Hamlet film adaptations and interpretations

¶ … expectations concerning this performance, and how they were met or not met by the performance?

My expectations of Mel Gibson's version of the Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet can best be summed up as this: Mad Hamlet: Lethal Tragic Hero. At the time of the production of the 1990 film directed by Franco Zeffirelli, Mel Gibson was mainly known as an action hero or rogue police detective, in films such as Mad Max and Lethal Weapon. Zeffereli's version of Hamlet makes use of Gibson's popular image. Shakespeare's narrative is cut down to its barest elements. Character development, which is so important in Shakespeare's original play, is less of a priority than plot development. Hamlet's inner conflicts about revenge and introspection are less significant than Hamlet's anger and Oedipal rage over Gertrude's perceived betrayal.

Hamlet's soliloquies are delivered to the camera in a restless, almost combative fashion. As Hamlet speaks his first soliloquy, mourning the quickness of his mother's marriage, Hamlet is not in the formal atmosphere of the court as in the case of the play. Hamlet delivers his words as he is wandering through the castle, as if already looking for a chance to find Claudius and vent his violent anger against the King. Unfortunately, Gibson's portrayal eliminates an important element of Hamlet's character in the text: Hamlet's self-doubt about his vengeful quest, which is part of the appeal of the tragic hero. Every aspect of the play that is somewhat ambiguous about the character of Hamlet is also lost. Gibson also adds scenes to make Hamlet more sympathetic, like showing the funeral of Hamlet's father in a prologue. My expectations were confirmed: Gibson creates a Hamlet barks rather than muses. Gibson is highly kinesthetic in his approach to the role. What he does is more memorable than what he says, and how he speaks Shakespeare's words. It is hard to believe that this Hamlet would ever feel compunction at taking revenge.

Select the actor whose work seemed most believable to you. Try to determine and explain the specific techniques to actor used to produce this effect upon you. Discuss this actor's use of "special skills."

In contrast to Gibson's boisterous performance, Helena Bonham Carter brings intelligence and sensitivity to the role of Ophelia. Even when forced to obey her father Polonius, Carter's Ophelia clearly feels anger when she is forced to agree to no longer see Prince Hamlet. Her madness is not sentimentalized; rather the actress shows a variety of emotions. She is angry, sad, and bitter. The viewer can see why Ophelia lost her mind because of the meaning the actress invests in apparently meaningless phrases.

Although Ophelia is one of the least talkative characters of the play, in contrast to the loquacious Polonius and Hamlet, Carter uses her eyes and expressive face to reveal hidden depths within her character. The script eliminates one of Ophelia's major monologues, when she details to Polonius how Hamlet came to her, after seeing the ghost, when she first fears he is mad. Instead, the movie script shows this seen as action, in the real time of the play. Yet the silent reactions of Ophelia speak volumes, even though Hamlet is the most active character in the room.

What do you feel was the peak point, dramatically, of the play? Why?

In contrast to Carter's believable restraint during the 'mad scene' Gibson's most emotionally truthful scene is the apocalyptically emotional 'closet scene' with Glenn Close as Gertrude. Hamlet's anger at his mother's perceived betrayal is conveyed through intense physicality. This is Hamlet's most irrationally violent scene in the play, on paper, and the explosive anger that is consistently shown in Gibson's performance seems most appropriate in this scene.

Evaluate how well the costume designer met each of the objectives of costume design. How well did the costumes help to define the characters?

Gibson's simmering primal anger is also underlined by the use of costumes used in the film. Gibson's hero, an ancient Dane, wears rustic animal skins. The costumes indicate that this is a lawless society, still reliant upon ancient obligations such as revenging the murder of a parent with bloodshed. The film is distinctly medieval in appearance, and deemphasizes the relevance of the tragedy to people today.

What did you feel was the HOOK, or popular appeal of the play?