Act 2 Scene 1&2 (2nd Part)
Question
For your blog - because we are still on Act 2,1 and 2.1, focus your blog post on how the two different movies handled the scenes differently, and what specific elements (acting, scenery/location, objects, lighting, cut lines etc) (remember you have to include specific examples) are effective and why. How might you stage those scenes if you were the director?
In act 2 scene 1, both movies handle the scene differently. In the older version, the setting is dark, rainy, gloomy and it is located in Macbeth's castle. The nature seems disturbed which shows the audiences that something bad might occur later on in the play. For example, when lady Macbeth hears the owl howling and the knocking sound she is frighten which states that the scenery is scary and dark. Also, various objects are used in the play, for instance when Lady Macbeth decides to give the wine to the guards, the texture of it seems vey thick and dark. It seems like the guards will all be drunk in no time. However, in the modern version, the wine seems more like water texture (liquid) compared to the older version. The dagger is one of the most important object in this scene. It is used to show Macbeth the way to Duncan's chamber when he is dreaming about killing Duncan. Lady Macbeth rings the bell to indicate that the guards are all asleep and it is time to kill Duncan. The objects that are used in these two scenes of the play makes the movie more interesting. Especially when the dagger led the way to the chamber. I think the older version does cut and skip lines, but they have the similar means to it. This version also adds lines in it, for example, when Macbeth tries to kill Duncan, a line is added. Duncan yells “Macbeth!”
In the modern version the scene is dark, gloomy and it is located in Macbeth's palace too. However, Macbeth's place looks like it is an underground palace. It doesn't have many furniture or decoration. It is more like a hallway with rooms that include a kitchen and a small dinning room. For instance, the part when Macbeth is in the kitchen getting the wine, and then when he walks back to the dinning room, the audiences can see that the dinning room seem very small. Since the audiences can only view Duncan and Lady Macbeth with other two characters in the play. The sink that Lady Macbeth and her husband used to wash their bloody hands is placed in the centre of the hallway. This shows the audiences that its very different between these two versions even though it has the same plot. In the older version Macbeth and his wife wash their bloody hands in a bucket of water. Another example is the part where Macbeth dreams about killing the king, the dagger is not shown (invisible) in the movie. However, only in this version a diamond ring is used as an object that Macbeth talks to in the movie. I think this version did a better job of using different objects and hand gestures to make the movie better. However, I don't think this version cut or skip lines because when I was watch while reading Macbeth, the characters were acting and saying the same lines.
In the modern version the scene is dark, gloomy and it is located in Macbeth's palace too. However, Macbeth's place looks like it is an underground palace. It doesn't have many furniture or decoration. It is more like a hallway with rooms that include a kitchen and a small dinning room. For instance, the part when Macbeth is in the kitchen getting the wine, and then when he walks back to the dinning room, the audiences can see that the dinning room seem very small. Since the audiences can only view Duncan and Lady Macbeth with other two characters in the play. The sink that Lady Macbeth and her husband used to wash their bloody hands is placed in the centre of the hallway. This shows the audiences that its very different between these two versions even though it has the same plot. In the older version Macbeth and his wife wash their bloody hands in a bucket of water. Another example is the part where Macbeth dreams about killing the king, the dagger is not shown (invisible) in the movie. However, only in this version a diamond ring is used as an object that Macbeth talks to in the movie. I think this version did a better job of using different objects and hand gestures to make the movie better. However, I don't think this version cut or skip lines because when I was watch while reading Macbeth, the characters were acting and saying the same lines.
How might you stage those scenes if you were the director?
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If I was the director I will stage it similar to the modern version. The reason is because its more effective, for example, I like the part when Macbeth uses different hand gestures to show that Macbeth is dreaming with the dagger. I will stage it by turning off all the lights to make it very dark and spooky. The owl's eyes will be glowing with a louder howling sound. I will have the blood dripping everywhere on the floor and have the guards sleeping on Duncan's body while they are holding the daggers. In the end I will increase the volume of knocking sound and have Macbeth and Lady Macbeth dressed up in white so the audience can only see them covered with blood.
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Previous Notes (COMPARE THE MOVIES (LOCATED HOME SECTION) *ONLY ACT 2 (SCENE 1&2) PART)
Watch Macbeth Watch Movies Online Free (Older version)
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Similarities
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Great Performances: Macbeth (Full) 2010 (Mordern version)
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