Wednesday, May 16, 2012

To Be or Not To Be..Thats a good question!

       Hamlet has had a desire to end the life of his horrible uncle since day one. This is completely understandable, he has every right to feel the way he does. His father was taken from him and he knows exactly why. What I admire is how smart and tactical Ham,let is being with the situation. Instead of rushing in and lunging a knife into Claudius. He is using his head, playing it smart, my type of guy. If i was ever in that situation, i probably would have given myself away and killed him right then and there. But Hamlet could be some sort of inspiration to think before you act. Its ironic how they both turn to God for the most unusual request. Claudius asking for forgiveness even though he doesn't mean it and Hamlet asking what is the best way to kill his uncle. I still agree that Hamlet has every right to do what he is doing and should continue to do so.

To My Dear Ophelia

They say people come and go, and there is always something about them you miss once their gone. Well I realized what it was. You were a woman who cared for a man who made you feel like nothing. Hamlet would push you away, then pull you close and what were you to do? You loved the man and here we are, not at your respectable funeral, but just here because they believe you don't "deserve" a respectable funeral.
They made you seem like a desperate woman who lost it and killed herself. They believe that you don't deserve a respectable funeral when you tried to stay as sane as possible. You had no choice but to feel as if you were the cause of everything. As if everything was your fault but if only you knew. Oh my dear Ophelia, I would have been way better than Hamlet.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

To Be or not To Be..thats a good question

There were several "To be or not to be" moments in different Hamlets films where Hamlet was alone and expressed himself, as he did this, so did the directors of each movie. Giving Hamlets a different setting and outlook towards the audiences eyes. In the first film, the director Oliver, gives Hamlet no feelings or attitude to give to the audience. He does give him a prop, a little dagger which he mentions in his monologue. The dagger was a representation of how he was able to end his life right now if he wanted to. He drops the knife, realizing that he knows what the mistake was in his thought and moved away from the the decision he was going to choose. The music grew and his voice changed, when he grew rash the music did and when he was soft and sullen, so did the music.
The second one, Branagh  has Hamlet speak into a mirror and with only the audience knowing that it was a two way mirror. His uncle being on the other side listens to his speech the entire time and is frightened when this Hamlet also pulls out a dagger. Hamlet had no idea he was there, he just continued to speak to himself, letting all his anger out at this moment. I liked the idea of the director at that scene. It was far different from the rest of the Hamlets since there was no way anyone else would have thought of it in that perspective.
The third Hamlet was by Almereyda, a more modern version where Hamlet is in a Blockbuster alone able to speak to himself. This one didn't stick out much due to the fact that he used no props and didn't make it stand out any different from the rest. Plain actually, but one thing that didn't stand out because of modern times was the section he was in while making his speech. Hamlet was in the action section of the store but didn't take out anything. It was basically what he was doing, he wasn't taking action in the situation he was in. Something he wanted to do. 
The final director, Zeffirelli, used something i liked. His lighting in certain points made me more connected to Hamlet. In his dark suicidal thoughts the lighting was low and quiet, but when he realized something the lighting would brighten up again and he would go on. The lighting made a difference since all other directors didn't think to use it. Each had their own view on this famous scene and made their own mark in different ways. 

Sunday, April 15, 2012

The Three Ghost Scene

The last movies scene was very different from the rest. In the first one, the director made it very unrealistic, all the fire and the earth shaking made it seem a bit too much. The ghost was dressed in aurmor which looked better, it was a way of saying he was prepared to fight. The second movie has more of a calmer approach. Hamlet leaving the party for a while and running into this ghost of his father one on one. This ghost didnt have armour but there wasnt any fire our ground destruction, they were simply on a balcony and it seemed more realistic but the music choice gave it more of a sullen feeling. In the sencond one and first Hamlet was angered and swore for revenge. In the third movie, a more modern version where Hamlet was able to touch his father as the ghost also used a napkin as a prop to show the wound that couldnt be healed as he kept on wiping his ear. All these directors had different thoughts when they made this but i choose the second movie to capture the true meaning and stay natural and believable to all.

Monday, May 30, 2011

What an"Expected" Ending

Throughout the novel, Nora remained to be a difficult women. But slowly at the end Torvald seemed to be the problem and this was realized. When Krogstad's letter was finally read by Torvald, he began to freak out on Nora and wanting to disown her calling her "a weak helpless child". Once Torvald received the second letter saying Krogstad turned a new leaf and would forget the whole thing, the strange thing is that Torvald was suddenly happy again seeing that his career was saved? Torvald changed his mood from furious to carefree?
At that moment Nora finally realized her problem. Before in the story she was saying how you can want to be with someone, but stay with the one you love. She thought she loved Torvald, but only realized she was letting him play her just like "A Doll's House". Just like her father was doing to her as a child, she would always try to please them in any way. She finally knew what to do, she left her home and searched for her own life. I wonder what she will discover on this journey. Become a successful women and realize she is strong, or can't find the strength and admit Torvald was right about her being a helpless child?

Sunday, May 22, 2011

nora, who is she?

As i have said before Nora is a childish, spoiled woman. She seems to have the good life, now that her husband is manager of the bank, her life will only get better. But to what cost? How did she manage to forge her father's signature and not worry? Do you really think this lawyer will really blackmail her? What will be the outcome?