Rating: 
Summary: Gimme a break, guys!
Review: Y'All, this movie is not that good. The script stunk. t was nothing like the original! It wasn't funny and the acting SSTTIINNKKSS! The only similarities was the plot. I don't remember nudes in the original play!The only reason I watched it was because I was in a school play for it!
Rating: 
Summary: The course of true Bard never did run smooth
Review: I tried with all my heart to like this movie. I really did. I thought with a cast like that, how could you miss? With characters so vivid and bold and an array of talent that included Kline, Pfeiffer, Tucci, et al, this was bound to be a sure winner. WRONG! This wonderful cast fought valiantly against absurd, misguided and egomaniacal direction that paid little tribute -- much less attention -- to Shakespeare. Hoffman is so interested in leaving his own personal stamp on the piece that he ignores the delightful story itself. I am not such a traditionalist that I require a play to be done the same way by everyone. Indeed, I have been known to take some artistic license in the productions I have directed. But I always try to maintain the integrity of the play's spirit. Hoffman could definitely use a heathy dose of Branagh lessons. Thank heavens Mickey Rooney and James Cagney committed "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to film. At least those of us who love Shakespeare have someplace to go. Hoffman's star-studded pastiche is an utter waste of great talent, an unjustified personal indulgence in absolute directoral power (which corrupted absolutely)and an assault on every Bardophile. "What fools these directors be!"
Rating: 
Summary: Reasonably good rendition of Shakepeare comedy
Review: I have always been fascinated by Shakespeare. Mind you, I did not say I always understood Shakespeare. When I was in high school, I felt like most of my acquaintances who professed to a deep kinship with the Bard were simply on a pseudo-intellectual head trip. If they weren't, then why did so many of them end up being accountants and bankers? What interested me was that all this playwright's known works remained in circulation for four hundred years. Later in life, I decided that it a combination of great story structure, the ability to write in all genres and a genius in making seemingly timeless observations about mankind's passions and obsessions. Because of this broadness in Shakespeare's works, modern interpretations can take place in a time period far removed from Elizabethan England. So it is not so inventive that the makers of the new film version of A Midsummer Night's Dream set it in late nineteenth century Italy. The problem is that this setting adds nothing to the story. If anything, it makes the actions of some of the characters seem anachronistic. What saves the movie is the dream sequence, which is what makes the play so magical to begin with. This portion occupies well over half of the running time, and it is delightful. The rest of the film is merely tolerable and very pretty to look at. For those who are unfamiliar with the plot, here is a quick rundown. King Theseus is about to wed Hippolta, and commands a royal performance be given by local actors. Meanwhile, Hermia's father orders her to wed Demetrius, but she is in love with Lysander. Helena is mad about Demetrius who can't stand her. So, Hermia and Lysander decide to run away. Helena decides to tell Demetrius, and they go off in pursuit. The four young people get lost in a forest at night. The woods are full of spirits and fairies. A spell is cast by the well-meaning Puck, but he bewitches the wrong person. And what about the King's wedding and Hermia's outraged father? All this commotion causes a frightful mess, but this is a comedy. As Shakespeare said, all's well that ends well. The cast is good on the whole. Kevin Kline is amusing as Nick, one of the local actors. Michelle Pfeiffer is lovely and seductive as Titania, the Queen of the Fairies. The best cast members are easily Rupert Everett [Oberon], Stanley Tucci [Puck and David Straithairn [Theseus]. Quite disappointing is Calista Flockheart, who plays Helena as if she were Ally McBeale doing Shakespeare. A lot of time and talent was invested in A Midsummer Night's Dream. The result is somewhat less than one would have hoped for, but this is a pleasant enough movie. It knows not to take itself too seriously. The emphasis is on the humor.
Rating: 
Summary: The magic forest is absolutely dazzling!
