Shakespeare on Film - Observations

Shakespeare On Film

02/10/04

Hamlet 20002

Observations

It was a difficult movie to sit through. It is not because the movie is inherently bad but because of my own neurosis. The works of Shakespeare, in my humble estimation, are not meant to be modernized. Modern settings, along with modern stylization detract from the original beauty of the work. It is illogical to watch Polonius giving fatherly advice to the young Ophelia in a penthouse apartment overlooking the East River. And they are speaking Old English !!!!!

Camera work dominates the film. During the intense scenes the camera revolves around the characters rather quickly. The intention is to quicken the action and create more intensity. Let us look at the scene where Hamlet speaks to his ghostly father for the first time. The use of the revolving camera in this scene does create the desired intensity effect. At the same time the scene comes off as rushed. So much of the play is brought to life in this scene. It is a scene that can not be rushed. The King must be allowed to speak his peace. This same scene in Mel Gibson's Hamlet is shot very deliberately. The King speaks slowly and appears very much coherent. A spirit should be calm and almost emotionless. A spirit that comes off as angry and fiery would be seen as evil. All too human. The Sam Shepherd king makes physical contact with Hamlet during the scene which gives further evidence to this.

Ethan Hawke's Hamlet uses his own kind of camera work. Because this play is set in modern times, hamlet has the luxury of actually filming events in his life. He plays the films of his family while giving forth his soliloquies. This is effective. It gives the audience visual representation of what or who Hamlet is pondering over.

A very important soliloquy is missing from Hamlet 2002. The one where Hamlet speaks of the antic disposition. Without that