When I read this scene in the play, I remembered it as presented by Mel Gibson in his version of Hamlet: an incestuous mess, full of Freudian hints and Oedipal complexes. Now, my impression of this scene wasn't always geared this way- when I read it for the first time, I simply saw it as Hamlet yelling at his mother. Following the prompt, I found two different versions of the same scene: the first with Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet, and the second one with Mel Gibson (starting at 12:49). Someone had kindly compiled three different versions of the same scene, as seen in the link above.
In comparing the two, I found that the Branagh version focuses primarily on Hamlet's father and Claudius whereas the Gibson version focuses more on the relationship between Hamlet and his mother. Branagh really describes his father and uncle with detail and the camera shows the faces of the necklace portraits that Hamlet shows to his mother. As for the Gibson version, when the portraits of the fathers are shown side by side the camera does not focus on them in the way the first scene does- instead, it focuses on Hamlet and Gertrude as the more important part of the scene, ignoring the dead father and uncle/husband. The detailed comparison that Hamlet makes between his father and his uncle are also cut out of the dialogue, and more explicit action occurs between Hamlet and his mother such as thrusting and kissing. It greatly emphasizes that a relationship exists between Hamlet and Gertrude extending beyond the normal relationship of mother and son; they are cast into the role of lovers.
The appearance of Hamlet's father's ghost also takes on a wholly different meaning in both of the movies. In Branagh's version, the father is seen with respect and reverence. The whole room is full of light, and while it is easy for the viewers to see the ghost it is impossible for his mother to do so. Overall, this Hamlet comes off as more sane and rational than Gibson's portrayal. In Gibson's scene, the ghost is used as a device to break apart the incestuous kiss that takes place between Hamlet and his mother. The warning given to Hamlet now works in two ways: not only should Hamlet lose his rage and be kinder to his mother, but he should also be careful not to fall into temptation. He essentially falls to his uncle's level at this point, and the shame that he feels over the whole altercation is a tangible element. While the first movie seems to portray Hamlet at the end as a sane person who regrets his actions and is capable of making better decisions, the second movie only serves to show Hamlet unnerved and positively spooked.
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