Comment below with your video and be sure to include the video link. I have completed a sample as the first comment.
Above is a video of "To Be or Not To Be." Your job is to find another video and respond to one other post. See handout from class for specific guidelines.
Comment below with your video and be sure to include the video link. I have completed a sample as the first comment.
28 Comments
Mrs.DeFelice SAMPLE
1/26/2018 08:11:04 am
In this version, performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the tone is a serious one. Hamlet seems to be deep in thought and does not move much around the stage. This is emphasized by the harsh sound of Hamlet's footsteps as he enters the stage.Additionally, Hamlet's silhouette at the opening of the soliloquy does not allow the audience to immediately see Hamlet's face but focus on his voice. Therefore, we hear his thoughts before we see the expression on his face. It is only after we are halfway into the soliloquy that his features are revealed, as if he is being enlightened by some understanding.This version is different than I would picture it because it is so calm, so quiet. If we are thinking that Hamlet is slowly losing his sanity, this soliloquy would prove otherwise. While it does show that Hamlet is in his head (he speaks in fragments, as in stream of consciousness, saying things as they come to mind), it does not have the rushed, jumbled, harsh sound that Hamlet previously has when speaking to Polonius (as in Act II, s.4). This version shows Hamlet as a deeply thoughtful, but pained, man who is trying to understand life. (204 words)
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Alexys
1/27/2018 03:48:55 pm
With the performance of the soliloquy that I had envisioned I imagined less walking around. More of just speaking to himself/ the audience. With this I found that the footsteps had almost built more tension than the music in mine. I would disagree about the silhouette because I think in the first lines of the soliloquy it is important to see the actors face and feelings of his or her tiredness because of the fact that he doesn't want to live any longer. These things did bring new things to light but I don't think I would prefer this one over the one I had envisioned,
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Ava
1/26/2018 11:09:50 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV4fF3rqWqQ
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Alexys
1/27/2018 03:35:17 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muLAzfQDS3M
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Sydney
1/28/2018 08:05:28 am
At the beginning, I felt that Lester was very detached while saying, "To be or not to be.." but this does well with showing the emotion mindset that Hamlet is in. He does very well with showing the true darkness that lie within his current way of thinking (do I commit suicide and leave the world, or do I stay and suffer). The way he carries himself within his voice is amazing, truly showing the lack of caring and the tiredness within Hamlet right at this moment (I also love how the shadows really play into the emotions and air surrounding Hamlet as he speaks). The shadow that covers half of his face plays well nearing the end of his speech, showing the separation of his sensible thinking (the half that is in the light) and the mindset surrounded by dark thinking (the half that is in the dark). His voice also does well with showing how even though he is being seen as this hysterical and crazy prince, he remains calm (even when his mind is thinking of suicide).
Caitlin
1/28/2018 10:34:04 am
I would agree with your interpretation of Adrian Lester's performance, I feel that he did a good job of showing the way Hamlet felt. I felt that they way he shows no emotion is good for the scene because it shows exactly how Hamlet was so mentally exhausted. The pitch blank in the background really shows how Hamlet is alone both physically and mentally almost as if he is within his own conscience. Although this is very different from my video, I feel like this did a better job of capturing the sadness and aloneness Hamlet is feeling.
Ava
1/28/2018 06:15:46 pm
I feel that Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal of To Be or Not to Be is very accurate to how I imagine Hamlet being at this point in the play. He starts off very quiet and one can tell that he is very emotional. His voice is distraught and he is alone on stage. Cumberbatch does a great job showing the audience that Hamlet is seriously questioning whether it is better to be alive or dead. He performs the soliloquy sitting down but uses quite a few different arm movements which shows the audience that he is in a great deal of agony. The director's choice of setting, props and costume really add to the meaning of the video. Cumberbatch is pictured wearing a British Redcoat Private Infantry uniform. He also seems to be pictured in a war office of some sort. The room has dim and dreary lighting which helps set the mood of the piece. Benedict gestures to his neck several times throughout the soliloquy which helps his audience understand how upset Hamlet is. Also, the fact that he gestures to his neck so many times could mean he is having trouble breathing. He also has a “noose” around his neck. Could these gestures towards his neck foreshadow something to come? (211 words)
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Austin
1/28/2018 06:32:05 pm
Benedict Cumberbatch does a very good job on portraying how Hamlet feels at this point in the play, especially with his voice rising to be louder. It also makes an interesting point in whether an actor when doing this scene should show themselves as slow, calm, and deliberative, such as Branagh, or much more emotional and loud such as Cumberbatch. I do prefer seeing Hamlet in a black outfit, to fit his melancholy and thoughts at this point though. Along with this I felt as if he could have used a prop for the bodkin line, to more so imply his suicidal nature at this point. Even so I found Cumberbatch's interpretation to be a interesting alternative and shows how different interpretations of the soliloquy can be.
