Nerdy Macbeth comic

[elaby]

This is how I spent my Presidents' Day XD

Okay, so, Macbeth, right? There's a version of it with Ian McKellen in the lead role and Judy Dench as Lady Macbeth, filmed in 1979. It's an extremely good production of the play, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes Macbeth. If you're unsure of your capacity to sit through hours of uninterrupted Shakespeare recitation, though, I'm not so sure I'd recommend it, because it's not the most... action-oriented of adaptations. And although the leads are freaking fabulous, it's somewhat lacking in actors who can say a line of Shakespeare in that tone of voice where you know what they mean even if you don't understand the exact words.

BUT anyway, aside from Ian McKellen and Judy Dench, Roger Rees plays the prince Malcolm and he is utterly wonderful. You may recall him, later in life, as the Sheriff of Rottingham in Robin Hood, Men in Tights. That's where I first saw him, and he's SO YOUNG as Malcolm. Not only is he young, but he is a literally shining paragon of virtue and kingliness - while everyone else is wearing flat black, very Victorian, very minimal costumes, he's dressed in a brilliant blinding white fuzzy sweater. He glows, for reals. And my favorite scene is the one where he tries (successfully, much to my shock) to convince Macduff that's really a ROTTEN PERSON - lock your daughters away, Scotland, and hide your treasure and don't expect vows to be kept or loyalties honored, because here comes Malcolm! Riiiight. Roger Rees plays the wibbliest Malcolm known to man. I can't figure out for the life of me how Macduff was fooled by this speech, because Malcolm is very obviously about to burst into tears through the whole thing.

The internets have nearly failed me in trying to find a screencap, but here's the one lonely picture I could find of Roger Rees as Malcolm. The graininess does not do justice to the SHINY WHITENESS that is Malcolm's sweater, but you can see that it does kind of glow. That's Macduff in the background, going "WTF about my wife and children, now?" and Ross with the curly hair on the right. Ohgod that guy (why hello Emperor Palpatine!) played such a bad Ross T_T Ross is one of my much-loved tiny side characters.

BUT OKAY, getting to the point, the comic. I drew a chibi comic essentially retelling Malcolm's "I'm such a heel!" speech and it's consequences. Aaand I gave it a new ending. The last panel is the only thing that DOESN'T happen in this adaptation of the play.

I'm linking it because it's like 3000 pixels wide and would hurt your f'lists if I didn't. It's horizontally paneled, unlike my usual vertical paneled meme things.

Macduff's day is going to get no better from here. And I don't care how cute and wibbly the guy is, if he made ME cry that hard, I'd want to lamp him one too.

"Lamp him one" is courtesy of my favorite the_arethusa, of course, and will forever be associated with what Tim Stamper wants to do to Sarah.

Comments

[coastal-spirit.livejournal.com]

Eeeeeheeeheeeheee! I think I must have watched this (or part of it) with you once, because I definitely remember that glowy white sweater and the actors all being so young, and Emperor Palpatine!

who can say a line of Shakespeare in that tone of voice where you know what they mean even if you don't understand the exact words.

And I know exactly what you mean.

And your drawing! How cute and perfect! *has fondness for chibi-drawings* I'll have to remember that expression, "Lamp him one", as there are a few people who I'd like to "lamp" occasionally. ;)

[the-arethusa.livejournal.com]

Oh, I remember this! We watched it when we were studying Macbeth at school. I'd totally forgotten about it because the thing I remember most is that scary cartoon version.

I remember being like 'Ian McKellen!' *flail* and people looking at me like I was mental, since this was the pre Magneto or Gandalf days, and I was considered weird for even knowing who he was, let alone getting over-excited by his presence. And I remember my friend and I having a bit of a giggle when we saw Roger Rees, who will always be the Sheriff of Rottingham to us. Mervin. lol.

I LOVE your chibi drawing. I would totally put that on my fridge door (with my collection of random fandom I have on there) so I could chuckle away to myself about the last panel lol. *Wham* That's what I would do too.

Man, I love Macbeth. Such a horrible, disturbing play. I saw the recent adaptation on BBC four a few months ago, the one with Patrick Stewart as Macbeth. The witches in that FREAKED me out! *brr*

and will forever be associated with what Tim Stamper wants to do to Sarah.

Lol, yes. Among other things. And hooray for the term "lamp him one"!

[hak42.livejournal.com]

Heeee...cute!

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Bwaaahahaa, "Mummy!"

I'm glad you like my chibi-drawings ^_^ They're so much easier than regular-sized people drawings XD

That version of Macbeth has so much going for it, and is SO strange at some points. Hee. Glowing white sweater.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

The scary cartoon version with Clive Merrison? :D I've only seen the bit you posted in your LJ.

Haha, Roger Rees will always be Mervin to me, too *snicker* And seeing him so young and NOT EVIL is just so funny.

I need to get hold of the Patric Stewart adaptation! I knew they had to have done a Macbeth recently!

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Thank you ^_^

[the-arethusa.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's the one. Creepy, trippy, nasty animation. You know I love it, really *snerk* I think the rest might be on YouTube somewhere.

And I do recommend the Patrick Stewart Macbeth. Great performances, as you would expect. I liked the sets, they looked regal and important but really bleak at the same time. It has some really interesting editing too (and freaky witches!). Plus, it's set in a modern dictatorship so that's pretty cool.