What's Wrong with Ophelia?

          We have just seen the craziness of Ophelia and what she is capable of in all three versions of Hamlet.  In the Zeffirelli version, Ophelia has gone crazy and is talking to Gertrude in a insane manner.  She talks to Laertes and believes she has a bouquet of flowers and she gives one to Laertes, Claudius, and Gertrude, but in reality, she has a bunch of twigs and chicken bones.  It is seen she is crazy and it also shows us that she mostly drowned herself while sitting next to the river. The Branagh version, Ophelia looks to me she is in a strait jacket of some sort is talking about her sexually sensations with Claudius and Gertrude with Hamlet.  She also thinks she has flowers, but in this version Ophelia has nothing in her hands.  Finally, is the modern version of Almereyda where instead of flowers, it is photographs of Hamlet and herself I believe. Each version shows the insanity of Ophelia describing in different ways but concluding that she had gone insane.

The People of Uganda

          The presentation that we saw in the auditorium was very sad to watch from beginning to end.  Each scene would become sadder and sadder.  There would shining moments in that the American college students would visit Tony and help out the people of Uganda.  Then something terrible would happen from Tony's mom dying to Tony's best friend dying.  The people of Uganda have suffered so much pain from their people and the capturing of innocent children.  I hope one day that Uganda and the others nations surrounding Uganda can stop this war and bring peace within their own countries because many are suffering and I need any ones help.

To Be or Not To Be, That is the Question.....

                          
           In Zeffirelli's Hamlet, the setting seems to be a cave of some sort with many dead bodies surrounding something that looks like a tomb.  In my opinion, the tomb is Hamlet's father's body and Hamlet comes down to his burial and that is when he says his speech for him to continue living or kill himself.  The director is trying to say this by Hamlet opening up with his father's body in the room.  There is not much music in this scene but it portrays a dramatic scene anyways.

          The Branaugh's Hamlet has a totally different setting than Zeffirelli's version.  The setting of this version shows us Hamlet in a hall talking in a mirror talking to himself to kill himself or not.  The mirror is a two way mirror and Hamlet's uncle, Claudius, and Polynouis are watching Hamlet talking to himself not realizing that they were behind the mirror.  There is some music reflecting the situation at the time but it is mostly Hamlet describing himself and deciding to kill himself.  There is much emotion in this scene especially when Hamlet takes out a dagger and decides to commit suicide.

          The last movie is Almereyda's Hamlet and it is the most modern version of Hamlet we have seen. The setting is in a video store like Blockbuster choosing what movie to take.  Hamlet is in the Action section of the store and I think this symbolizes what should Hamlet do, either take his life or get revenge.  In the beginning of the scene, Hamlet is thinking his thoughts out loud so we can hear it, then he finally speaks and continues his speech.  Finally, it shows a movie on the televisions of a demon fighting with something and I think this means the conflict of Hamlet is having at the moment.

Hamlet The First Ghost Scene

          The first ghost scene directed by Zeffirelli, Mel Gibson, who plays as Hamlet, portrays Hamlet like we have read in the novel.  In this movie, there is not much music but Hamlets father talks to Hamlet about his unnatural murder.  There is not many special effects because it the true portrayal in my opinion of Hamlet and the ghost scene.  The movie is very plain, simple, and to the point which makes the most sense because it makes the most sense from the novel.  In my opinion, this scene is the most realistic from the three and it is my favorite as well.
          The second ghost scene directed by Branagh who is also the main character who is Hamlet does a wonderful job as well.  The actor who plays Hamlet's father does a fantastic job in his part to portray his emotion to Hamlet and his foul and unnatural murder.  In some moments, there is some music to show the emotion of Hamlet's father and what he is saying.  Some special effects are used to move the rocks and put smoke in the woods to produce a dramtic effect.  This ghost scene is well done but it does not follow the novel entirely, an example is that the setting is taken in the woods or a forest but in the novel, the ghost scene is taken place on top of some tower.
          Finally, the third ghost scene directed by Almereyda is a modern version of Hamlet in today's society.  The actor Hawke who plays as Hamlet in this modern version does an ok job when portraying Hamlet.  This move and ghost scene is my least favorite because it does not follow the novel of Hamlet but only in bits and pieces.  I beleieve it does a poor job in telling the story of Hamlet and it also doesn't do the novel justice.