Customer Reviews
Come on, carpers! Let Shakespeare be fun! 
2008-09-28
First, the stars. No, not the astrologer's stars, the movie stars, goofy! Some of those high priced people can act! Of course, I'm in luck in that I see so few Hollywood movies that I don't recognize them, so it's easy to suspend disbelief. The one I did recognize was Stanley Tucci, the star of Big Night. Tucci was spectacular in the role of Puck; he stole every scene he appeared in. That guy Kevin Kline did a similar heist on all his scenes; he made Bottom the prime character of the story, with a little help from the editors and cinematographers, who played on his face - his foolish integrity, his dreams - almost any time when the script allowed. Whichever leading lady it was who played Helena was also "picture" perfect, and her scenes of squalling with Hermia were side-splitting funny. The only flop, as an actress, was Michelle Pfeiffer as the Queen of the fairies; luscious looking, yes, but she delivered her lines more stiffly than a seventh-grade cheerleader in English class.
The setting in Italy was completely convincing; after all, most of the Eizabethan comedies were based on Italian models, with commedia dell'arte roots, and Elizabethans knew rather little about settings in Athens. The little touches of Italian opera - both visual and in the soundtrack - were deft and charming. The whole air of opulence suited the magic of the midsummer night like the smile on a pretty child's face.
Oh yeah, and then there was the script. That Shakespeare guy has a future. [Yes, there were cuts, but the shortening of the play served one very useful purpose. It allowed the actors to defy the current notion that every line of Shakespeare has to be spoken so fast that no one can understand it well enough to be bored. Honestly, it was delightful to be able to follow every word for a change. True, the accents were a hodge-podge of Brit and American, but I for one didn't much mind.]
A film of a play by Shakespeare should be at least as enjoyable for a modern audience as we all assume the Globe Theater production was for the flesh-and-blood Elizabethans.
Bottom's bottom line: What fools these purists be!
Very Enjoyable 2008-09-05
Shakespeare would probably roll over in his grave but we both really enjoy this version of the classic. Funny throughout and well done.
Great Late Summer Night Mood Movie 
2008-08-14
I know this version gets panned all the time. And I have seen better versions, (the 1935 version with, of all people, Jimmy Cagney as Bottom was amazingly good). But I love to watch this film. If you love Shakespeare comedies when they go into the woods and things go topsy turvy, then this will be a fun DVD to play on a late Summer night when you can't go to sleep.
Very fun 2008-07-28
It took me a couple of tries to make it through the movie, but once I did, I ended up watching it again the same day. It was just hilarious. Shakespeare on film tends to be very boring, but I think the changes that were made to this play made it enjoyable. As far as the accents go, I would rather all the actors speak in their natural voices than all speak in an English accent since the setting was Italy. I just hate when they do that in movies. I know that it's Shakespeare, but Greeks don't have English accents, and neither do Italians. Calista Flockhart was adorably desperate, Stanley Tucci was great, and Kevin Kline was right on the mark. I think all the actors did a great job making this film worth watching.
midsummer night's dream dvd 
2008-06-23
not bad...ther was a skip at the end, it left out a chunk of the film. that sucked.
Pure Trash 
2008-06-22
A stellar cast, headed by Michelle Pfeiffer and Kevin Kline, bring Shakespeare's romantic comedy to life. When two pairs of star-crossed lovers, a feuding pair of supernatural sprites and a love potion gone awry all come together in an enchanted moonlit forest, the result is a delightful mix of merriment and magic. Also starring Calista Flockhart, Stanley Tucci and Rupert Everett.
Greatest Shakespeare on Film 2008-04-27
This is one of my favorite movies. The cast was stellar, the lighting and detals perfect and the actors clearly underrstand their roles and portray them well. Many of them had previous experience with the Bard (Kline and Flockheart certainly do) and bring that familiarity with them to this production. The only slight off note is that the director should have had Hippolyta wearing a uniform (she was the Queen of the Amazons, after all) because this would have helped the audiance understand the interaction between herself and Theseus- Hippolyta gives us Shakespeare's vision of the empowered modern woman- someone who has choices and does NOT have to get married if she does not want to. But other than this very slight quibble the movie is a pitch perfect presentation of Shakespeare's greatest comedy, one that uses film to bring out the full story in a way that cannot be done on the stage. This film is an absolute must buy.
Great product 2008-03-28
The movie was in great condition. It was new and unopened. Will defiantly buy from seller again.
Quality Shakespeare Production 2008-02-25
A wonderful adaptation of a classic. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because it just isn't one of my favorite plays...but still very well done.
Good Attempt 2007-11-17
I have yet to see a MSND video production I really liked. Magic works less well on a screen than a stage. This production is rich and occasionally clever. Generally it is well cast (Titania, played by Michelle Pfeiffer could not be lovelier), but Kevin Kline's Puck is dull: casting Puck as a worldly, bored, middle-aged man was not a sound decision. Bottom and company are good. The acting is excellent all around. Good fun for the Shakespeare buff, but not captivating.