Sydney
1/28/2018 07:53:18 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf2TpWsPvgI&index=33&list=WL&t=12s
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Abbie
1/28/2018 02:21:43 pm
I agree with how you said Gibson gives a great portrayal of hamlet’s inner despair. I personally had imagined a much more distraught and confused Hamlet, but I liked this version of the soliloquy, because it gives a good visual of how desperate Hamlet is feeling. When he is talking about death and sleep he gazes at the skeletons with a kind of longing and admiration that makes the audience see the depths his depression. I liked how different this version was from all the ones that I viewed the main difference being all the visuals.
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Caitlin
1/28/2018 10:53:57 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OJtjUJ33vA
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Tristan Johnson
1/28/2018 04:06:25 pm
I watched this and I would agree with pretty much everything. The actor does a very good job portraying the craziness Hamlet is experiencing at the moment but I do feel he is a bit over dramatic at times, which you said. For some reason this guys teeth/smile really bugged me. I also like how their are very few props and actions and it makes the viewer focus on what the actor is saying, very similar to mine.
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Halley
1/28/2018 11:10:48 pm
This video is a lot different from the way I interpreted the soliloquy, but I wouldn’t say I disagreed with the performance. Even though I pictured it differently, I really liked how animated the actor was because it helped portray how frustrated Hamlet is, as well as how he’s going mad. I especially liked his face when he pulled out the sword because he looked crazy in that moment, which was fitting since he’s considering suicide. Overall I really liked this performance and it helped give me a different perspective on this scene.
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Bailey
1/28/2018 12:41:35 pm
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ay2I7py3Og
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Georgia
1/28/2018 06:24:08 pm
I agree what you said about this video how it portrays the gloomy effect to show that Hamlet is actually depressed. The darkness surrounding the actor and the melancholy looks on his face help portray that. I however, don't like how much Hamlet moves from room to room because I didn't picture Hamlet doing that. Overall, I think his video is similar to what I pictured this scene would go.
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Ava
1/28/2018 06:31:15 pm
I disagree with the actor's interpretation of this piece. His voice was very monotone and had little emotion. I feel that Hamlet would've have been a lot more upset than this actor portrayed him to be. This video didn't change my original perception of this piece. One thing I did like was that the camera angle was very close to the actor's face.
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Abbie
1/28/2018 01:54:57 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsrOXAY1arg
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Bailey
1/28/2018 05:22:52 pm
I agree with everything you said, this video truley shows how Hamlet is alone and empty inside. I liked how the director placed had placed the actor on the stage and didn’t really have him walking around into other rooms. The actor did a good job of portraying Hamlets true feelings in this video. Also not having that many props made it easier to pay attention to Haley and his thoughts.
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Lauren
1/28/2018 10:03:49 pm
I agree! The lack of props nicely emphasised how alone Hamlet is at this moment, both physically and emotionally. I felt as if this actor did a beautiful job in portraying the emotion of the scene. It actually gave me goosebumps.
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Tristan Johnson
1/28/2018 03:55:12 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA_xYXN9Lp0
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Samuel
1/29/2018 03:11:41 am
The way you noted the importance of the 'to be or not to be' in the introduction was an element that I had completely overlooked until now. It made me rethink my choice for a video as well, as with mine the introduction to the one I watched was rather drab. The one thing that I preferred to my video over yours, on the other hand, was way the rest of it was delivered. The way that Tennant delivered his words and looked directly into the camera at times made it slightly uncomfortable for me.
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Elizabeth
1/28/2018 05:20:41 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ks-NbCHUns
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Georgia
1/28/2018 06:10:20 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjuZq-8PUw0
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Elizabeth
1/28/2018 06:58:12 pm
I really like this version, it has a lot of visual storytelling. Since a good portion of the video is the shot where you see him and his reflection, there is significance in this. It's like it's showing the two sides of Hamlet that are at war with each other in this speech. He's staring right at this other side of him, deciding what he should do, whether he should take his own life. Like you said, this really shows how unsure he his. The shot where he has drawn the dagger and is pointing at his reflection is so powerful. It is literally showing him "fighting" himself, making it look like his two selves are about to engage in a knife fight. The two men observing Hamlet at this point also point out how Hamlet is going mad, they look at him like he's crazy.
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Austin
1/28/2018 06:17:41 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjuZq-8PUw0
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Samuel
1/28/2018 07:06:17 pm
https://youtu.be/1Up-oGfiosE
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Lauren
1/28/2018 09:58:50 pm
https://youtu.be/--tWffBTyqM
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Halley
1/28/2018 10:52:37 pm
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ay2I7py3Og
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