To be or not to be...

Olivier's
In this version of Hamlet's soliloquy the setting is what really seperates it from the other versions.  With Hamlet being on the cliff the scene seems more dramatic than the others.  It adds to his predicament and whether he should commit suicide or not.  It also adds a bit of suspense because if he doesn't kill himself with the dagger then he could just jump off the cliff and into the water.  As for the music in the background everytime that the scene got more serious then the music would get louder.

Zeffirelli's
Making the decision to film this part of the play/movie in the catacombs is a brilliant idea.  The whole point of "to be or not to be..." is deciding between life and death and what better place than where a whole bunch of dead corpses are.  Throughout the speech Hamlet's tone and speed when he speaks keeps changing.  Having him change the speeds when he speaks adds to the drama and intensity of this scene because it has the viewers paying even more attention.  There was one point in the end when Hamlet seems to be speaking to other worldly creatures where the director changes the lighting and that also adds to the all around product.

Branaugh's
This version is the one which stays closest to the way in which Shakespeare wrote it.  It takes place in the castle and even though this is supposed to be a soliloquy Claudius and Polonius are hiding behind the mirror listening.  In this scene it seems as though Hamlet knows they are listening and that adds to the suspense for the audience, especially if they have never read Hamlet.  The music in this version matches exactly what Hamlet is going through and feeling, it's both tense and suspenseful.

Almeryda's
Of all the versions I feel that this is the weakest.  It must be very difficult changing this scene and modernizing it, but I feel as though they could have done a little more with this scene.  He seemed a little too sane in this scene to be contemplating whether or not to kill himself.  One of the positives was that his voice was smooth and seemed steady displaying that Hamlet had to sense of what he was to do.

There are so many versions of this play because directors envision different things occurring.  Just one thing like the background music could be changed and it would give the movie a whole different feel from others.  I think that there are so many versions in the world because different people translate this play differently.  This play can be interpreted several ways because of all the ambiguities, like whether or not Hamlet was madly in love with Ophelia before the play began.  Of all the versions Zeffirelli's is my favorite. Usually my favorite is by Branaugh, but the main difference for me was the level of suspense and intensity, especially with where the scene was filmed (the catacombs).