Review: This is an absolutely stunning version of "A Midsummer's Night dream." In fact, I think it has become my new favorite film! Hoffman's clear passion shows through in everything, the details and the gestalt. You just feel that he and the cast were having fun making this dazzler. Hoffman transposes the play from ancient Greece to 1890's Italy, with new-fangled bicycle almost becoming another character in the play. Having lived in Portugal for two years, it was sheer eye-delight to seed the familiar old walls and cobblestone streets again! The city radiates perfect atmosphere, and makes this film not only believable, but also completely watchable. There is a trend to modernize Shakespeare, and I think it worked in Branaugh's "Hamlet" and "Much Ado," and in the DiCapprio "Romeo + Juliet." I think it underscores the timeless nature of Shakespeare's work, since the same situations of the "Human Predicament" keep repeating themselves over and over again. Moreover, his plays are of the highest quality, so the not only stand the test of time, they withstand the test of time. The center of the play is that weird night in the enchanted forest, which glistens and sheens with a smirk. The costumes are absolutely dazzling, and this film has set a new standard for future Dreams to come. For some reason, I have always pictured Oberon and Titania as Nordic bullies, but they have cast Rupert Everett and Michelle Pfieffer as the classic Greek gods. I must give several tips of the hat to Stanley Tucci for bringing new life into Puck. A balding Puck-who would have imagined that it would work! And his fuzzy puck legs would normally looks lame, but I am draw into the illusion. Most people focus on Callista Flockhart. Not being a fan of (that is never having seen) an episode of Ally McBeal, I can't compare performances. However, the casting director got it right since, as the insults indicate, Helena was to be a "painted maypole" and Hermia was a "puppet" and a "bead" and "acron." Of course, this Shakespearian insult fest does not compare to King Lear II.ii, but it does combine the verbal hack and slash with a low class, lowbrow, female mud wrestle. And you can't find higher quality low humor anywhere else. As to Kevin Klein, I quote from Rodger Ebert's Movie Guide: "When Kevin Klein is sporting facial hair he must play an eccentric, offbeat goofball (A Fish Called Wanda, I Love You to Death, Soapdish). To play a serious role he must be clean-shaven (Dave, Sophie's Choice, Grand Canyon, Cry Freedom)." (p. 103) Inasmuch as he plays the mule-headed Nick Bottom, this must be the most eccentric, offbeat goofball film he will ever make, barring any cameo as Chewbacca's grandfather in the Star Wars Prequals. The only complaint that I have is that this film can get a little racy in one or two scenes, but that is why it is rated PG-13, instead of G. But in the one scene in the forest, Hermia tells, in essence, for Lysander to hold off until they are married. "Lie further off; in human modesty, Such separation as may well be said Becomes a virtuous bachelor and a maid." And that is the message we really need to get out. There is more to life than you-know-what! This is a good copy, and the DVD has the standards, such as chapter selection, subtitles, and, yes, those annoying commercials. Sigh! There aren't any commentaries, or behind the scenes that would have been nice. The makeup is incredible in this film, and I would have liked to see more about the evolving concepts of the costumes, and storyboards. Then again, if you want to know more, then go back to the Bard's original work.
Rating: 
Summary: Just FUN!
Review: This was a fun production. Entertaining and comical -- it was just what I expected from this play. It could have been a little more racy -- a Rated R version would have been more to the Bard's intent for this piece, but it was good.
Rating:
Summary: Magical and well-crafted
Review: As a Shakepeare fan and English major, I often cringe at the Hollywood versions of Shakepeare plays. I thought (along with Hollywood screenwriters, evidently) that the American public, your average Joe wouldn't want to sit through a lot of thee's and thou's. But this is both a stunning visual adaptation and surprisingly true to the text. The casting is also stellar! Michelle Pfeiffer is luminous as the fairy queen Titania, and Rupert Everett as her Oberon is mouth-wateringly sexy. Kevin Kline is laugh-out-loud funny as Bottom the Weaver, wearing the donkey ears surprisingly well for someone of natural dignity and poise. He also delivers a new poignancy to the end, when he recalls the dream just past with heart-breaking longing and a real sense of loss. I admit, I was critical of "Ally McBeal" star Calista Flockhart as Helena (who was supposed to be exceedingly tall), but she also delivers a wonderful performance of dispair and frustration. Chistian Bale's capability to be so magnetically sexy (when under loves spell and even before, when threatening Helena) never ceases to amaze me. Puck (Stanley Tucci) proves both impish and critical ("What fools these mortals be"). The addition of computerized special effects, instead of distracting from the action, add a new depth and wonder to the scenes. The viewer is truly transported to a world of fairy magic and Midsummer Madness.
Rating:
Summary: An improvement on Shakespeare? Maybe.
