A Midsummer Night's Dream
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Movie Reviews of A Midsummer Night's Dream
Movie Review: Beautifully imagined, if a little cold
Summary: 4 Stars
What one takes away from this production is the triumph of the artistic direction and the splendid performance of Alex Jennings as Oberon/Theseus. While I certainly liked other aspects of the experience, as a whole it left me a little cold. Much of this, I suspect, lies in severity of the cuts, most evident in the handling of the main plot (the Oberon/Titania quarrel is a sub-plot, after all-- although one wouldn't know it from this adaptation). True, there's not much difference between Demetrius and Lysander (which is sort of the point, I suppose), but, in this production at least, I never cared at all for Hermia and missed Helena's comic self-pity (trimmed as it was). To be even more frank, I didn't find one of the four principal lovers' performances to be more than competent (although one should not take even this for granted in a filmed production), much less memorable. Others have spoken derisively of the boy's dream that frames the play, but I thought it was an interesting conceit, if not terribly original. For the life of me I can't understand why it is so controversial here since he speaks no lines, and his presence allows for some very interesting point-of-view shifts. On the whole, I would recommend it, but as far as filmed adaptations go, I probably still prefer the (slightly stodgy) BBC filmed production from the early 80s (which, it will be admitted, has a host of problems of its own). In terms of imagination of conception, however, this one is truly remarkable and should not be missed by fans of the play (everyone, I hope).Movie Review: Stellar -- but truncated -- Dream
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw this Royal Shakespeare Company production live and the movie captures a lot of its magic. However, excising out parts of this play diminishes it somewhat. And as others have noted, staging the play as a young boy's dream is unnecessary. It's not likely a young child could visualize the plot's intracies even in his most imaginative dreams.
Still, you aren't apt to hear Shakespeare's poetry spoken more splendidly than in this production. This is a veteran cast of top notch British actors rather than a group of movie stars doing their Shakespeare thing.
Desmond Barrit's wonderfully enunciated and acted Bottom is a real treat, and the two leads, Ken Jennings and Lindsay Duncan recreate their splendid live performances.
Movie Review: Nice Production
Summary: 4 Stars
If you choose to watch Shakespeare on Film/DVD you have to accept that it's going to move at a slower pace, more dialogue than usual will be cut and in this case an additional part not intended by the Bard will present itself. The little boy who appears throughout the play adds another (quite unnecessary) frame to a tale that is already framed. The actors however, are superb, (as they should be since they are the Royal Shakespeare Company) the casting of Bottom and Puck are spot on and the settings which move from actual stage to movie-like creations are delightful. The costuming is beautiful as well. So, if you like Shakespeare - you will enjoy this ... just try to ignore that creepy, ubiquitous silent and smiling boy.Movie Review: Ying and Yang of modern productions.
Summary: 3 Stars
Greetings,
Right off I'll say this much: I like (Note the use of personal opinion here not global statement) this version much more than the nightmarishly Hollywoodized 2003 one with Kevin Kline and Michelle Pfeiffer.
This version is a bit of extremes. On the one hand it's an excellent portrayal of the Bards work is some ways and in others directly contradicts what many masters of his works consider paramount at times.
The Good:
Well, personally I like the colors and allusions in the motifs of light bulbs and umbrellas. The contradiction of a normal stage, set and settings in the human world and this, oh...quasi-minimalistic, surreal approach when in the woods worked, at least as far as this member of the audience is concerned. Of course there are the basic prerequisites that were matched (This IS the Royal Shakespeare company after all) of wonderful acting, yadda, yadda, yadda and so on, good casting, blah, blah, blah. For me though what makes or breaks these kinds of immortal works are the little things. The physical gestures, facial expressions etc. Oberon is perfect for example, the bare feet, the flowing coat hanging literally all over the young lovers who play their part perfectly by not acknowledging this rather large fellow actor breathing in their ear. Puck too works well. 'Proud Titania' certainly was amazonian enough; protrayed as a bit of a stick in the mud which went a far way to showing her greater, oh, let's say moral authority over her king; though the fae have no concept of morality, but I digress. The 'Human' characters were also quite fun getting yanked this way and that and playing the roles well. Though, as should be evidenced by this review, Oberon and Puck were my personal highlights.
