Rating: 
Summary: Romantic Comedy a la Shakespeare
Review: This review refers to the 20th Cent Fox DVD edition of " William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream"(1999).....Who better to tell you a story than The Bard himself. And in this one he takes you away to a fairytale land of magic potions, fairy dust and "rare visions". Add some lords and ladies, some romance and delicious comedy and you'll be smiling all the way through. Michael Hoffman who directed and wrote the screenplay updates Shakespeare's romantic comedy to the late 19th century. All the elements for an enjoyable romp are still here. Impish fairies spreading their magic turn the lives of four young lovers upside down with their mystical spells. A bumbling acting troupe finds one of it's members turned into a donkey, yet the object of the fairy queen's affections. All taking place in a beautiful moonlit forest. Will these sprites make everything right for these mere mortals? You'll have a merry time finding out! A terrific cast takes you on this enchanted journey. Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Calista Flockhart, Rupert Everett. Christian Bale, Sophie Marceau, and David Strathairn will all delight you with their performances, but the one who really shines is Stanley Tucci as "Puck". From Simon Boswell's score to all the great classics including Verdi, Puccini and Mendlesshon's "Wedding March", you'll find yourself caught up in the music as well. I would also be remiss if I did not mention the fine make-up by Ronnie Spector. If you have already seen this film and are wondering about the DVD, it is a beautiful transfer. It is presented in Widescreen, with a clear and sharp picture and magnificent colors. The sound is in 5.1 or Dolby surround, has English and Spanish subtitles, and the original theatrical trailer. There are no other special features included. If you haven't seen it yet, but like this story, I would suggest renting it first, as there are some other classic versions to be seen as well(i.e. 1935 James Cagney, Mickey Rooney, etc)and you can decide which is your favorite. A delightful way to spend a couple of hours...thanx and..enjoy....Laurie
Rating: 
Summary: Ah the Tuscan Hills!
Review: Wow, what a great movie! But of course if you're a traditionalist closed to new interpretations, lock yourself back in your room with your Turner Classic movies. And if you've never had an English class where you liked Shakespeare or if you've never read and enjoyed an Elizabethan comedy and/or tragedy, forget about this movie. The language will just confuse you too much. But if you can get past your conservative views and are open to the language, then watch A Midsummer Night's Dream. I think that after five hundred years, it's amazing that these plays are still around and can generate such mainstream attention. I also feel that after that long, a fresh adaptation is more than welcome, especially if you've been subjected to the less than glamorous BBC version. I felt that the setting (the Italian Athens you've never heard of) and anachronistic props (bikes with lights) actually lend to the farcical quality of this movie. It is a comedy and it is supposed to be funny, so lighten up and enjoy the fantastic performances of Michelle Pfeiffer (my FAVORITE Fairy Queen), Rupert Everett (fairy king--pun intended?), Kevin Kline as Bottom (he makes an Ass of himself--heehaw), and the myriad of other wonderful actors and actresses that breathe life into an old play. And before you take offense to a director's interpretations, you might inquire as to the reasons for them before you denounce his movie. And if you really want the Bard's opinion, Joseph Fiennes could probably give it to you. All good things, JOE
Rating: 
Summary: Kline and Flockhart shine!!!
Review: 3.5 stars. This is a moderately enjoyable Shakespearean comedy with only two stand-out performances. Calista Flockhart, of "Ally McBeal" fame, shows here that her range and understanding of the poetic language of Shakespear is both impressive and fluent. She steals every scene she is in. Speaking of scene-stealing, Kevin Kline, a veteran of the stage and Shakespearean theater, has the best performance here. He hams up the goofyness of his character and makes him ultimately hilarious and endearing. Many of the other actors are merely okay. Michelle Pfeiffer, often a great actress, seems to struggle here. She sounds like she understands iambic pentameter well, but fails to emote any feeling behind the words; except for her scenes with Kevin Kline, she is simply mediocre. Also, the character of Puck, played by Stanley Tucci, is traditionally portrayed as more mischievous and problem-causing than the lap-dog of Oberon as he is portrayed here. All in all, this is certainly above par, with great costumes and fine sets and scenery. It just doesn't come together as a whole. This film is fun in moments, but eventually feels incomplete.
