Kenneth Branaugh vs. Mel Gibson as Hamlet
             Hamlet, like every movie that is made after a book, could never be better than the book itself, and in this case the two versions of England's favorite bard, Shakespeare, has left Hollywood with much to do about interpreting his classic dramas. The atmosphere in which the play takes place gives more freedom to imagination. Even the main character is not whom people imagine when reading the book: shy and confused, while the movies present Hamlet as a more heroic character. Although both version have very good actors, neither can capture the glory of the book.
             Kenneth Branaugh and Mel Gibson as Hamlet, and Hamlet as written in the play share many similarities and differences. The movie starring Kenneth Branaugh is supposed to include every line of the original play, but actually there are some missing, like when the queen drinks the cup of wine and the king says, "It is the poisoned cup. It is too late." (Act 5, Scene 2,Line 318). In the movie, he rather stays silent and stares at her while she drinks. There are also a lot of scenes added to the movie that are not on the book, like the flashbacks in the character's memory. With all those mirror-lined ballrooms and white shiny floors at that splendorous castle, the movie seems to take place during the 1800's, while on the book the play takes place during the Middle Ages. Branaugh, as Hamlet, tries to show the audience that his character's mood is always changing, so he could be confused, mad, excited or humorous. While he is with Claudius, for example, and asked where Polonius's body!
             is, he answers to the king that it is "...at supper...in heaven...up the stairs into the lobby...he will stay till you come."(Act 4, Scene 3, line 20,37,43). Every time that Hamlet has a conversation with Claudius, he seems to say something humorous. In the book those same words do not seem to be comical. There are also many...