Review: An inspired production of a Midsummer Night's Dream with the same designer who did the incredible sets of Restoration and Vatel. Without adding very much to the original play, the movie makes Bottom very much the central character (taking its cue from Bottom's final speech in which he says "I shall write a play and I shall call it Bottom's dream.") While remaining true to Shakespeare, the play also becomes a 19th century verismo drama. The setting is 19th century Florence, a town steeped in the Renaissance and hence evocative of Shakespeare's own time. Bottom (wonderfully played by Kevin Kline) is Everyman -- not a peasant buffoon, but a skilled craftsman, as weavers undoubtedly were in both Shakespeare's time and later -- with a dream of transcendent Platonic beauty -- symbolized by his love for bel canto opera (that we hear as background music throughout the play), that his wife cannot understand or sympathize with. This is made clear in a little almost wordless prologue at the beginning of the film. In the play we see that Bottom's dream of Titania later incarnates this vision. Renaissance Italy was a locus of the revival of the Platonic dream of ideal beauty (with women rather than men serving as the love objects whose beauty served as a a step to the perception of higher worlds), so again, this was perfect and not contrary to Shakespeare's spirit. The score, which used the beauty of Italian bel canto opera to suggest ideal, unreachable intoxicating beauty (the fairy world) was also inspired, since it connected Shakespeare's theatrical art to that of nineteenth century Italy where the play was set. I think it is also emotionally valid. The treatment of the fairies was also inspired. Since belief in fairies (or magic nature spirits) occurs throughout the Eurasia (the Indo-European world), the movie makes this point by connecting the English fairies of Shakespeare with the Etrustcan deities haunting the ruins of Florence and thence with India -- the little Indian boy is blue like Krishna. Casting -- Calista Flockart was perhaps a tad old for her part, as was Stanley Tucci for his -- but both did fine. This is theater after all. Theseus and Hypolitta (Sophie Marceau) were perfection.
Rating:
Summary: A Midsummer Night's Restless Sleep
Review: A MIDUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM is a star-studded thumbnail adaption of Shakespeares fantastical love story. unfortunately, it would probably have benefited from less star studding and more direction. KEVIN KLINE and STANLEY TUCCI are both excellent as the more extreme characters (Kline as a hammy actor turned Donkey and Tucci as the supernatural "Puck"). Even Ally McBeal's Calista Flockhart does a nice job but more often than not... the more known entities that fill the screen, the less capable the film is at getting Bill Shakespeare's magical tale properly executed. Its a nice diversion and if no stage versions are around for a few years, check it out.
Rating:
Summary: Cast better than inept direction
Review: While I don't have a problem with new interpretations of Shakespeare, I didn't find this all that new, just confused. Updating Shakespeare is also fine, if it serves a purpose, or at least doesn't interfere with the story, but those bicycles were ridiculous, and simply not funny. There was no point of reference, no reason for them to be there, no punchline. Likewise with Helena and Hermia's little mudbath...generally, the direction was absolutely horrible. The film is quite entertaining though, thanks to some very hard work from some of the cast. And that does not mean Calista Flockhart and Michelle Pfieffer (C.F. is grating, and M.P. obviously not comfortable with the text). It means Kevin Kline, Stanley Tucci, and Rupert Everett among the stars, but especially to some of the secondary characters: Anna Friel as a grounded Hermia (mud bath excepted) Sophie Marceau as an actually likeable Hyppolyta, and the great Roger Rees, as the most memorable Peter Quince I've ever seen. The music is gorgeous, and the scenery is nice, although having actually taken the trouble to go to Tuscany, Hoffman decides to film the magical forest on a really horrible, cheesy, creaking sound stage. Watch it for the cast.
Rating:
Summary: A great Sheakspear film
Review: Here is a super play! Sheakspear meant his whole life as a play, and every single work of his must be treated as such. Love , play and deceit comfortably intertwin in this film and actors live in this film rather then play.
I think that bycicle introduction is great and Sheakspear would have loved it. Besdies being close to text the film is just beautiful to see. This opus brought to my attention such a great actor as Kevin Kline who is different in every film he appears in.
Those who like great names will appreciate Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Everett, though the whole cast is super.
Great credit to the director! And a must for a Sheakspearan lover.
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