Hamlet

The play Hamlet has been done in so many ways. Different clips of the "To be or not to be" speech illustrate that. There are so many different versions because it can be seen in so many different ways. From one standing at the edge of a cliff to another questioning himself in a film store, each version shows how Hamlet can be played differently.

In Laurence Olivier's clip, Hamlet, pulling a dagger back and forth towards himself over a cliff, he starts emotionless and builds up, on the edge of death at all times. For Frano Zefferelli, however, Hamlet really was close to death, by the tombs of his ancestors. Kenneth Branagh has Hamlet whisper to himself in the mirror and hold the knife toawrds his reflection. Michael Alymeryda's Hamlet talks sarcastically in the action isle of a film store, flames of death and destruction showing on a screen behind him.

The version that was played best was Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet. Here Hamlet quietly whispers to hi reflection in a lonesome courthall. The fact that he is literally talking to himself, and pointing a dagger toward himself is most effective. With the knife on his head the director truly shows how death is on Hamlet's mind.