Intro for Hamlet film comparison essay:

There certainly is no one way to depict William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” on the “big screen,” as there have been over seven versions of the films, including ones in which Kenneth Branagh and Derek Jacobi star as the grieving Hamlet.  While both of these films actually cast Branagh, this is the only similarity between the two versions of the film. The differences between these version comes down to more than just the fact that Branagh’s is in color and Jacobi’s is not.  Both directors of the film made decisions, some less obviously seen than others, in order to promote the manner in which they depicted the life and toils of Hamlet and his family. Again, this means that it is solely up to the director to decide how he or she might want to present or adapt Shakespeare’s creations.  A perfect example of an adaptation would be Ethan Hawke’s version of the film which took place in a modern metropolitan area that had sophisticated technology.  In the Derek Jacobi and Kenneth Branagh versions of Hamlet, there are certain directorial choices regarding the setting, tone, and dispositions of Hamlet, Claudius, and Gertrude, which creates two identities for the film.  Branagh's take on Hamlet focuses more on the modern and contemporary aspects, while Jacobi's depicts a more conservative portrayal of Hamlet.