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Netherlands released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Behind the scenes, Documentary, Interactive Menu, Making Of, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: In eleventh century Scotland, three witches foretell that Macbeth will become King, while Banquo will beget Kings. Macbeth accordingly has King Duncan slain, and is duly crowned in his place. But that's where his problems really begin... ...Macbeth (1997)
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It's nice to see an actual adaptation of Macbeth for once. The acting is all up to standard and directing all seems decent.
This adaptation finally takes the Macbeth script literally as opposed to throwing it around and putting it into whatever setting they can think of (Drug lords? Vietnam? AN ESTATE IN BIRMINGHAM?), not that this determines it's quality but unlike Romeo & Juliet I don't think this story works in different scenarios.
It's also worth mentioning the modesty of this version - like the play, we never see the violent killing of the king, just Macbeth returning from the room, blood on hands, with the line "I have done the deed". Again, a stabbing scene doesn't determine a bad movie but the modesty of not including one when it would be so tempting to is admirable.
You won't find hundreds of old, naked witches here, nor will you see blood splattering all over the walls (They showed us that BBC adaptation when I was in school, and called it educational! Try showing a modern story with that amount of blood and nudity to kids and you'll find yourself in trouble), you won't see football hooligans, Vietnam soldiers or drug lords, this is just pure Macbeth. It may not be perfection, but it's satisfying.
This adaptation finally takes the Macbeth script literally as opposed to throwing it around and putting it into whatever setting they can think of (Drug lords? Vietnam? AN ESTATE IN BIRMINGHAM?), not that this determines it's quality but unlike Romeo & Juliet I don't think this story works in different scenarios.
It's also worth mentioning the modesty of this version - like the play, we never see the violent killing of the king, just Macbeth returning from the room, blood on hands, with the line "I have done the deed". Again, a stabbing scene doesn't determine a bad movie but the modesty of not including one when it would be so tempting to is admirable.
You won't find hundreds of old, naked witches here, nor will you see blood splattering all over the walls (They showed us that BBC adaptation when I was in school, and called it educational! Try showing a modern story with that amount of blood and nudity to kids and you'll find yourself in trouble), you won't see football hooligans, Vietnam soldiers or drug lords, this is just pure Macbeth. It may not be perfection, but it's satisfying.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Was this a made-for-TV production? Erm.
I don't think this performance of Macbeth gives you much in the sense of a real story because the actors don't use the language.
Some nice visuals made me want to watch the Lord of the Rings instead.
Not all bad. You have to know the story before watching any adaptation so read it first, then watch the Polanski version.
I don't think this performance of Macbeth gives you much in the sense of a real story because the actors don't use the language.
Some nice visuals made me want to watch the Lord of the Rings instead.
Not all bad. You have to know the story before watching any adaptation so read it first, then watch the Polanski version.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Many amazon reviewers have made their criticisms of this version of Macbeth and I find no need to add to that discussion. MACBETH is my favourite work by Shakespeare and any version is of interest to me.
What this review is about is the actual DVD. First it should be mentioned that this is a dutch import Region 2 disc. The good news is that it does have removable dutch subtitles but no english subtitles. Unfortunately that is the only good news for this disc.
The specifications list this disc as 16x9 widescreen letterbox. This is quite untrue. On a 4x3 television with the 4x3 setting this widescreen effect is achieved by squashing the image down to a 1.75:1 widescreen format. This makes this Macbeth look like Macbeth the hobbit, with shortened bodies and flattened faces. To restore the image to a watchable format the setting on a 4x3 tv must then be set to 16x9 to correct the squashed effect and of course this creates a full frame (pan and scan) image. This image and the print shows multiple artifacts, print damage, hairs and grain. What you are left with is a VHS quality transfer.
Unlike a reviewer mentioned asian issue, audio sync is okay, but certainly not 5.1 standards. The 'making of' featurette on this issue is also a furphy. It is simply 19 minutes on the most well known scenes from the story and is most annoyingly in the correct widescreen format, as is the trailer. The 150 minute running time is also deceptive. The feature is 92.22 minutes, the trailer is 2.15 minutes.
This is, for me, a fine version of Macbeth but as a DVD, Caveat Emptor.
What this review is about is the actual DVD. First it should be mentioned that this is a dutch import Region 2 disc. The good news is that it does have removable dutch subtitles but no english subtitles. Unfortunately that is the only good news for this disc.
The specifications list this disc as 16x9 widescreen letterbox. This is quite untrue. On a 4x3 television with the 4x3 setting this widescreen effect is achieved by squashing the image down to a 1.75:1 widescreen format. This makes this Macbeth look like Macbeth the hobbit, with shortened bodies and flattened faces. To restore the image to a watchable format the setting on a 4x3 tv must then be set to 16x9 to correct the squashed effect and of course this creates a full frame (pan and scan) image. This image and the print shows multiple artifacts, print damage, hairs and grain. What you are left with is a VHS quality transfer.
Unlike a reviewer mentioned asian issue, audio sync is okay, but certainly not 5.1 standards. The 'making of' featurette on this issue is also a furphy. It is simply 19 minutes on the most well known scenes from the story and is most annoyingly in the correct widescreen format, as is the trailer. The 150 minute running time is also deceptive. The feature is 92.22 minutes, the trailer is 2.15 minutes.
This is, for me, a fine version of Macbeth but as a DVD, Caveat Emptor.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
One of the best
This must be one of the least known film versions of Macbeth, but one of the best in terms of clarity. Read more
Published 5 months ago by punchdrunk
Rubbish!
I'm sorry but this is just rubbish. It's a really cheap and pointless production. There has been no real thought gone into it and there is nothing original or insightful regarding... Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2008 by Snake Man
GOOD PRODUCTION OF THIS CLASSIC !!
Macbeth:
Authentically set in eleventh century Scotland, this epic award-winning (Silver Screen Award 30th US International Film Festival) production conjures a world of grim... Read more
Authentically set in eleventh century Scotland, this epic award-winning (Silver Screen Award 30th US International Film Festival) production conjures a world of grim... Read more
Published on 20 Sep 2007 by flowerpot
GOOD PRODUCTION OF HIS CLASSIC !!
Macbeth:
Authentically set in eleventh century Scotland, this epic award-winning (Silver Screen Award 30th US International Film Festival) production conjures a world of grim... Read more
Authentically set in eleventh century Scotland, this epic award-winning (Silver Screen Award 30th US International Film Festival) production conjures a world of grim... Read more
Published on 20 Sep 2007 by flowerpot
GOOD PRODUCTION OF THIS CLASSIC !!
Macbeth:
Authentically set in eleventh century Scotland, this epic award-winning (Silver Screen Award 30th US International Film Festival) production conjures a world of grim... Read more
Authentically set in eleventh century Scotland, this epic award-winning (Silver Screen Award 30th US International Film Festival) production conjures a world of grim... Read more
Published on 20 Sep 2007 by flowerpot
Braveheart Macbeth
Shakespeare on film scholars didn't like it, because of its Braveheartness. I love Braveheart, but this Macbeth is a cheap copy of Braveheart visuals. Read more
Published on 20 Sep 2007 by koko
A brilliant adaptation
This is a fantastic version of the play. As a teacher I was thrilled with it and Helen Baxendale's performance was outstanding. Read more
Published on 16 May 2006 by Ms. Vikki L. Kent
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