Viewing three different versions of the Ghost scene, from the film Hamlet, really widened my perspective on how the film can be interpreted. In Zeffirelli's version of Hamlet, the characters and setting he chose were not exactly like I had imagined it to be. However Mel Gibson, who played Hamlet in the film, portrayed Hamlet's character very well. The viewer could really feel the grief and sorrow he had, due to the death of his father. Paul Scofield, the actor who played the ghost of Hamlet's father, was a mediocre choice of Zeffirelli. To me the actor chosen just did not fit the role of a ghost. The tone was much too fierce and projected. When I think of a ghost, I imagine there to be an eldritch mood and to feel discomfort. Scofield did not achieve that. Another downfall for this scene was definitely the lighting. The facial expressions of the characters were not visible, due to the darkness. I wanted to be able to really get the emotion from each character. Although it did give the scene an eerie feeling to show how deep the scene frankly was, Zeffirelli could have lightened it up a bit. Towards the end of the scene when Hamlet displays his anger while watching his mother and uncle show their affection for one another, it can be used as foreshadowing to something devastating that could occur in the future.
In the second version of Hamlet, the director, Branagh, delineated the ghost scene the very well. This version was more modern than Zeffirelli's version. Hamlet was also played by Branagh and he did a superb job. As Hamlet was running through the woods trying to find his father's ghost, he showed the emotion just like Shakespeare would have wanted it. The ghost played by Brian Blessed, was by far the most successful choice of character. He had the tone and voice of a ghost down so flawless. It really set the mood of the whole scene. The ghost used flashbacks to really outline the plot of what had happened to King Hamlet. The camera angles gave the scene a supernatural feeling, especially when zoomed in on the ghost's mouth. The lighting could have not been more perfect; the blueish tint given off gave the scene a sinister feel. At the end of the scene, Hamlet speaks as if he wants revenge for his father, and that could be interpreted as foreshadowing to the future of the all the characters.
The final version of the ghost scene, directed by Michael Almereyda, was so modern that it really killed the whole feel to what Shakespeare is all about. The setting took place in a brightly lighted apartment of some sort, which I did not expect at all. The whole scene was much more subtle. This director took Hamlet in a whole new direction, and sometimes that needs to be done to keep a film/play famous for so long. Hamlet, played by Ethan Hawke, wore regular, modern clothes just like the ghost of Hamlet's father did. The ghost is much more aggressive towards Hamlet, which would be considered realistic during the time it was set in. The aggression used by the ghost shows the passion and how much he wanted Hamlet to get him revenge. At the end of the scene, the ghost hugs Hamlet, which gives the viewers the feel of sorrow and guilt, just like Hamlet feels. As the ghost disappears, "Remember me..." is said off in the distance.
All three versions of Hamlet are all important in their own ways. Each film makes me think about the plot more and how each director showed their own interpretation of Shakespeare's play, Hamlet.
