Polanski's Macbeth

[captainmeme]

Hey, I've just been watching Macbeth by Roman Polanski in English, and I was wondering whether anyone else has watched it and what they thought of it. It was a very interestining film (in my opinion) but a bit over the top with the violence.

 

[Tonyblack]

I blame that Shakespeare bloke. Macbeth is practically a killing spree.

 

[Teppic]

I vaguely remember watching that at school during my GCSE years. I can't say I remember enough about it to comment though.

 

[Quatermass]

I also remember watching it in high school (we were studying Macbeth, although I actually got the movie from my local video store). It was...somewhat eye-opening.

 

[The Mad Collector]

I really enjoyed it, seriously atmospheric and lets face it 'The Scottish Play' is a bit over the top itself, not as bad as Titus Andronicus but still pretty gory if done well.

 

[deldaisy]

I also remember watching it in high school (we were studying Macbeth, although I actually got the movie from my local video store). It was...somewhat eye-opening.

No movie can compare with seeing Macbeth performed in the theatre... more atmospheric....

 

[captainmeme]

I can't say I didn't enjoy some of the gory bits... But the death of young Siward was a bit... Gruesome...

 

[Quatermass]

I also remember watching it in high school (we were studying Macbeth, although I actually got the movie from my local video store). It was...somewhat eye-opening.

No movie can compare with seeing Macbeth performed in the theatre... more atmospheric....

I've not seen that many performances in the theatre. A couple of them were in high school. The Importance of Being Earnest and Mrs Warren's Profession were forgettable, as far as I, the teenaged Quatermass, was concerned, although I did like The Merchant of Venice.

However, I have also seen a decently done performance of Maskerade done at a Gold Coast theatre, a rather more hard to praise performance of Spamalot at another theatre on the Gold Coast (I had issues more with Spamalot itself rather than the actors' performances), and a surprisingly entertaining pantomime of Jack and the Beanstalk in Bath. I watched it mostly because Colin Baker was in it, and (I know I've said this before) you haven't heard anything until you heard him sing Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

BTW, nice Mr Bean Avatar, Del.

 

[Dotsie]

I thought this was a great production of Macbeth, but I would disagree that plays always have to be seen in the theatre to be at their best. There are some great film adaptations, and some crappy ones, just as there are theatre productions (and you can watch the films again). There was a tv adaptation on over christmas that was really good, can't remember the director though.

Polanski's wife was killed shortly before this film, which probably explains it's darker tone.