"essere o non essere"

the other day in class we watched four different versions of Hamlet, which displayed the famous speech; "To Be Or Not To Be". before i begin to explain my thoughts on each short clip, i think its important to discus why this speech has been filmed in four different ways. just like when all directors film a movie, they change the story and make see what fits best in their opinion. same exact thing each of these directors did with this one speech.

so when i was taking notes during the films i wasn't exactly sure with the first version we saw, who the director was, so when I'm talking about each film, they'll be in the order that we watched them.

the first version was displayed with Hamlet not "actually" speaking, it was as though we were inside his mind and we could hear his thoughts. which i found that tactic very interesting, it was a more personal level. perfect perfect perfect! although there were things i did not like. the scene when he walked out onto the balcony, he could of thrown himself over; yeah it adds to the intensity of the situation but it just did not wow me.

the second version (Mel Gibson i think) was displayed with Hamlet in the basement where his father lays, speaking as though to him, and asking him for guidance while he weights out life or death. the setting in this version is the best out of all i thought. very raw, honest emotion, and his speech was SO passionate! his body language was very on point; ie. when he drops to his knees. i don't know i liked the first version but then i saw this one and i changed my mind completely. the emotional tool just took me by surprise while watching Hamlet speak. then to top it off, at the end, the light shined in on his face, which made me think of Jesus when God shined the light on him, welcoming him home.

the third version (Kenneth i think) was displayed with Hamlet looking at himself in the mirrors, as though he is his opponent or challenging himself. this version i haven't, from the beginning, been found of. i don't see the emotion need for this scene, except in this version Ophelia interrupts at the end of his speech, which the audience knows its because her father is spying on him to know if its because of him that Hamlet has gone crazy.

the modern version takes place in a blockbuster, you have to be kidding me!!!! i couldn't even watch this version because i honestly feel brain cells dying while watching it. reminds me of those stupid movies that make fun of other movies. ie. 300 -> meet the Spartans.

enough said.