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Reviews
National Theatre Live: Macbeth (2013)
Character evaluation, brief.
Alex Kingston as Lady Macbeth is ideal. But it's really too bad Branagh keeps casting himself in the main roles of the Shakespeare plays he directs (although at least he's not Mel Gibson). The problem is his dreadful overacting in every S. film I've seen him do, and there are so many better actors close at hand to play such roles. I'd love to be able to show one of my lit classes a good Macbeth without resorting to the dated look of Polanski's masterpiece, but sadly, this one doesn't make it. Branagh sadly lacks all ambiguity.'
Priest (2011)
Interesting take
While I'm still waiting for someone to bring one of Lumley's novels to the screen, this provides a somewhat different take on the old "human vampire" trope, and in its obvious setting in earth's post-civilization wasteland, posits by implication genetic experimentation's creation of a creature higher on the food chain than humanity. Relatively cringeless in its execution (if not particularly inspiring), nevertheless worth a watch if only as fluff. Plus, Brad Dourif, who's been lighting up screens since the early seventies makes an interesting appearance as a snake-oil salesman, and Karl Urban, that laughable villain, retains his laughability.