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Plot Summary
Roman Polanski presents his nightmarish vision of Shakespeare's classic tragedy about the lust for power-and its bloody consequences. Jon Finch is Macbeth, the Scottish war hero whose insane ambition unleashes a cycle of violence. Prompted by the supernatural prophecy of three witches, Macbeth is goaded by his Lady (Francesca Annis) into slaying King Duncan (Nicholas Selby) and assuming his throne. Macbeth plunges further into murder and moral decay to keep the unsteady crown on his head. Whilehis wife crumbles away in guilt and madness, the haunted Macbeth fights to prevent another dark forecast which may doom him. Filmed in rugged North Wales, Polanski's Macbeth is a tale told by a master, full of sound and fury-and genius!
Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
86%- Reviews Counted: 28
- Fresh: 24
- Rotten: 4
- Average Rating: 7.8/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: This is an original film by an original film artist, and not an 'interpretation.'
Fresh: The wide-screen visuals swamp the dialogue, and the thematics have been turned inside out -- but that's what movie adaptations ought to do.
Fresh: Polanski has increased the film's barbaric realism and fills the screen with blood, mud and brooding atmosphere.
Customer Reviews
Macbeth by Roman Polanski
This is an incredibly beautiful rendering of the Tragedy of Macbeth. Whatever Roman Polanski's personal failings may be, he is a director of great genius. The film is gorgeously shot, the characters are timeless, believable, tragically flawed. Although it was made in 1971, it has stood the test of time. This is the BEST Macbeth I have ever seen, better even (dare I say it?) than Orson Welles' version. Like Welles, Polanski did not make the mistake of updating the dialogue for modern audiences; this is straight from the hand of the master himself. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
The Tragedy of Macbeth
This is an excellent adaptation of Shakespeare's classic. I work in education as a teacher's aid and the english class I attend just finished reading the play and are now watching the film. It will bring the characters to life and help with their understanding of the themes. It has introduced them to many famous quotes that they've heard in pop culture. The acting is superb! If viewed in a classroom setting however, it is wise for educators to review the film first, for it contains nudity and some graphic violence.
Wonderful
This is the best adaptation of the Bard's work I've ever seen. As a fan of the tragedies of William Shakespeare, it's intriguing to see the characters such as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth fall from grace. Good work Roman Polanski.
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- $12.99
- Genre: Drama
- Released: 2002
- © 1971, renewed 1999 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. and Playboy Entertainment Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.