A Midsummer Night's Dream

Rating:
Summary: Enchanting!
Review: Although I did enjoy the recent film starring Kevin Kline and Rupert Everett, I must say that this is the best video production of the play that I have seen (and I have seen many). The set design serves the play well with its juxtaposition of vivid solid colors and its use of the umbrella. The frame that Adrian Noble sets the play in, that of a boy's perception, gives the production an unexpected dose of fairy dust, blurring the lines between real and imagined even more. Whereas the Michael Hoffman film makes use of modern technology to create the fairy world, Noble's production relies on pure artistic vision. The acting is impeccable and inspired. The best Bottom I've ever seen! And check out Finbar Lynch (the Tony nominated actor for last season's "Not About Nightengales")as Puck! Just delightful!

Rating:
Summary: Teacher's helper
Review: As a 7th grade English teacher wanting to expose my students to professional actors "doing" Shakespeare, this is an excellent example. We webbed the various plots and characters, read the original text in pieces, and then reviewed parts of the film. I fast-forwarded through a few of the "racier" scenes. Some of the students noted how the play left out many lines from the original. My students also noted there were no actors of color. Interesting discussions!

Rating:
Summary: Some of these reviews are of a different version
Review: Before ordering, you should note that despite other reviews, this is NOT the version with Kevin Klein as Bottom.

Rating:
Summary: This is a BETTER version!
Review: I accidentally rented this when I was looking for the version with Calista Flockhart and Kevin Kline. I was immediately disappointed when I realized I'd rented the wrong one, but since then I've seen both and DEFINITELY prefer this one. The costumes and art direction are absolutely incredible. Although it's a bit racier than the recent Hollywood version, I recommend this video to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: An Intriguing Interpretation
Review: I can't express to you how impressed I was with this interpretation of A Midsummer Night's Dream. One of the charms of Shakespeare is how his thoughts and ideas can transgress time, this is why it is so important to study his woks. As an actress and a human being I was very taken by this production concept. Not only is it strangely bewitching but it demonstrates relationships between characters that some literary authorities refuse to reveal. This movie takes the thoughts of William Shakespeare and presents them in a fascinating conceptual design that draws viewers from our modern world into a story centuries old. I applaud their ability to create a movie that can touch the members of today's society without losing Shakespeare's original themes. I highly recommend that you view this movie to gain a new understanding of how Shakespeare can be transferred to today's world.

Rating:
Summary: An Intriguing Interpretation
Review: I can't express to you how impressed I was with this interpretation of A Midsummer Night's Dream. One of the charms of Shakespeare is how his thoughts and ideas can transgress time, this is why it is so important to study his woks. As an actress and a human being I was very taken by this production concept. Not only is it strangely bewitching but it demonstrates relationships between characters that some literary authorities refuse to reveal. This movie takes the thoughts of William Shakespeare and presents them in a fascinating conceptual design that draws viewers from our modern world into a story centuries old. I applaud their ability to create a movie that can touch the members of today's society without losing Shakespeare's original themes. I highly recommend that you view this movie to gain a new understanding of how Shakespeare can be transferred to today's world.

Rating:
Summary: Shakespeare's Awsome
Review: I just really thought that this was a wonderful movie. It may not seem so realistic, but that makes it so much more interesting. To be able to be into the movie, and think that its almost real. I felt like I was a part of their world, and it was so cool. I just think its a good movie to watch when you really wanna watch a movie that will keep you busy and always thinking.

Rating:
Summary: Shakespeare's Awsome
Review: I just really thought that this was a wonderful movie. It may not seem so realistic, but that makes it so much more interesting. To be able to be into the movie, and think that its almost real. I felt like I was a part of their world, and it was so cool. I just think its a good movie to watch when you really wanna watch a movie that will keep you busy and always thinking.

Rating:
Summary: The best Midsummer ever made!!!!
Review: I loved this movie so much. It was so magical and really keeps your attention going. I am no Shakespeare expert but this movie made me understand every word. Not to mention the great cast and scenery.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but Bizarre
Review: I prefer a more traditional approach, and found the funky fairies rather disturbing. The bare stage and opening and closing doors were interesting. This will do very well for what I wanted it for--contrasting different approaches to the play in the classroom; however, having seen it once, I will not choose to watch it again just for pleasure. The young boy, while cute, was very distracting--what was his purpose? I thought at first he was going to play Puck, but was quickly disabused of that notion. Again--interesting, but very strange and a bit unsettling.