• Madbrad200OPEnglish
    2•6 months ago

    https://letterboxd.com/moviedondada/list/shakespeares-macbeth-ranked/

    Some random notes of the top ones:

    Throne of Blood is just an incredible film in general and a must-watch imo. The cinematography, acting - it surpasses every other attempt to adapt Macbeth by far.

    Scotland, PA. is an excellent parody of Macbeth but probably hard to appreciate without foreknowledge of the play.

    Polanski’s 1971 Macbeth adaption is often praised, but personally I preferred Macbeth 2015. Both nail the violence that surrounds Macbeth, but I found the 2015 adaption more engaging and the sets are absolutely stellar.

    Joji is a really cool adaption from India, but it’s perhaps more “inspired by” than “adapted from”. That said, it follows the general plot points and is a great film about a guy who gets humiliated and tormented by his father, finally losing it and killing him, then slowly marching towards his own destruction with the web of lies he creates in the aftermath. Maqbool is another Indian adaption (much more direct than Joji). I found the way they adapted elements of Macbeth to a more Indian context was really interesting, especially the witches (which iirc was transformed into a corrupt policemen who performed what I assumed to be Hindu-related divination). This was the first Indian film I’ve watched in a very long time and it was really good, definitely recommend it.

  • @[email protected]English
    2•6 months ago

    Is that the RSC stage production with ian McKellen?

    I’m a sucker for that and the terribly cast Welles versions, but Scotland PA was my favorite at the time.

    I guess I’m dating myself, but I did a term paper on production comparison and it had just come out. I guess it’s been long enough for another pass.

    • Madbrad200OPEnglish
      2•6 months ago

      Yep! It’s pretty high rated I think but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would, it does have some good moments though. I think the best filmed-theatre version is the Saoirse Ronan one.

      Scotland PA was definitely a highlight :)

      • @[email protected]English
        2•6 months ago

        They get a lot right in the symbolism department, English departments love that stuff.

        Mckellans great, but beyond how they have him play the villan its pretty by the book.

    • Madbrad200OPEnglish
      2•6 months ago

      That was one I regretted sitting through lol but it was a novelty at least

      • @[email protected]English
        1•6 months ago

        The guy on the poster for Throne of Blood reminds me of Kevin Durand.

        And Picard in Macbeth looks awesome. Lots of talk about wine I assume?