Customer Reviews

Macbeth [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Given the two leads, I had high hopes for this production, especially since its only two competitors--the Welles and the Polanski versions--butcher the text mercilessly; while another with Piper Laurie as Lady Macbeth has been universally panned by critics. Sorry to report that this low-budget, studio bound production (no harm in that per se) is a prosaic reading of the text with not a single Big Moment, as they say in theater. We can easily blame the director, but the Macduff was allowed now and then to raise his voice and pose a bit. Jayston's Macbeth was so low key that one had the feeling this was a dress rehearsal and the fire would come on opening night. We still need a good version of this play on video (the BBC version is nearly awful). Until then, this version can help some student who has a test the next day bone up on the plot.

This movie, in my opinion, remains the best rendition of Shakespeare's Macbeth, having seen other renditions of the same play. Except for a few lines that were omitted, all that one would expect or imagine after reading the text is protrayed in this powerful, well-filmed, well-acted and faithful-to-the-text movie. All the actors and actresses fared very well. Other renditions of Macbeth such as the one by Roman Polanski, though entertaining, are no match for this rendition of one of Shakespeare's classic plays. This version of Macbeth featuring Jayston and Hunt is a-must-watch for every fan of Shakespeare and lover of literature. You cannot get tired of watching it. In spite of the two or three omissions, I cannot but rate this version of Macbeth a five-star movie. I wished there was a DVD version of it!

I agree with another reviewer that pointed out that the scenery gave the feel of watching a stage production. But personally, I kind of liked it that way. After all, Shakespeare's plays were written for the stage. I guess it's a matter of preference.
So far, this is the best production of Macbeth I've seen. It really helped to get rid of a lingering bad taste that was left after watching the Orson Wells version a few days before. The acting in this one was far superior, the characters were well done, and, as stated before, very few alterations were made from the original play. This is definately the one to which I'll be going back to watch again.

I think this is a very well acted play. I like Jayston's charm--he's far more "real" than Brett is, for example. And, unlike the Brett version, all the minor actors are quite competent. The problem with this movie is in the production. The sets are fairly realistic, but one can't get over that it looks like it's done on a stage. The lighting is problematic, and at one point the shadow of the boom mic is visible in the background, for example. The outdoor scenes don't seem to be outdoors. There's entirely too much fake facial hair. Special effects are weak, even distracting. I wish someone would make a Macbeth that had good acting and looked good, too.

I am a huge Michael Jayston fan so this is a biased review, but he is excellent in this part. I enjoyed it very much. It's also fun to see "Catherine de Bourgh" from the A&E "Pride and Prejudice" when she was young. Other good actors too.

This version of Macbeth had the worst acting I have ever seen in any of the Macbeth plays. Some of the scenes were so [unreal] that you could see right through them. If you love this play and want to see a very good version of it, this is not the movie for you.

I think if Shakespeare were alive to see this version he would have been most insulted and disappointed at the acting.

I was very disappointed in this movie. I definitely would not recommend it to anyone. I would never rent or buy this version again.