"I'm still pregnant"

MacBeth 3000 Review

"Duff. MacDuff"

Right there is your Bond reference bundled into one of Shakespeare's more recognized plays. That is not the only one however, as at heart, MacBeth 3000; This Time it's Personal is Bond with some plot credibility to the days of old. And explosions. Lots of those too.

Now, I don't actually fully remember the classic Macbeth story, just parts of it, so it really didn't matter to me when viewing this feature film made by Toronto and area students for a budget of $10, 000. I am told that all the plot devices and themes of the Bard's classic are intact and I won't dispute that. What starts off as a fun, campy spy movie eventually builds into an emotional ride as you begin to care for the characters. This is quite rare in goofball comedies, as that is what many people would instantly attribute this to. It's not quite a goofball comedy, nor is it a parody. It is rather an adaptation of a strong martini with the addition of a sneaky extra olive; the spy element.

What strikes the viewer first is the musical score and its cinematic sound. You could have sworn Trevor Rabin or Hans Zimmer himself produced this. Many compliments to Harmeet Bindra as the espionage feel is beautifully captured in the opening scene. Imagine Shaun of the Dead; the seriousness of the filmmaking with just silly dialogue and clever antics which offset. Another example of this contrast between the material and the filmmaking would be TeamAmerica...except without the puppets. Severed heads and blood and many explosions are live action here. The musical score is something that I regret not having purchased opening night and it is great inspiration for aspiring musicians.

The SuperGun team is comprised of Denis Logan, Geoff Warren Meech, Bill Stepec, Matt Snowball and Harmeet Bindra. Five friends from high school who created a short film for class one day and thus SuperGun was formed. Their earlier work was of other Shakespeare plays (King Lear and Hamlet) and thus what would be more appropriate than tackle another one of Bill's plays for their first feature? WIth nothing but hopes, an adapted screenplay by Denis, Bill's jokes, Geoff's unhealthy obsession with stunts, Matt's many warddrobe changes and Harmeet's musical talents they set about creating this film in 2002 and it has been a very busy three years for these guys. After high school, they all dispersed into various areas but MacBeth has kept them together and these three years of tears, fears, blood, cameras, explosions, light sabres, troubles, money and monkeys have finally paid off for the team by a great reaction from their first audience at the Bloor Cinema on Friday night. Six hundred people in attendance and many of them from distances afar (even from the states) were a captive audience as the film unfolded onscreen.

What makes a great film some ask. For me, it's how much of the film stays in your mind after the viewing and how quotable it becomes. MB3K is lacking nothing here. There's more memorable quotes in this film than Wedding Crashers, a big studio comedy. "You guys are no fun. Monkeys. Monkeys are fun." is probably the best non-sequitar in recent memory. Bill Stepec's insanity as Macbeth, although quite serious, still has its silly moments. "I've been seeing the doctor. He thinks it might be Herpes." The script also attributes to how even big budget action films have corny one liners and MacBeth 3000 takes the cake as Macbeth shoots a guy in the head and says, "I'm pregnant."

A fun film all around, but it does have its drawbacks. The final act begins very strong with MacDuff's return into the States but as the scenes unfold, they become stretched out. If any part of the film can be cut down, it is definitely the final action sequence. Unlike the shootout at the Whitehouse, the showdown between macbeth and macduff is uninspired, and honestly, the light sabres did not fit with the rest of the film. Although a silly laugh at first, as the fight progress, it had become ridiculous and unimaginative. The battle on the cliff however, redeems alot of the final act and is most impressive. And besides, the Highlander reference at the climax is brilliance in a nicely packaged candy bar so I can't be too critical here. Also, there IS such a thing as over-editing. During all jet fighter stuff with the live explosions going on; it's far too hectic. You become easily lost and the effect is diminished because the cutting is far too quick. Tone down the editing and let shots run a little longer so that the viewer can appreciate what's going on.

Great humour, astounding musical score, fun characters, memorable lines, big explosions and just the silliness of everything makes this something I would defintely come back to. Besides, where else can we get such fun lines as "Nice to...explode you" and others like it? Well, maybe a Van Damme movie.

"I'm still pregnant."

Around 600 people showed and these are the ones who came early and lined up. Great night.


Getting a quick interview with the star and one of the producers from the film.