To quote a fellow student, this version of Macbeth is exactly what Baz Lurhmann's Romeo + Juliet tried to be and failed. Here, the story of Macbeth is updated to 21st century Australia, featuring drug deals gone wrong, seductive witches, and laser guns.
To say that this is the best Shakespeare movie I've ever seen is an understatement. It completely blows everything else out of the water. The first fifteen minutes sucked me in like no other: witches spray painting blood onto statues in a chilling graveyard scene, Macbeth and company whipping out machine guns to the tune of the Devastations, and Macbeth encountering the witches while on a drug trip - it sounds absolutely ludicrous, and yet the movie is filmed so artistically that you can't help but want more.
One of the things that impressed me the most about this film and the actors in it was the dialogue. Oftentimes actors sound unbelievable when they recite lines from Shakespeare, as if they themselves have no idea what they're saying or they can't quite figure out which words they're supposed to emphasize. Sam Worthington in particular was excellent with his lines, delivering them perfectly and with a certain je ne sais quoi that reminded me at times of Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean. Gary Sweet as Duncan was also wonderful. Victoria Hill as Lady Macbeth was at times hit or miss, but she absolutely nailed the scenes in which her character was succumbing to madness.
Several people, when discussing this movie, have complained that the original dialogue has been modified. To be honest, this didn't really bother me - after all, the movie is set in modern times, and in order to maintain credibility it is only natural that some of the dialogue would have to be cut or changed. The one grievance I did have was concerning the famous "tomorrow" speech. I didn't mind its relocation to the end of the movie, where it was actually better placed than after Lady Macbeth's death. What slightly irritated me, however, was the fact that the last few lines of the speech were cut off, which was an unnecessary change.
Another topic of controversy is the role that the witches played. Turning them into seductresses was a clever move, especially since it contributed to the fantastic scene in which they speak to Macbeth for the first time, but the foursome with Macbeth was fairly gratuitous. I really didn't need to see the witches screaming "Macbeth! Oh, Macbeth!" in ecstasy while they climaxed in various positions; no, really, I didn't.
One last thing: for the most part, the violence in this movie is fairly non-graphic. However, Lady Macduff's death scene was extremely disturbing, and I would advise viewer discretion while watching it.
Overall, aside from a few minor irritations, this version of Macbeth is a winner. Not only does it throw Shakespeare into modern times, which is always a refreshing change, but it does so without coming across as over-the-top or just plain stupid (a trap its predecessor, Romeo + Juliet, didn't quite manage to escape). The actors are excellent, the alternating rock and trance music serves as a perfect soundtrack, and everything about it is entertainment at its best.
This is the movie they should be showing English classes when covering Macbeth - guaranteed, students will pay attention.
To say that this is the best Shakespeare movie I've ever seen is an understatement. It completely blows everything else out of the water. The first fifteen minutes sucked me in like no other: witches spray painting blood onto statues in a chilling graveyard scene, Macbeth and company whipping out machine guns to the tune of the Devastations, and Macbeth encountering the witches while on a drug trip - it sounds absolutely ludicrous, and yet the movie is filmed so artistically that you can't help but want more.
One of the things that impressed me the most about this film and the actors in it was the dialogue. Oftentimes actors sound unbelievable when they recite lines from Shakespeare, as if they themselves have no idea what they're saying or they can't quite figure out which words they're supposed to emphasize. Sam Worthington in particular was excellent with his lines, delivering them perfectly and with a certain je ne sais quoi that reminded me at times of Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean. Gary Sweet as Duncan was also wonderful. Victoria Hill as Lady Macbeth was at times hit or miss, but she absolutely nailed the scenes in which her character was succumbing to madness.
Several people, when discussing this movie, have complained that the original dialogue has been modified. To be honest, this didn't really bother me - after all, the movie is set in modern times, and in order to maintain credibility it is only natural that some of the dialogue would have to be cut or changed. The one grievance I did have was concerning the famous "tomorrow" speech. I didn't mind its relocation to the end of the movie, where it was actually better placed than after Lady Macbeth's death. What slightly irritated me, however, was the fact that the last few lines of the speech were cut off, which was an unnecessary change.
Another topic of controversy is the role that the witches played. Turning them into seductresses was a clever move, especially since it contributed to the fantastic scene in which they speak to Macbeth for the first time, but the foursome with Macbeth was fairly gratuitous. I really didn't need to see the witches screaming "Macbeth! Oh, Macbeth!" in ecstasy while they climaxed in various positions; no, really, I didn't.
One last thing: for the most part, the violence in this movie is fairly non-graphic. However, Lady Macduff's death scene was extremely disturbing, and I would advise viewer discretion while watching it.
Overall, aside from a few minor irritations, this version of Macbeth is a winner. Not only does it throw Shakespeare into modern times, which is always a refreshing change, but it does so without coming across as over-the-top or just plain stupid (a trap its predecessor, Romeo + Juliet, didn't quite manage to escape). The actors are excellent, the alternating rock and trance music serves as a perfect soundtrack, and everything about it is entertainment at its best.
This is the movie they should be showing English classes when covering Macbeth - guaranteed, students will pay attention.
Tell Your Friends