The First Ghost Scene

In the “first version”, I believe the actors portrayed the characters well, it was believable.  Throughout the first ghost scene, the lighting was dark and the music added a great sense of suspense.  The dialogue between Hamlet played by Mel Gibson and the ghost of his father was exchanged in a slow clear pace verses the harsh fast pace used in the “second version”.  I believe the dialogue was said the way it was said because they were in an open ground in front of the castle.  The slow pace helped viewers understand what was being said.  It also made it seem as if the ghost was upset about what happened to him and what is happening now (in the movie).

The “second version” directed by Kenneth Branagh on the other hand made the same dialogue have more of an angry emotion.  The ghost of Hamlet’s father was screaming his lines to Hamlet in a tone that I took as anger.  In this scene, Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh) and the ghost are in the woods which can be a reason as to why the ghost is screaming.  The lighting in this scene was very dark.  The background music make the scene even more intense because it was loud just like the ghost’s voice.  In both the first and second versions, the setting was set in the same time period that William Shakespeare wrote it.  The only difference is that the second version had flash backs to help the view visualize what happened to Hamlet’s father.

The “third version” directed by Michael Almereyda is a modern version of Hamlet.  The ghost scene is not the same as the first and second version.  Instead of it being dark and gloomy, the room Hamlet and the ghost are in is filled with dim lighting.  One thing that is drastically different in this scene is that the ghost uses a cloth (prop) to help you understand how he died.

Overall, I agree with all the director’s decisions as to how they interpreted Shakespeare’s book, Hamlet.  If I were I director I would make the ghost come across as upset and angry that his brother killed him and that his wife married him in such a short time after his dead.  I want the viewers to understand that the ghost is devastated and that they should always watch their back and make sure that their partner is the one for them.