I've been lacking inspiration lately and with exam season looming I know that like myself, all students need a little motivation to get revising. It can be difficult to know where to start planning your revision, especially when faced with some of your first exams at University or College. This is just a quick selection of some of the quotations that either inspire me to get organised or occasionally make me feel overly melodramatic,as though 'If I don't work now and do well, I'm going nowhere'. So either way these quotes make me think of the bigger picture, why I need to work and help me get my brain in gear. Coming from a wide range of different people and showing the Universal acknowledgment that hard work pays off, I hope these sayings serve you well.
1) 'The three great essentials to achieve anything worth while are : Hard work, Stick-to-itiveness, and Common Sense.' - Thomas Alva Edison, American Businessman and Inventor, Creator of the electric light bulb, the motion picture camera and the phonograph. (11/2/1847-18/10/1931)
2) 'I take pride in working very hard. You need to understand that hard work doesn't instantly pay off. My career grew gradually and taught me a lesson every step of the way.' - Tremaine Aldon Neverson a.k.a Trey Songz, American singer-songwriter, producer and actor, Nominated for 3 Grammy Awards, Released 6 successful albums since 2005. (28/11/1984-Present)
3) 'It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.' - William Henry 'Bill' Gates, Entrepreneur and Computer Programmer. Co-founder of Microsoft, Wealthiest man in the world 1995-2014 (28/10/1955- Present)
4) 'I don't pity any man who does hard work worth doing. I admire him. I pity the creature who does not work, at whichever end of the social scale he may regard himself as being.' - Theodore Roosevelt Jr, 26th President of the United States, Politician, Author and Historian. (27/10/1858-6/01/1919)
5) I know the sun will rise in the morning, that there is a light at the end of every tunnel.' - Michael Morpurgo OBE, Poet, playwright and author. Children's Laureate: 2003-2005. (5/10/1943-Present)
6) 'Just believe in yourself. Even if you don't, pretend that you do and, at some point, you will.' - Venus Ebony Starr Williams, Professional Tennis Player, Former World No.1, 5 time Wimbledon Singles Champion, 5 times Wimbledon Doubles Champion and winner of 4 Olympic Gold Medals. (17/06/1980)
7) 'I think that anything that you do, any accomplishment that you make, you have to work for...It's not just a cliche.' - Cameron Michelle Diaz, Actress & Model, Four Golden Globe Nominations, Won New York Film Critics Circle award for Best Actress. (30/08/1972-Present)
Good luck with whatever you need motivation for and I hope at least one of these quotes resonates with you and here's an additional quote, just because I feel like it!
'Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'! - Audrey Hepburn
J x
Monday 30 March 2015
Monday 16 March 2015
Film Review: Hamlet (1996)
Hello stranger,
I know this film is nearly 20 years old and already has plenty reviews but it's a piece of Uni coursework that I've had to do, so I thought I might edit it a bit and post it here. Just in case there is any other poor English student out there in need of a rough guide or inspiration, not that it's any good!
I know this film is nearly 20 years old and already has plenty reviews but it's a piece of Uni coursework that I've had to do, so I thought I might edit it a bit and post it here. Just in case there is any other poor English student out there in need of a rough guide or inspiration, not that it's any good!
Hamlet
The story of Hamlet
is one of the most well know tragedies in the English speaking world and
perhaps the most well known film version of this play, is the 1996 edition produced by Colombia
Pictures. Written, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh as the title
protagonist, this film is recognised for its strict adherence to the original
plot of Shakespeare’s masterpiece. Unlike other screen versions, this film excels
in its attention to detail and precise scripting.
It is the first unabridged theatrical film version of one of Shakespeare’s most
noted works and as a result its running length is just over four hours. It is
arguably one of the best screen adaptations of Hamlet, as it builds upon the
standards set by previous versions in terms of cast, technology and
presentation.
Prior to Branagh’s adaptation the longest film version was the production
of Hamlet in 1980, with Derek Jacobi
in the title role. Coincidentally, Jacobi returns in the 1996 production not as
the protagonist but instead as a suitably venomous Claudius. Branagh’s Hamlet received four academy award
nominations, demonstrating its powerful hold over audiences. Furthermore the
film features an impressive cast; including a young Kate Winslet as the
beautifully despairing Ophelia, Julie Christie as Gertrude, Richard Briers as
Polonius and Robin Williams as Osric, who provides a brief yet veritable moment
of comic relief and familiarity. Each character is strongly presented, but not
so overwhelmingly that any could over power Branagh’s desperately mad Hamlet.
It is difficult to compare this film to other
productions of the same play, except maybe the previous one, as the
technological advancements were profound and allowed Branagh to create a much
more realistically corrupt Denmark. Additionally earlier productions, such as
the 1948 portrayal of Hamlet by Laurence Olivier, seem much less dramatically
coherent purely because Olivier was expected to tell the same story as Branagh
in less than half the time. Unfortunately, due to the problem of timing
Olivier’s film omits the minor, yet crucial characters of Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern. In contrast Branagh’s account of the play is commendably
accurate, including every single line of the original play for authenticity. Crucially,
unlike other adaptations Branagh places emphasis on the fact that the tragic
nature of the play is not intended to just show Hamlet’s personal tragedy, but
also to demonstrate the disorder in the country of Denmark. Contextually, the
play Hamlet is very representative of
Elizabethan England at the time it was written, as the disorder plaguing the
country and lack of stability echoes the uncertainty which followed the death
of the ‘Virgin Queen’.
One of the
best things about Branagh’s adaptation of Hamlet
when compared to others is the way the setting is updated to the 19th
century. The change in setting makes this film much more recognisable, as it is
removed from our lives and yet not so much so that the decor and costumes lose
their interest. Furthermore, the extravagant costumes are much more at home in
a later setting, as they echo the grandeur of the recent past, although
admittedly are occasionally distracting. The fact that the plays setting can be
changed in such a way proves that Shakespeare’s plays are truly timeless.
One of the film’s strongest points is its awe
inspiring ‘lavish colour’[6] and set design, which
simultaneously dazzles audiences as well as providing a suitably dramatic back
drop. Branagh’s changing of the setting of Hamlet
to the late 19th century allows for a much wider use of colour and
rich visuals, which combine with the drama of the plot itself to create a truly
dynamic and enthralling film. The most prominent example of Branagh’s
impeccable use of set design to exemplify emotional meaning is during the ‘to
be or not to be’[7] speech. The speech is
delivered in a hallway of mirrors in
Elsinore Castle,alluding to the ever present theme of
appearance and reality in the play. The mirrors themselves serve as a visual
metaphor in this case and this is why the famous soliloquy is delivered
directly to one of the mirrors, while being secretly watched by Claudius and
Polonius.
Overall
Kenneth Branagh’s production and representation of Hamlet are arguably two of
his most notable achievements, having created a gripping and enthralling
experience. This screen adaptation finds its strength over others in its
incredible accuracy, and its beautiful presentation in terms of cinematography,
costume and set design. The duration
of this film allows the character of Hamlet to be explored in full by Branagh,
who does so impeccably. Branagh’s impressive performance creates a character
that does not need explaining, because he is able to ‘live, breath, feel and
die.’[8]
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