Same Play, Different Perspective

This is a blog post about how different directors interpret the same plays differently and a discussion about which one is more effective.

Here are the two videos, side by side so you can compare them directly. The video on the left, is Polanski's version of Macbeth while the one on the right is Kurzel's. The second video starts at 1:35 of the first video, so it is like a continuation of it. However, we already watched Polanski's version in class so it shouldn't be a problem.



Alright, so we could see that the biggest difference in these 2 versions is the voice acting. While Macbeth in Polanski's version looks more nervous, Kurzel choose to make him look more anxious. So, we see Macbeth in a more shocked and furious attitude in Polanski's. On the other side, Kurzel choose to make Macbeth look like a lunatic about the situation.

Also, in Kurzel's version, Lady Macbeth seems like she is more authoritarian and she has more influence on the others. So, I think this is the another strong point where Kurzel made the better choice as showing her as a much stronger person.

Overall, I think both Polanski's and Kurzel's versions have their own strong points. However, note that Kurzel's version is much newer than Polanki's (1971 vs 2015). Hence, it has better visuals. (Facial make-ups, lighting, etc.)