MACBETH
Web site

review written 2/23/2003

Macbeth was the first fan film I ever saw. Yes, this is the film that made me say "I want to hold a lightsaber and make a Star Wars movie and it'll be the best thing ever!" Heh, heh, heh. So, yes, this film is special to me. Very special. And even though it might not inspire you in the same way it did me, it might be special to you, too.

These guys must be well out of high school by now. Where are they now? Are they still friends? Do they still make movies?

I love Shakespeare. I'm hoping to minor in English, primarily because of Shakespeare. This makes me biased. This is one of those fan films where you absolutely have to know the source material to get the jokes. Darth Vader as Macbeth is funny, unless you don't know that Macbeth was originally good and then tempted to evil in part because of his wife.

There's other things to appreciate as well, of course. The effects work is wonderful considering when it was made (1998/9?) and the circumstances (high school students doing an English class project). The flashing on and off of lights is simple and effective. The matte work—the real stunner—is subtle and well-used in every case, from stars in the windows (5:33 is my favorite example). And at 11:11, when the high school gymnasium is seamlessly blended with a scene from ANH, I am in awe.

The costumes are well-done. The acting is no worse than your typical high school Shakespeare (especially Robert Fuller as Malcolm Calrissian, who has a lot of charm, though it doesn't hurt that he has the best costume).

Perhaps some scenes ought to be cut or shortened. And, yes, the bluescreen stuff is a little messy. But I have yet to see a bunch of high school kids turn out anything better. This isn't just Shakespeare as it was meant to be. It's Star Wars fan films as they were meant to be. Ben Concepcion and friends did something great. The Bard would be proud.