Patrick Stewart as Macbeth

While watching this movie I kept thinking about a topic I meant to bring up in class. I was thinking about how Shakespeare's works must be meant to be performed and not read. That means things like the tone and timing of delivery by actors goes a long way in telling the story. I am not sure how people would be able to decipher that by reading alone unless they were well read in that type of old english or if it has been passed on since his time through performances. For instance how do the people putting on plays of MacBeth today or the people who made this movie know the best way to express the dialogue. I bring this up because it made a big difference to me in watching this movie how much more engaging and clear and interesting the story was due to the performance of the dialogue.  That may also be since this was my first exposure to this story as a performance and not being read. So along with all the advantages of it being more realistic because it was a movie and not a play, I also could understand the story better by seeing actors perform the dialogue with one another which would be similar as if I had watched the play.

I really liked the movie because it was different from most movies and still interesting. As a standalone film and not an adaptation I enjoyed it. The visual elements were dramatic but because of the way they were talking and the quality of the dialogue and story it was all much better. I think as an adaptation it was good because I felt a better understanding and enjoyment of the original without feeling like they changed anything important.

Watching the movie more today I had another thought about what the elevator motif might mean even though I don't remember exactly each transition it was used. But I remember that there was the scene where MacBeth and Lady MacB have a dark conversation before going down to the feast. Then I thought that maybe the elevator signifies MacBeth from going to his private self to his persona as the king. When he is alone or with his wife he is troubled and worried with guilt and fear. Then he has to go be the King around everyone else and be powerful and untroubled.

I liked many things the visual elements added to the story. One scene I remember was when Macbeth and company are on horses outside in a courtyard and he has a conversation with Banquo who was with his son. After everyone leaves Macbeth is alone in the courtyard and watches Banquo walking down the path away from the castle. He aims his gun at him and gives his speech about how he is worred about Banquo. The visual of him in the castle aiming his gun and delivering that speech with anger really brought it to life.

One scene that was creepy that is hard to depict with words is when Macbeth and Banquo and Banquo's son are together another time. Macbeth is sitting next to Banquo's son and they bring up the prophecy, there is a weird undertone to think that Macbeth may be considering the boy as a threat and yet is close to him. Overall Macbeth definitely felt like a villain from the start. Early on when Duncan announces his son Malcom as heir, you see Macbeth look upset and then moments later he says to himself he will have to deal with that problem. So from the beginning Macbeth seemed power hungry without having any noble reason to be against Duncan or seeking the kingdom.