It is incredible to me that such a simple story line can be so gripping. We basically have family that hides behind curtains to see what people are up to. The difference between Hamlet and many of the stories we typically appreciate today is where the complexity is found. I see a reasonable simple story-line, but complex characterization. It's a shame that the effects considered special in our time are computer graphics.
As I have read and listened to Hamlet's ideas and feelings, I have been more pulled into this play then many books I have read and movies I have seen.
It is interesting to talk about the simplicity of the plot. Do you think it seems simple to us because we have seen so many movies and TV shows constructed around that basic plot? Or are they really that simple?
ReplyDeleteHave you ever seen the movie "North by Northwest"? It's considered one of the greatest movies of all time, but I would guess most people of our generation would see it and think it's really boring. They would think it's boring because it doesn't have all the cool special effects, explosions and gadgets that James Bond movies have. They wouldn't realize that if it weren't for "North by Northwest," no matter how simple it may seem, there wouldn't be any James Bond movies today.
About the simplicity of Hamlet: So far, the plot line has been pretty simple, but it does get a little more complicated as the story goes on. I also think that it probably seems very simple when you compare it to all of the similar modern movies and TV shows.
ReplyDeleteAnthony: Where have you found those film versions of Hamlet? Did you just rent them from the library or something? I think that would be a good option for me, but I don't know where to start looking for them.
That is an intriguing comment about the play versus stories today, it made me think. In my point of view we still have these intricate stories, but you have to dig to find them. Interestingly enough the movie "Across the Universe" was one with a lot of symbolism.
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ReplyDeleteYeah, maybe in order for movies to be original these days, they have to be more and more abstract, like "Across the Universe." I personally didn't like "Across the Universe" that much, because it seemed to me like a weak plot based on a few hit Beatles songs. The skeleton is good, of course. Who can go wrong with The Beatles? But there wasn't a lot of flesh on that skeleton. Anyway, maybe if I had watched it with the intention of enjoying the symbolism, I would have got more out of it.
ReplyDeleteI looked up the actual act and scene number in youtube and found a whole lot of individual scenes to browse through, some terrible, some good.
ReplyDeleteTry that Lauren.
I wish you would have delved more into that little comment you made there about computer graphics! Being a film major, I feel like I should support the influence of technology etc etc but really, stories are only stories because of characters that we love. or characters we love to hate, even. The essence of story-telling comes down to connecting and understanding with the characters and the situations they are put in that make them act the way they do.
Basically, films offer a lot that theatre can't and theatre offers a whole different dynamic incomparable to film.
Lauren, I also watched a couple different versions of Hamlet, both of which I found on Netflix (a very useful source if you have an account). If not. . . youtube might be an option?
ReplyDeleteLauren, the LRC has alot of great productions of Shakespeare's play. For most of his plays they will have several different performances. It's been great to watch while I read.
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