What was with that ending? It didn't even show Hamlet's sword touching him, just hamlet running to impale him the Claudius running out screaming, then Hamlet dies. Then it tops it off by only showing the queen dead at the end. So what is the deal? Did Claudius survive in this version?
shareNo, indeed he didn't! That's ridiculous question IMO, sword touching doesn't need to be shown to know that Claudius has been killed.
shareI didn't think my question was that bad. It only shows Hamlet running towards Claudius to impale him, then Claudius running away screaming. I have read Hamlet before, and seen another version, but if I didn't know it ended with everyone dead apart from Fortinbras and Horatio, I would probably have thought Claudius got away. the last time he is shown on screen he is alive and running away.
Although most people I know didn't like this version, I thought it was ok. Although, I think the version with Nicol Williamson as Hamlet was better and the ending was more obvious.
Yes even I was a bit let down that they did not show Claudius definitely dying and in agony. The creepy hall in which he runs screaming is a very good setting though, I would have liked to see that scene prolonged. Branagh's version, showing Hamlet killing him with both sword and cramming down the poison down his throat satisfied our desire for vengeance better.
However, overall this version is much better than "ok". The bleak powerful imagery, the thunderous music, the expressionist use of lighting ad shadows, the mechanical doll imagery for Ophelia, garnered top marks from me.