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DVD Macbeth / McKellen, Dench, Royal Shakespeare Company
Two of England's greatest actors, Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench, electrify in this lean, stripped-down production of Shakespeare's darkest tragedy. In the wake of a battle, the Scottish warrior Macbeth (McKellen, Gods and Monsters, Lord of the Rings) receives a prophecy from a trio of witches: He shall be king. When fate doesn't unfold quickly enough, Macbeth and his even more ambitious wife (Dench, Shakespeare in Love, Iris) decide to give it a push. McKellen sweats anxiously and oozes a creeping lust for power, while Dench is hypnotically vicious from her first moment. For audiences used to their film careers, this grand pair will seem young as pups (this TV movie is from 1979, adapted from an acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company production)--but that only gives them an added edge of sex and vigor. Extras include the older McKellen thoughtfully commenting on the play and this classic production. --Bret Fetzer
Review(s): DVD Macbeth / McKellen, Dench, Royal Shakespeare Company
Reccomended for the Serious Scholar
This is a reasonably good production of Macbeth, and brings together a wonderful cast. Unfortunately, Trevor Nunn's production is directed more towards Shakespearian scholars than to average viewers. His minimalist set, discombobulated costuming and the darkened atmosphere of the play will be understood by dramatists who see a reflection of the play's dark, brooding symbolism. On the other hand, the average viewer may simply find such things jarring.
McKellen is an excellent Macbeth, and Dench's psychoses are masterfully acted. However, the two do not play well of of each other - McKellen's response to Dench seems forced, and she does not act well in her role as a seductress. My advice is to turn off the screen, but leave the speakers on - the actors deliver their lines with polished elegance, and the beauty of Shakespeare's language is heightened by their delivery. However, if you want a good Macbeth that the average man can really enjoy, I reccomend Polanski's bloody thriller.
One of my favorite movies
I mean it; this is not only the best filmed Shakespeare adaptation I have ever seen (and I've seen a LOT of them) but a wonderful film. McKellen and Dench are, well, McKellen and Dench, and even the supporting cast is outstanding, with a particularly good performance by the fellow in the role of Malcolm. The minimalist, unobtrusive costumes and set are functional without distracting and allow the viewer to pay attention to the acting.
Macbeth as Shakespeare would have seen it
If you require elaborate scenery, costumes, or special affects to appreciate Shakespeare, then this production is not for you. If all that you require is outstanding acting to bring Shakespeare to life, then you'll likely enjoy this production. The performances of Ian McKellen and Judi Dench are outstanding. Judi Dench's depiction of Lady Macbeth's descent into madness is riveting.
Acting aside, the great thing about this production, is that it presents Macbeth in much the same way as it would have been seen by William Shakespeare. Some comment on the stripped down nature of this production, without appreciating that in the original productions there was virtually no set and little in the way of costumes. Oh, and no women. Far from being an esoteric adaptation of Macbeth, this version is much closer to what theatre goers would have witnessed in Elizabethan times.
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