Which film version of Macbeth (Stewart or McKellen) offered the best version of the banquet scene in Act III? In your response, consider at least two of these issues:
How the scenes present Banquo’s Ghost
Lady Macbeth’s reaction to Macbeth’s fit
Reactions of the lord to Macbeth’s fit
Macbeth’s behavior
The mood
The camera work
The mood and the camera work was better in the second clip, Stewart, The camera showed more details such as the people surrounding the table and Banquo coming to the table. Also, the mod was set better due to the different lighting and foggy background to set the ghostly mood.
ReplyDeleteI thought that the Stewart was the best version for the Macbeth banquet scene. The scene presented Banquo as if he came to the banquet still covered in his blood. He points his finger at Macbeth letting him know that he will have to face karma. Lady Macbeth stands and doesn't allow anyone to leave. She tries to calm Banquo by basically telling him that it's already done and he needs to stop letting his fear take control, because it seems as though Macbeth is just yelling to the air. Everyone at the table thinks that he is losing his mind. The mood is more mysterious and it creates curiosity about what is going to happen to Macbeth. The camera work was good, you could tell it was newer than most of these films. It sets in Banquo appearing and blocks out the people at the table, and it also zooms in on Lady Macbeth as she is talking to Macbeth.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Patrick Stewart's version of the scene was the better overall. The lord's reaction of Macbeth's absurd behavior was better represented in this version because they appear appalled by the situation and the overall mood fits better. Ian McKellen's performance was a little too passionate compared to the source material.
ReplyDeleteThe McKellen banquet scene had poor camera quality and it lacked the actual presence of a ghost. Everything else was very powerful. Lady Macbeth played a much more significant role in McKellen's scene. The behavior of Macbeth and the lords is depicted better in Stewart's version. I think Stewart's banquet scene is better.
ReplyDeleteMy personal opinion is that the McKellen clip portrays the banquet scene from Act III more effectively. Although the camera work is not very professional, the way the ghost is presented is definitely more dramatic in this clip. The absence of an actual ghost character helps show how crazy Macbeth has really gone; this is similar to the dagger video where Macbeth was imagining the dagger. In the McKellen clip, Lady Macbeth seems to have herself collected and calm while she deals with Macbeth. In the Stewart clip, her characrer seems nervous and she almost reveals that she is hiding something, but in the McKellen video she always has an answer. She also seems to put on more of a show for the lords to show that she is "caring" for her husband.
ReplyDeleteMckellans version of Macbeth is not as well directed as Stewart’s version of Macbeth. The reactions of the lords to Macbeths fit in Mckellans is mainly focused on Macbeth and doesn't show any ghost so he just looks crazy, but in Stewarts version the ghost is covered in blood and has walked up on top of the table and isn't sitting in Macbeths seat. Macbeths Behavior are not really different from each other in the different versions of Macbeth, except for in Mckellans I think they have a better actor playing Macbeth due to the amounts of emotion he shows when he is having his fit, and Lady Macbeth also shows better emotion in acting then the version from Stewart.
ReplyDeleteIn McKellens version Banquos ghost is not shown and he runs around a lot more than Stewarts version, also he snaps out of it faster then Stewart. In Stewarts version Banquos ghost is shown, blood and all. In McKellens skit Lady Macbeth just try's to talk him back into reality without really yelling or what not. Stewarts skit Lady Macbeth is more physical with Macbeth and is way more vocal toward him.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Stewart interpretation presented the banquet scene the best. The McKellen scene left it all to the imagination to picture the ghost of Banquo, while the Stewart scene actually had an actor as a ghost. I think actually seeing the ghost was much more effective to catch the feel of the scene and to better set the mood. Lady Macbeth acts different in the two interpretations. Lady Macbeth seems much more angry with Macbeth in the McKellen scene as opposed to the Stewart scene. In the Stewart scene, it seemed she was more upset than anything while still saying civil to the party guest. However, in the McKellen scene she was infuriated with Macbeth, upset and not as kind to the party guest.
ReplyDeleteI believe the Stewart version of the scene showed the best detail of the banquet. Stewart's version showed Banquo's ghost which helped the viewer understand why Macbeth was going crazy. I believe Stewart's video also showed the reactions of the other people at the banquet better. In McKellen's video the main focus was on Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. Stewarts version of the scene showed how confused and shocked everyone else was.
