Hamlet

I have seen many versions of Hamlet especially the Kenneth Branagh version and I have to say that I liked this version the best. I think it is because of its use of modern technologies and the fact that it takes place in modern times, it uses things that we can all relate to even though it still uses the language Shakespeare had written it in. I really liked how Almereyda made use of things like fax machines and e-mails to send messages, also how he uses times square and that giant screen to show certain things (Denmark Corporation). I also felt that I was better able to understand some of the dialogue with a ll the visuals that he used. As far as Almereyda's choice of actors I have to say that I thought they were good choices, as they were able to put their own sort of twist on the characters. At first I thought Bill Murray was going to make his character into one big joke, and when he didn't I was very surprised. To me he made the character a loving father just trying to look out for the best interest of his children. I also really enjoyed Liev Schreiber as Laertes. What I enjoyed most about this film was the way Hamlet was portrayed. There was definitely a different feel to Ethan Hawke's portrayal then what I have seen in the past. I liked that fact that he was a film student and that he was doing a documentary on his life, I felt that some of the clips you see on the TV screens helps you understand what he is seeing, what his perspective is. I found it very interesting that Almereyda chose to put the to be or not to be soliloquy in a blockbuster, right in the middle of that action section. I felt that, that scene gives you some insight to his character and whats he's thinking about at that time, whether to take action and seek revenge or not to. I also thought showing the Crow in the background of the scene was a great idea because that move is centered around seeking revenge for someone who was killed viciously just like Hamlet's father was.
Overall i really enjoyed this version of the film. I do have one question about the last scene that i wasn't able to figure out from other versions of the play that I have seen. In this film I felt that Gertrude knew that Claudius was going to poison Hamlet and took the wine to save him, was she supposed to know?