WeekX-Comparison

               Oh how deserving of pity am I when the greater of to epics I must chose, the lesser of which will be tread upon by shoes, and the greater of which will be lifted up in my views.  There isn't any specific parts that cause me to see the Branagh version as superior to the Gibson version, but more that the projection as a whole is a more literal portrayal of Shakespeare's work and my personal favorite. For example, the 1st ghost scene in the Branagh version was all out; with a flying ghost full set of armor, a loud wispy voice that came from all directions, and a cold dead terrain with mist and continually cracking ground.  Whereas the Gibson version ghost didn't have any armor, was located in on the castle wall, and had a human sounding voice, however it often disappeared and reappeared to make up for not flying and they did a good job at making it look lifeless yet alive.  There are many other examples like this where the Branagh overcomes the Gibson, but I'll now go on to camera angle strategies in which I believe Branagh again has the upper hand.  Branagh starts with formal straight on shots, then goes to side shots, next he throws in a few 360's, then finally begins to rearrange the pattern, evolving your subconscious into a more engaged theme.  Gibson's is impressive as well, but is more of a modren "movie" style that dosn't feel like Shakespeare to me. So to be honest both are now in my top 50 movies list but Branagh just has more depth to it. In the end Gibson had some better points, like a better actress for Ophelia and dressing Hamlet crazy as well as having him act crazy, however Branaghs ability to make me realize somthing new about it every day wins out!  

week10-HELP ME!!!

              PROBLEM!!! I have checked both the Oxfords world's classics and everyone's favorite No fear Shakespeare and have not found the answer to thought question 7 week 10 in the section listed in BHOI(2,2,321-329).  So I'm not sure what to do because August didn't find it either.

Week VIII-Frist Impressions

             I love first impressions, They seem to always go horribly.  That is, until now.  Honestly I have barely tolerated Shakespeare up tell this point, but now I am really getting into it!  I think it was the witty/hilarious/rude/mean/cool/epic remarks Hamlet made when he was acting insane that pushed me over the edge, but the pile of body's at the end helped!

Week VIII-Hamlets psychological profile

            Many star characters in story's have been made with problems similar to Hamlet's.  Where a parent has been killed (though it's usually the mother) and the star gains an emotional lust for  revenge.  Hamlet's depression and withdrawal from the world after his father's death would have degraded his mental state substantially.  However because his mother marries, within two short months of his fathers death, Hamlet feels as though he's been abandoned!  This is clearly exemplified after his mother's wedding when he, in seclusion, exclaims,"How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable seem to me a the uses of this world!". I don't know about you but those sound like the words of an incredibly depressed person to me. 

Week VII-Politicions to shakespeare

                 Okay so let's get one thing straight. I don't believe that in the play Julius Caesar there are any heroes. None whatsoever, it's more like anti-hero vs anti-hero, and yes that is possible... I think. Also politicians bore me so I don't study them any more than I have to, meaning I don't have a lot to work with. So bare with me!
                I'll start with Antony, because he's my favorite character  (but that doesn't mean I think he's a hero).With my lack of knowledge I scrounged up Sam Brownback, at the beginning of his career, as my example. Both came from respectable occupations, Antony form the military Sam from law, making them universally likable. They were both able to accomplish what they did because their political power was underestimated by their advisories. Brutus fatally underestimated Antony's power of speech and the democrat's underestimated Brownback's efficiency at running a campaign (U.S Representative I think), Therefore letting them swoop in and take the prize.
              Next is Brutus whom I believe most relates to Obama (I Know everybody else will use him but hey, you don't run across these kind of idiots every day). I mean think about it, they're both hypocritical, self righteousness, and blame everyone else for their problems. However there are some major differences. For example, Brutus naively believes that he is doing his country a service (which is up for debat). Whereas recent investigations shows that Obama probably knows full well that he is dooming his!
               I would do Caesar but I think he might just be too much of a one of a kind for me. That's all I have for now.  If I come up with anymore I'll be sure to share.

Week VIII-"Yes I did!" "No you didn't!" "Yes I did!" "No you didn't!"

              For a politician Brutus isn't very good at understanding human behavior. This is shown when, during a petty argument with Cassius, Brutus bluntly points out all of Cassius' failings. Then Cassius, whom by this point is completely distraught and on the verge of tears, states,"You  love me not." and Brutus even agrees with him saying," I do not like your faults."
              This here is a wonderful example of two very good friends that have been in politics too long. Having been hardened by war and the death of his wife Brutus has tried to emotionally detach himself from his life. Which forces him to view friendship as an obligation to tell others their faults. Where as Cassius, through the trials of war has become an emotional wreck. So he is reaching out for a steady friend who won't judge him. Now it all comes down to a small misunderstanding in which they don't agree and BOOM an argument erupts. Though monetarily having different views on how they should treat each other they eventually get over it and return to business.

Week VII-The Fear Of Death

                     "Cowards die many times before theer deaths." More philosophical words have rarely been spoken. Caesar, I believe, was far from a coward. He's proven that from the countless wars he's fought. It would seem that Caesar has an understanding that death,"Will come when it will come." even though I'm sure he didn't intend for it to come quite so soon. Perhaps had Brutus heard Caesar say this he wouldn't have thought his plot so liberating for both Rome and Caesar. And yes Brutus did believe that he had done Caesar a favor. He Revealed that when he called himself and the conspirator's,"...friends, that have abridged his(Caesar's) time of fearing death.".