieved throu gh the directors technique of shifting the camera between the actors and scenes to give the impression that events were occurring simultaneously. I also feel Mel Gibsons energetic performance and Glenn Closes intense and realistic performance added a dynamic quality, which I have not seen in any other production of this play.