Hamlet Ghost Scenes

   The first film version of Hamlet, directed by Zeffireli, was my second favorite.  Gibson did a very good job in portraying Hamlet.  He was left in frustration and anger.  His astonishment at the situation leaves a suspenseful mark of what will he do next.  As for the ghost, the ghost was very good as well.  His deliverance of the message was with sadness.  As he talks, his eyes are dark and gloomy, the same as the background.  The night is a dark; full of sadness and sorrow.  The ghost coming towards Hamlet's face creates a suspenseful mood as well.  I would've liked to see the armor on the ghost and a little more flashback moments, but besides that, Zeffirelli did a very good job in constructing this scene.
   The construction of the ghost scene in the second film version; directed by Branagh, is my favorite of the three.  The ghost is just like how he's described in the the book.  He has his armor and his voice projects the message in the strongest way.  I see flashbacks in this version very frequently.  Hamlet is still mad at his uncle, for what he has been told, but he is left in more so a sorrow mood than an angry mood.  The ghost's eyes show darkness as well, but he doesn't really reach towards Hamlet's face.  This version was a personal favorite, but there are still few imperfects that could have been fixed.
   The third version of Hamlet which was directed by Almereyda was the worst in my  opinion.  Putting a story like Hamlet, in a time period such as this does not work.  The ghost looks nothing like a ghost, just a normal man in a suit.  Hawke does play Hamlet well, but he does not speak too much after the ghost scene, unlike the first two versions.  He is in tears, with nothing to really say.  The one thing that I commend the director on, is using the props in this version.  The handkerchief was very significant in the deliverance of the message.  The ghost groping Hamlet's hair also adds emphasis to the message, but I just think that the time period does not coincide with the message.  The mix of the old language with the New York time period, does not do it for me.
   My interpretation of Hamlet, would be a mix of the first and second versions.  I would like to see: the ghost from the second version, with more of the scary voice, mixed with Hamlet's rage from the first version.  Also, I'd like to see the flashbacks from the second version in there as well.  The third version is very good because the time period makes it kind of easier to understand, but the mix doesn't seem to come together in my opinion.  I think that all of the directors did a very good job in constructing their films, I'd use all three ideas and put them into one.  Twenty years from now you will see a new Hamlet by Quran Kelly-Battle