TWO VERSIONS OF HAMLET (Movie)

WHAT I’VE NOTICED FROM THESE TWO VERSIONS OF HAMLET…

HAMLET in 1996 which was directed and portrayed by Kenneth Branagh is different from the BBC’s version of Hamlet which starred David Tennant. But I think both are magnificent on their own way.

Most of the film can be easily judged by its opening scene. It can be used in setting the overall theme of the movie.

But for the 2 versions of HAMLET, KENNETH BRANAGH’S VERSION AND THE 2009 BBC Version which starred David Tennant, the opening scene is used to set the tone of the movie to form an unconscious expectation to audience’s mind on how to view these two different versions of Shakespeare’s masterpiece.

In the two versions of HAMLET, there are also two different approaches that were used in the opening scene. And it really helps to define their differences. The cinematic technique used at the beginning of these two versions will be the most prominent style in the whole movie.

THE MOST PROMINENT ELEMENT THAT I NOTICED IS THE CAMERA MOVEMENTS AND FRAMING.

NOW LET’S UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STEADY SHOT FROM A MOVING SHOT. What’s more effective? Well, it depends on the filmmaker.

STEADY SHOT VS. MOVING SHOT

One of the unique styles that I noticed in the BBC’s version of HAMLET is the use of CCTV cameras to present that someone is watching over Hamlet, and I think, that is the audience. Or maybe Claudius?

While in Branagh’s version, moving shots like panning, trucking, zoom in/out, rack focus, dolly shots are very prominent in every scene. But still, there are combinations of Steadicam and camera movements in the whole movie.

What’s the advantage of a steady shot? As a viewer, I won’t easily be distracted by the movements of the camera, and all the actions that the actor and the filmmaker want to show are easily be noticed.

But why moving shots are visually appealing? Well, it depends on the camera movement and the editing. If shots and the transitions are perfectly paired, it will create a great rhythm in the story.

Kenneth Branagh’s HAMLET lasts for four hours but even though it’s longer than the BBC’s version, it is reasonable. It is long but not slow, and through the use of diverse camera movements, every scene has its own uniqueness and deep meaning. While in BBC’s Hamlet, the Steadicam and changing camera shots are just focusing merely on the reaction and the actions of the characters.

There are also minimal camera movements in David Tennant’s version of Hamlet that are combined with necessary cuts in some movements. I think it’s because the primary focus of the scene is to emphasize more of the actor’s performance. While Kenneth Branagh used long take or continuous shots to establish more of the mise-en-scene and to reveal the side activity of the scene. Long takes may transport the audience to one emotional destination which can build mystery. While cutting the sequence in different shots can easily be predicted sometimes.

There are no intercuts or insert in the BBC’s Hamlet because I think this film really wants to emphasize the real emotion without any interruptions, what you see is what you get. While in Branagh’s version, there are many intercuts, inserts, and detailed shots which added information about the back story of each character. The amount of information that was given through detailed shots is enough to help the audience to understand a Shakespear’s masterpiece.

Both versions provide a melodramatic atmosphere for inner struggles.