Rating:
Summary: An occasional dream
Review: One of Shakespeare's most beloved works finally gets a modern cinematic makeover, good news for all of those who'd rather not see Mickey Rooney's Puck again. Unfortunately the latest retelling leaves much to be desired. Though mostly enjoyable, this film could use a good shot of fairy dust. The story concerns three sets of lovers - Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius, and fairy royalty Titania and Oberon. The first pair loves each other but cannot marry because Hermia is betrothed to Demetrius, the object of Helena's desperate affection. When Hermia and Lysander steal away, the second couple makes chase and all four end up lost in the woods where our third pair, the quarreling fairy king and queen, reside. Oberon, dissatisfied with all about him, enlists his servant, Puck, to make amends. Puck is to place a spell on Demetrius so that he will fall in love with Helena, but a case of mistaken identity causes Lysander to become smitten with her. Meanwhile, a traveling actors troupe, led by Nick Bottom, stumbles into the woods for a late-night rehearsal. They prepare a play for the Duke's wedding and soon become the object of the fairies' mischief. With the shell of Shakespeare's original, this movie pulls of adequate amounts of wit and humor; clearly the script is better than most. Despite Puck's much abbreviated role, it remains a light comedy and surreal and magical in every sense. The costuming, makeup, and Italian backdrop add to the enchantment and are some of the most enjoyable aspects of an aesthetically pleasing film. I loved the energy of Monte Athena in turn-of-the-century Italy (punctuated by a soundtrack of renowned operatic talent), although it added little to the understanding of the story or the updated time period. My main qualm for this otherwise fanciful retelling is the distracted acting, which ranges from inspiring to embarrassing. Shakespeare's language, archaic by our standards, depends on talented actors and directors to lift it and his beautiful stories from obscurity. Kevin Kline proves that you don't need an English accent to perform Shakespeare effectively. His Nick Bottom is the most rounded character in the film, wholly human and rich with emotions thick enough to dip your fingers through. Anna Friel's Hermia acutely defines the play's romance and innocence. Along with Kline, she seems the most comfortable in her role and possesses a grace and naturalness absent from the other female characters. Dominic West gives an amusing and (sometimes) smitten Lysander to Friel's Hermia. I also liked Roger Rees' affectionate Peter Quince. The remainder of the cast spirals downward. Calista Flockhart as Hermia and Michelle Pfieffer as Titania appear uncomfortable and rather unsure of their characters, as if they are too afraid of fouling up the Bard's work to dig deeply into it. Rupert Everett's Oberon is tired and melancholy to a point of boredom. I am still trying to figure out why David Strathrain, who lacks the nobleness of his character, was cast as the Duke. Poor Sophie Marceau should have stuck with Mel Gibson. Though I would not have picked Stanley Tucci for Puck, he provides a slightly amusing if ineffectual performance, as does Christian Bale as Demetrius. Because of the spotty acting, the film never gels completely. An unfamiliarity with the play by certain actors interrupts otherwise fluid scenes. Those who act well in this film make it worth watching; the others leave us wanting more.
Rating:
Summary: An Overall Excellent Film
Review: "Much Ado About Nothing " with Kenneth Branaugh is much more true to Shakespeare. However, this film yields good things. Like "Much Ado " it was shot in Tuscany, Italy, the beautiful wood and village scenes taking the place of Shakespeare's original city of Athens. There are a lot of opera songs running throughout the movie, since Italian opera was a hit durin the nineteenth century, and so were LP's and bycycles all of which are featured in the film. It is definately a twist to the original version Shakespeare intended. But it's beautiful to see and hear. Top-notch performances by Calista Flockheart as Helena, Kevin Kline, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Titania the Fairy Queen. There's lots of great comic moments (like the mud fight) and the soundtrack is gorgeous. Must see for Shakespeare fans, or fans of Pfeiffer and Flockheart. I give it a deserving five stars. I viewed it twice and loved the film.
