"Lord, what fools these mortals be!"      

A Midsummer Night's Dream (PG-13) 

Reviewed May 17, 1999 - Check out the A Midsummer Night's Dream Website.

It seems that everything of Shakespeare's turns into gold these days, a kind of Bard's revival that's sweeping through the world, captivating young and old alike.  The latest entry into this mix is A Midsummer Night's Dream, a star-studded and richly detailed film adaptation by screenwriter/director Michael Hoffman.  The castlist is needless to say impressive, including:

• Rupert Everett as Fairy King Oberon
• Michelle Pfeiffer as Fairy Queen Titania
• Stanley Tucci as trickster Puck
• Calista Flockhart as Helena
• Anna Friel as Hermia
• Christian Bale as Demetrius
• David Straithairn as Duke Theseus
• Domic West as Lysander
• Kevin Kline as Nick Bottom

A lush, spirited and frothy fantasy, A Midsummer Night's Dream is a comedy about love, and in this adaptation it is a very entertaining, very funny, and absolutely enchanting comedy indeed.  In a tale where "the course of true love never did run smooth," we are treated to a fun, frolicking romp into an enchanted forest, where a fight between Fairy King Oberon and Fairy Queen Titania (and the nectar from a particularly potent flower) leads to mischief with young mortals in and out of love with each other.  Helena is in love with Demetrius who in turn loves Hermia, but Hermia loves Lysander and will do anything to escape from her arranged marriage with Demetrius.  Well, into the forest they go one night, and before you know it, Puck (as Cupid would) begins to redirect affections to sometimes confusing, often amusing results.

Remember folks, that this is all supposed to be a dream, and thus all of this film's more fanciful elements should be taken in stride.  With wonderful performances all the way around, and with particularly noteworthy performances by Stanley Tucci, Kevin Klein, and Dominic West, A Midsummer Night's Dream is well worth a viewing (or two).  The last half hour is absolutely hilarious, the first hour and a half is surprisingly enchanting...enjoy... :-)

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

brandyctodd@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "I absolutely adore this movie. I don't think it could have been made better. I was Titania in high school and feel ashamed I could not do the part justice as Michelle Pfieffer does. " (8/30/00)

JulietKP76@aol.com gives this movie  stars: "I thought this was an ecceptional movie. I loved the character of Puck, and the movies made me interested enough to go out and read the actual play, which was amazing as well!!" (4/28/00)

fantasy_pegasis@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "I think this was a really funny movie." (4/7/00)