FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Rio Hayward All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Derrick Gibbons An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

jacobjohntaylor1 I have seen some great version of Macbeth. The from 1948 with Orson Welles is a great movie. This has a actors standing in a black back round describing what they have done. This is very boring way to do. It has good actor and a good story. But they did it in a way so that is seems boring. See Thorn of Blood that is a Japanese version of Macbeth. Do not waste time. And do not waste money. Do not see this boring movie. Macbeth from 1971 with Jon Finch is a great movie. See that movie do not bother with this boring remake. The 2006 version of Macbeth Sam Worthington is great. But this is just boring. I need more lines and I am running out of things to say.

sharifg-1 The performance by Ian McKellen proves that he is one of the best Shakesperean actors ever (and I've seen all the famous ones on the stage). Macbeth is not a complex character, just a fine man sucked into a downward spiral by his ambitious wife, but Shakespeare gives him really magnificent poetry to speak (Tomorrow, etc.), and McKellen says it all breathtakingly. Actually, some of Macbeth's lines are very difficult to understand, and McKellen is capable of the ultimate actor's magic of making the lines seem quite understandable as he speaks them (they go back to being difficult when you contemplate them on the page). His representation of the descent into madness is extremely effective, even though he goes quite far in this. Exactly how psychotic Macbeth becomes is one important question in interpreting this character, and McKellen (and Trevor Nunn, who directed) decide to go all the way. The other actors are all adequate, no problem. Judi Dench is not entirely convincing as the evil-from-the-outset Lady Macbeth, really a caricature and not a fully developed person in the play (Shakespeare's fault, not Judi's). Dame Judi is just not an evil person, and can't make us believe she is. However, at the most crucial point, the sleepwalking scene in the last act which precedes her suicide, she rises to the occasion. Her wail in unforgettable. This was originally a stage production, done in the round with few props, fine for this play, which is about words (and faces), not about setting. It's great that someone had the idea of filming the stage production, and doing it so well that it's possible to watch it. For many years this tape has only been available to educational institutions for $250, so it's great that everyone can see such a stunning performance now. And its great that Ian McKellen has become better known through X-Men and Lord of the Rings (though it takes Shakespeare to display his true talents).

dennis-77 I was looking forward to this, everyone was raving about it. Then there was a short documentary before it about Trevor Nunn's vision for the play and I got worried. He said that he wanted to get away from the Blasted Heath and Witches that had become linked to the play. I hate to point this out to an important director but Shakespeare wrote them in. So I watched with fear as to what would be done to the play. The witches were there in an altered form, and Macbeth himself says something about it being a blasted heath, so I'm supposing that passed through Nunn's cuts.Other than a director who messed with the play, it was indeed quite good, the actors were very good, especially Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Macduff, Malcolm, Donalbain and Ross, but I couldn't shake off the fear of what the director would do next.As for Lady Macbeth's famous scream, yes it conveyed the horror of what was going on but it also sounded like a kettle boiling. Judi Dench was very good though.

erikjens This (wonderful) production highlights the Christian v. pagan elements of the play, and in other ways deals in opposites (men's v. women's perceptions of political alliances, the solid v. spirit worlds, etc.), but without beating you over the head with it. The Weird Sisters' scenes are amazing--the production borrows from Irish "bog people" imagery with the witches' stick puppets representing Macbeth's visions. The production recalls the minimal "circle" staging of Equus, with the actors seated around the circle when not "on." Minimal props and furniture; the actors carry it all the way, brilliantly. I can't imagine anyone doing a better, more visceral and committed job with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth than Ian McKellen and Judi Dench. It could sell huge-for a Shakespeare film-if only it weren't obviously a taped stage production (it doesn't try to be otherwise, and is very well lit and photographed). Look for the red-and-green light cues when Macbeth greets the king-a subtle, chilling reference to Macbeth's later musings on his hands stained with the king's blood. A couple of turtlenecks among the costumes betray the 70's-era staging, but otherwise the costuming is great and doesn't date the production. If you a) are a McKellen or Dench fan and b) appreciate great Shakespeare performances and want to be "in the know" on what's considered the definitive Macbeth staging of the past couple decades, this is the one.