I remember being taken to see this, and I didn't like it - the approach seemed too gory and sensational, whereas Macbeth demands the creepy and Gothic.
I just went and watched it again - I still feel the same way, in fact I only made it half-way through. Polanski has chosen to go for cheap thrills and gore, not dealing with the deeper themes. He did a much more profound job with Repulsion, which I consider to be his masterpiece.
As for Macbeth, the best version is Kurosawa's Throne of Blood (Kumonosu Jo), which is a masterpiece in every way.
I just went and watched it again - I still feel the same way, in fact I only made it half-way through. Polanski has chosen to go for cheap thrills and gore, not dealing with the deeper themes. He did a much more profound job with Repulsion, which I consider to be his masterpiece.
As for Macbeth, the best version is Kurosawa's Throne of Blood (Kumonosu Jo), which is a masterpiece in every way.