ReplyDeleteMckellans version of Macbeth is not as well directed as Stewart’s version of Macbeth. The reactions of the lords to Macbeths fit in Mckellans is mainly focused on Macbeth and doesn't show any ghost so he just looks crazy, but in Stewarts version the ghost is covered in blood and has walked up on top of the table and isn't sitting in Macbeths seat. Macbeths Behavior are not really different from each other in the different versions of Macbeth, except for in Mckellans I think they have a better actor playing Macbeth due to the amounts of emotion he shows when he is having his fit, and Lady Macbeth also shows better emotion in acting then the version from Stewart.
ReplyDeleteThe Stewart clip and the McKellen clip are very different when it comes to how the present Banquos ghost but I like Stewarts version better. In the Stewart clip he freaks out way more and runs around the table when he sees the ghost, and you actually see the ghost compared to the other clip it just shows an empty chair. And the camera work in Stewarts clip is better because they move it around and show more of the table not just Macbeth and Lady Macbeth like McKellen clip did.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Stewart was the better film. In this film it portrays the mood very well. The mood is scared and confused, you can tell this by how the lords act when Macbeth has his fit. The lords don't know how to act or what to do. Also I think the film does a good job with Mabeth's behavior. Macbeth's behavior is unusual but also guilty. He feels guilty for all the murders and things he has done wrong. The reason why his behavior is unusual is because he sees a ghost. Overall I believe the Stewart film did the best job to portray these attributes.
ReplyDeleteEvan Mustard. Macbeth’s behavior is very noticeable. The well he is acting is showing that he is nervous and that he is hiding something. He is showing that the guilt is setting in after the news of Banquo’s death and his son escaping. I think the first video from McClellan gives us the best view point for this.
ReplyDeleteThe scene that shows Banquo as a ghost is very important because no one else can see him but Macbeth. It proves again that Macbeth is up to something and that he is hiding secrets. I think the second video from Stewart really gives us a good idea on what really happen during the banquet.
I feel that the McKellen version of Macbeth offered the best version of the banquet scene. Lady Macbeth's reaction to her husbands fit is more believable because she is very concerned and treating his fit as if it is a real ailment. In the Stewart version you can tell that she is brimming with uneasiness and struggling to keep calm and prevent their guests to suspect the crime committed.
ReplyDeleteHow the scene presents Banquo's ghost also makes me like the McKellen version better. Although Banquo’s ghost was portrayed very well in the Stewart version I like this version more because it shows what everyone else is witnessing and we understand what they are feeling. We witness what Macbeth is going through as a dinner guest.
I think the better film would be McKellen, this film offered many well described emotions. when the ghost of Banquo appeared Macbeth was absolutely terrified. the fear in Macbeths' face was real and the other guests thought he was crazy. The fear that Macbeth has is from the guilt. He knows that if everyone finds out that he sent men to kill Banquo it could ruin his chance to take the throne. Lady Macbeth jumped in front of Macbeth and tried to quiet him. She was embarrassed and didn't want the guests to know anything.
ReplyDeleteI think that Stewart version presents Banquo's Ghost and Macbeths reaction to the ghost the best. The lords and Lady Macbeths reaction is shown the best in Stewarts version also, but we do not get to see the conversation between Macbeth and the murderer in Stewarts version.
ReplyDeleteI think the Stewart version is way better. I like how they made Banqous ghost appear. Having the ghost looking down on Macbeth. Lady Macbeths reaction was way more dramatized. The Lords reaction were way more pronounced to Macbeths "fit". Macbeths behavior is more "scared". The mood is very dark. The camera work helps the mood even more.
ReplyDeleteI have to say the McKellen Scene is the better of the two, even though the Stewart version gave the best reaction of Macbeth. Over all it was the best because purely for the reaction of lady Macbeth and the depiction of Banquo's ghost. The ghost is a figment of Macbeth's imagination and they showed no evidence the ghost was there, and it was awesome. The reaction of Lady Macbeth was very genuine and fit right in to the way Shakespeare wrote it.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the banquet scene featuring Patrick Stewart is a better representation of what happens during the banquet scene. Stewart's portrays Banquo physically, giving him an even more intimidating presence to Macbeth. Lady Macbeth seems calmer, but clearly upset at Macbeth's reaction. Stewart's behavior isn't as highly erratic as McKellan's reaction to the ghost of Banquo.
ReplyDeleteMacbeth is much more animated and passionate when McKellen portrays him, and when Stewart plays his part it is more realistic. Macbeth's lords in the movie Stewarts plays in seem confused and bewildered; where as, in the movie McKellen plays in the lords seem stunned.
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