Rating: 
Summary: A Comedy With Spare Humor
Review: The most telling scene in this film is the rustic play-within-a-play at the wedding reception of Theseseus and Hippolyta. Because it is the last scene in the play, it is very important. However, director Michael Hoffman chose to make it very impotent. While the premise is that amateur actors are making a mess of their performance, coming where it does in the structure of the play (or a film,) it must be tremendously entertaining. Traditionally this is accomplished with inventive direction and outrageous comedy performances by the acting squad playing the amateur actors. Because the play has been performed for 400 years, there is much in that tradition to draw upon. However, Hoffman tossed off this vital scene with sparce creativity, sluggish pacing, and minimal distant camera angles. He further pulled the brake on any comedy tempo he might have otherwise developed by instructing us that the mock death of Thisbe can be poignant! He included several shots of his principals in the wedding reception audience dabbing at tears. That's not comedy and it's a bizarre choice. This film is not funny and worse, it is not fun. The film is put together so mechanically and humorlessly, that it's difficult to imagine why the production principals wanted to make this film at all. Perhaps they saw an opportunity to throw in the handful of ..... jokes.
Rating:
Summary: Mediocre
Review: Surprisingly unentertaining. Perhaps it was because I was not in a jolly mood when I watched this. This film version of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' simply does not capture the verve of a play. Obviously, this is in film format, but not much - other than dazzling scenery, costumes, music, and change of setting - have been added. One would think these additions were a dramatic improvement. Instead, they seem to conceal a fairly sloppy Shakespeare production. Subtelty could have been used to a greater extent. This movie is somewhere between a decent theatre production and a good film. Regarding acting (which I consider the most vital part of a Shakespeare presentation), it was only adequate. Kevin Kline was a surprisingly good Shakespearian actor. His Bottom was less obnoxious than I had previously seen. Stanley Tucci, as Puck, was one of the better actors in the play. I only wish he were in it more. Dominic West was a solid Lysander; Anna Friel, Hermia, faired as well as West. Rupert Everett was a fine Oberon, though the softness of his voice got old (my only criticism), and John Sessions shined in his tiny role as Philostrate. Michelle Pfeiffer was okay as Titania. She was gorgeous, and is obviously a capable actress, but her drawn out voice became a bit too sing song for my taste. Calista Flockhart was a passable Helena. Christian Bale (Demetrius), was disappointing - expressionless, and his lines were not believable. The mechanicals were touching and well acted. Theseus (David Strathairn) was particularly bad, and the little time Sophie Marceau did have as Hippolyta was not memorable. Bernard Hill was a decent Egeus. Somehow I always imagined Bottom as a bachelor. However, this change added to the different portrayal of Bottom as a sympathetic character. Also, the play at the end lost just a whit of its humorous impact by having the audience laugh. If they had not laughed, though, viewers of the movie simply would have felt sorry for Bottom and his gang. Perhaps three stars is a harsh rating for a Shakespeare production. After all, this had a great script (though beloved parts were expectedly eliminated), and the acting was not terrible. I just felt that the actors did not have the charisma or the lovers the chemistry to carry off an already unbelievable story when this time there is a screen between the audience and them.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor Will gets ripped off again
Review: A Midsummer Nightmare; Trashy piece with stars and no substance. No surprise that Kevin Kline (fine actor) panders his talent to the highest bidder. The other "stars" should also be embarassed. james a. sullivan
Rating:
Summary: Try to find the RSC version.
Review: Instead of this try to find a tape of the Royal Shakespeare Company version with Diana Rigg, Helen Mirren and Judy Dench.
Rating:
Summary: A tale well told
Review: There are many good versions of "William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream." Among which is this well played Michael Hoffman (1999) version. The innovative use of the bicycle and being filmed in Tuscany adds to the magic. As with earlier versions contemporary actors are used. Only at first you say "Now where have I seen Puck?" (To realize it was in "Undercover Blues.") Or anticipating who will play Titania? Later you will be so engrossed in the play that you will only see the characters for themselves.
Now the situation. We have overlapping tales which in the confusion become even more overlapping and confusing. We have Theseus, Duke of Athens, About to marry Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Practicing in the solitude of the Woods is a troop of actors that will appear at the wedding. One of the troops is a married man with a roving eye, Bottom; he is soon encountering with a group of fairies. Now this is an interesting situation on its own. However there is more. Hermia is being forced by her father Egeus to marry Demetrius. However Hermia is in love with Lysander. Wait there is more Hermia's friend Helena is in love with Demetrius (who ignores her.) Yep into the wood escape Hermia and Lysander. Hot on their trail is Demetrius doggedly followed by Helena. Mean time back at the ranch the Fairy queen and king have a slight falling-out. So the fairy king intends to correct everyone's situation and teach a few lessons along the way. You get the idea. Now setback and watch the fun.
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