The Bad:
As in The Good, it's the little things. In this case the sex scene with Bottom and Titiana. Um... As I've also said this IS The Royal Shakespeare Company so I have to wonder what industrial accident happened near their HQ to induce a dementia to the point where someone thought a sex scene was a good idea? One of the major charming points regarding Bottom is the idea that he is an innocent. A prime point of this comedy is how Titiana, who is a Fae Lord for God's sake, one of the most beautiful and enticingly sensual creatures in the history of time, is throwing herself at this mortal and he doesn't even notice being much more charmed, in his childlike manner, by Mustardseed and its kin. The actor who portrays Bottom is a good physical actor, he's just not a good physical actor for Bottom.
So, as I said, this is a creature of extremes in productions of Midsummer Night Dreams. Get it for Oberon and Puck, pay no attention to the kiss, it's a gesture of servile devotion- only a fool associates mortal definitions to fae actions. Avoid it for The Bottom of Bottom and Titian portrayals. Personally, I find Oberon and the young lovers actions and presentation to be of greater value than the detriments caused by the flawed writing and directing that birthed the Titania and Bottom fiasco- but that's not my call to make globally.
The Neutral:
These things did little to harm or add to the play. They came across as 'Charming' or 'Odd' but did not much add pro or con to any sum total of mental assessment as far as I'm concerned. These would be things like- The Umbrellas, the light bulbs, the feathered hair, the running through doors, the portrayal of the dream as a dream, maybe, and the boy who pops up now and again who I like to think of as 'The Witness'. Really the only thing that's worth commenting on regarding The Witness is how this young actor is apparently also in the Anthony Hopkins version of Titus, directed by Julie Taymore where he has has much the same role until the last third or so. As I said, a bit odd.
I remain, as always,
Mad-Hamlet
Movie Review: The Beauty of Shakespeare
Summary: 3 Stars
The beauty if Shakespeare is present in this version of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The version is quite different from other versions. Often the fairy world contains no sets- just floating lights and ambient light. The fairies are portrayed in bright color with wild hair-do's. Puck is reminiscent of an eighties rock star, and several of the fairies look like oompah- loompahs. Lysander and Demetrius are introduced wearing the same clothes and appear very whiny at times. The play is very sexual at times and the acting sometimes appears over the top (several people are slapped in the face in anger at random times). But staging is marvelous. The backdrop of the movie is that the entire thing is a child's dream, making the many fantastical happenings much more believable. The child appears throughout the movie, and if you watch carefully, many things in the child's room are repeated throughout the movie. The same actor and actress play the Theseus/Hippolyta couple and the Oberon/Titania couple. The end has some excellent staging using these two actors/four characters portrayal.
The beauty of Shakespeare is interpretation. Shakespeare has been done on so many levels in so many ways, and this is simply another way of doing it. The bright color and sometime unorthodox manner of interpretation (at one point Titania and Bottom with a donkey's head are seen making love) may startle at first, but know that the essence of the play is kept. Many things of this movie are in fact reminiscent of past versions. The player of "moon" in this version of the play within a play is still a skinny old man with glasses as in the Woolfenden and Hoffman productions, and the wall "chink" is still two fingers. Many of the same jokes are kept (Ninus' Tomb! Ninus' Tomb! Not Ninny's!) and the actual Shakespeare lines are treated with respect, unedited with the exception of simple removal. So, although the movie stands out as utterly different from all other screen versions (and probably from most stage versions too) it contains the remnants of its predecessors along with the nature Shakespeare originally intended for the play.
I personally quite enjoyed the movie. The over acting can be something amusing, and once you get used to it, you can see through to the interpretation of the play. The actor of Theseus/Oberon is quite young, and does well in changing his acting. It is obvious the same actor is playing both parts, but his change in attitude makes it interesting to watch him act. The players (Quince, Bottom and the others) are portrayed as a sort of subdued biker group. They are very funny, and the actor of Pyramus, while acting silly during the play within a play, is able to elicit serious emotion as well.
So, give this version some time. It is quite satisfying to see it through to the end. The differences can be startling at first, but the interpretation is marvelous at times. Shakespeare is treated with due respect, earlier versions are honored, and A Midsummer Night's Dream is definitely experienced by all who watch.