1. Read the two existing reviews above and compare/ contrast. What things do you agree or disagree with, after having seen the film?
Compare and Contrast:
Roger Ebert and Mike D'Angelo had very different yet similar perspectives on the movie Macbeth, made in 1971. Both authors agreed that Polanski directed Macbeth to be a gruesome film which was more extreme than the play. However, they disagreed about whether the theme of tragedy was present in the movie. Ebert claimed that the movie didn't showcase the theme of tragedy and was instead overshadowed by the murders. On the other side, D'Angelo argued that there was a theme of tragedy using monologues to represent the mind. He believes that the two sides compliment each other because the bloodshed shows how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth was punished by their poor decisions.
Although I originally agreed with Ebert, after thinking, I agree with D'Angelo's perspective on the movie. At first I couldn't see much tragedy in the movie because of the gruesome scenes. However, I now believe that these scenes is what made the movie a tragedy. The murders and emotions that followed shows how a mistake can haunt you. Macbeth allowed himself to become greedy and power-hungry. This mistake lead to the killings of people and a guilty conscience. Even though I do agree with both authors about there being too many added bloody scenes, it did help to deliver a message of tragedy.
2. What kinds of things could the medium of cinema provide that a stage production could not? What are the disadvantages of a film version? Comment on use of costumes, sound/music, lighting, character appearance, and locations / sets.
There is advantages and disadvantages to acting in a film compared to acting in a play. Aspects like costume changes, scenery changes and lighting is very important in both movies and plays. However, in movies there is time to make the necessary changes to match the scene because it is taped in scenes. For plays, there isn't as many opportunities because it is live. Costumes, scenery and lighting plays a major role in portraying the story to the audience. Without these aspects, the audience could be left feeling confused. Also, in movies, it is made clear what is a monologue and what is a line because monologues are recorded as a voice-over. I think that the most drastic disadvantage of a film version is not having the story acted live. Performing live creates emotions and a raw ambiance which is hard to replicate in a film. In my opinion, the storyline is more impactful in a play because they're acting it out live.
3. What artistic liberties did Polanski take, as you compare the written play with his version?
Mentioned above, Polanski used his personal experience and pain, adding more bloody scenes than what was written in the play. If I hadn't been reading the play while watching the movie, I would have thought that Macbeth was a villain and that tragedy wasn't a theme. This is because I was more focus on the blood (even though this is an important factor too) than on the tragedy. Shakespeare had intended for Macbeth to be a tragic playwright. Also, Polanski ends the movie by having Duncan's son, the new king, go to the witches. This is an added scene by Polanski.
4. What do you think went well with the film? What would you have changed if you had been the director? Would you defend Polanski's decisions to make this so gory?
Like I said before, I think that the play was balanced between showing the bloodshed and the tragedy, as said by D'Angelo. However, I felt conflicted with Polanski's decision to make the movie gory because even though it told an important message of the consequences of power and greed, the gory scenes took away from the tragic theme Shakespeare intended for this play. I had to think a lot to understand the tragedy in the movie. Even though the message was there, I think that it was hidden behind the gory scenes. I would eliminate the level or the amount of scenes of bloodshed. Although I agree that this play has to have murderous deeds, there should be a balance so it doesn't overshadow the overall theme.
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