Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Absolutely the worst movie.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

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

This Macbeth version has an overall rating of about 7.5, but most of the reviewers are rather less kind to it than that. As a seasoned Shakespeare appreciator with a large collection of Shakespeare DVDs, let me tell you: the overall rating is correct, and the reviewers are wrong.The only thing wrong with this version is that it is not a big-budget super-production, the picture quality is not great (after all, it is from 1981!) and the sound on the DVD is a bit out of sync. All annoying, to be sure, but not something that should reflect on the overall quality of the theatrical performance itself.This filmed stage version is well-acted and well-produced, and both of the main characters (Brett and Laurie), and the rest of the cast too, shine in their roles, making the character development believable. If you are looking for a good stage version of Macbeth, you could do a lot worse than this. And if you collect Shakespeare DVDs, you should definitely seek out this.7 out of 10.

I didn't really know what to expect, but......wow! No wonder most kids in English class hate this play! This is easily the WORST production of this play I have ever seen, and I love the play very much, so was this ever hard to watch.SHAME on everybody involved!There are just so many things wrong with it:1) Terrible production values 2) Horribly overdone scene gnashing (acting) 3) What's with the hair? 4) Totally garbage sword fightsAll I can say is, rent Polanski's version, or Throne of Blood.STAY AWAY!

I find that the worst rating is totally inaccurate. Jeremy Brett performed MacBeth in a grand Shakespearian style. His performance out did all other movies and plays of MacBeth. The plain set with limited props was able to create Macbeth in a true Shakespearian style. Those who may not have liked the performance might not have expected the movie in play form. It was outstanding and I would consider it excellent.

With a high school student struggling through the text, we found two stageplay versions on film, this one with Jeremy Brett (RIP, Sherlock Holmes) and Piper Laurie, and the McKellen/Dench version. I have seen three ways to film a stageplay. (1) Put up a few cameras with an audience present (never works). (2) Take a cast used to performing before an audience and reblock for cameras and shoot with no audience (this version). (3) Forget audience, block and perform entirely for film (McKellen/Dench).So this Brett/Laurie version features actors who project as though they must entertain people 100 feet away, and they move through a paragraph of lines as one would truly read a paragraph. Well enough.But the McKellen/Dench is much more gripping, despite a minimalist set. Lines and characters were omitted for the sake of an overall vision. Characters stopped dead in mid-paragraph for effect. I'll never remember who Ross was in the Brett; I'll remember Ross/Porter in the McKellen. No spoiler here, but in the two versions one sees radically different Lady Macbeths -- not merely in execution but in conception. The Dench Macbeth being absolutely thrilling.This Brett/Laurie, however, tracks Shakespeare. So the high school student should begin here. Then move on to the McKellen/Dench.