The video below is an ultra-modern version of Macbeth produced in 2005 starring James MacEvoy of "Wanted" fame. Watch the video and comment on whether you would prefer this version or a more conventional dramatization of the play.
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I think I would prefer a more conventional version of this scene rather that this modernized version because the conventional one portrays more of what Shakespeare had in mind when he wrote and produced the play. The 2005 video stretches the idea too much and looses its focus while still keeping the play in mind. You can't recreate history and use modern day items in place of the actual events, it just doesn't have the same effect as a traditional play would. Shakespearean plays need to be kept the way the first were in order to get the actual message across clear.
ReplyDeleteI like how someone had the idea to make a modernised version, because as a playwright I think Shakespeare would love to see his work carried on and twisted to fit a modern audience, as long as it kept the core intact.
ReplyDelete"Billy" Banquo appears sitting at the table, and manages to disrupt the dinner, and rattle "Joe" Macbeth. The scene has been adapted to a modern audience, while still having what Shakespeare had in mind.
While a modernization of a well-known historic play seems like a good idea, it really doesn't fit well with this play at all. It twists the idea too much to get an understanding of the actual script, and begins to confuse the audience as to what actually happened and if it is any different at all. We still need historic plays this day in age so we don't begin to think what we have in this time is what was always there, and it will happen if we continue to use these modernized re-enactments as references.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a good way of getting Shakespeare's original idea across but in a more modernized way. However, a message on a cell phone doesn't seem as though it would haunt someone as much seeing the ghost of an old friend sitting at your dinner table. A more conventional version would have had a better effect on the viewer if you wanted to get a grasp on the actual play.
ReplyDeleteI think its really cool that someone made a modernized version of the play. It still seems to give off the same story line as what shakespeare wrote but in a more updated way. I think though that for a play like Macbeth it really does need a more conventional type movie to really understand the original story that shakespeare intended it to be. However, i think that for someone who has not read the play, they would most likely enjoy the modernized version. In my opinion though, the conventional version is most suited for Macbeth.
ReplyDeleteEmily K.
I thought that was horrible. God awful acting was just to overdone it was boring to watch didnt feel like shake spear. Of course i would rather see the one in the play at least then I dont have to watch this garbage again like chirs said, a text message that haunts someone , ehhh abit to stupid for me ill have to pass on this one.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Greg on this one. I didn't like the acting. I thought that he displayed a feeling of anger and hatred instead of fear when he saw Banquo/Billy's ghost. From what I seen there, the cell phone part could have been omitted because it didn't seem relevant to the scene. In the clip, I wouldn't have known that the call from from Banquo without the title stating that it was from Banquo. But there was no need for the cell phone because the atmosphere should have been one of fear when he see's the ghost, but adding in the part with Macbeth/Joe getting mad, and especially right before the scene where he is suppose be terrified took away from the fearful atmosphere. The audience watching perceives the atmosphere of anger and rage, so once that is established, it immediately switches to one of fear, and it is such a quick transition that the atmosphere of anger and fear get mixed, and the effect is lost. That's why he seems more angry than fearful of Banquo.
ReplyDelete- Peter S
Yeah, i didn't really understand the whole cell phone thing it was a bit weird. If that part wasn't included i think it would fit the original scene a bit better. I also think Lady Macbeth seemed like she was annoyed with Macbeth, and i dont remember her being like that in the play. It was like she didn't even want to talk to him and she didn't show any concern or any real emotion towards the whole thing. So what i think would make the modernized version better is, no cell phone, more fear in the emotions of macbeth and more emotion in general for lady macbeth.
ReplyDeleteI honestly think that this version is funny, but stupid funny. It seems like one of those movies that you watch but don't pay for because its so stupid and has such bad acting, something like napoleon dynamite. It sends a little bit of the Shakespeare but it definitively lost its haunt in the original haunting scene, because of this video message. I think a modernization of Macbeth should have not even been attempted. -lucas
ReplyDeleteI would prefer a more conventional version of the play because I enjoy the setting and there is a certain mood set with the way Shakespear writes. An advantage I see to the modern version is that more people would understand because where it is almost a translation. I think I may have enjoyed a modern version just like the modern version of Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo Decaprio and Clair Danes. They used a modern setting but used the same style of speech from Shakespears version.
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