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Amazon.co.uk Review
By far the best thing about director Michael Hoffman's A Midsummer Night's Dream is the extraordinary all-star cast, which follows the precedent created by Kenneth Branagh's Italian-set romantic Shakespeare comedy, Much Ado About Nothing (1993), of mixing major Hollywood stars--here Kevin Kline and Michelle Pfeiffer--with top British talent, in this instance Christian Bale, Rupert Everett, Roger Rees, David Strathairn and Dominic West. Kline makes a fine Nick Bottom, with Pfeiffer equally good as the fairy queen Titania and Everett brooding effectively as Oberon. Unfortunately, while both look ravishing, it is hard to tell which actress between Anna Friel (Brookside) and Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal) gives the most wretched performance. Both are completely out of their depth the moment they begin to speak, and utterly outclassed by the excellent Sophie Marceau.
Shot in Tuscany and set in the 19th century, parts of the film are extraordinarily beautiful, while other sections could have benefited from some judicious special effects magic. This is not a bad movie, but it is rather uninspired, lacking any real imaginative grasp of the play. In contrast, the much less well known and lower budget Royal Shakespeare Company version of 1996 positively revels in the fantastically surreal possibilities this timeless text. --Gary S Dalkin
Special Features
2.35 Wide Screen
16:9 Wide Screen
DVD 9
French\German\Spanish
English\German
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English French German Spanish
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dutch\French\German\Spanish
16:9 Wide Screen
DVD 9
French\German\Spanish
English\German
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English French German Spanish
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dutch\French\German\Spanish
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film especially for those perhaps visiting Shakespeare for the first time will find the setting of this play curious, yet very beautiful - clearly Shakespere is for all ages and for all times. The acting is superb and I do admit that Calista Flockhart takes this journey into the world of Shakespere wonderfully well (talented and very Beautiful!) Not too diminish the charms of both Michelle Pfeiffer and Anna Friel who seems to have been overlooked on the credits (? why) but Calista as Shakespearian Actress demonstrates she is far more than Ally Mc Beal! The cast, costume and settings of this play can be summed up as magical, in sixty years I have to rate this film as the absolute best ever for me.
Film has become violent and quite blatant in its exploitation of sex. This film is undoubtedly sensual - like the classical music that backs the film is sensual, but it it also fun and the special effects add to this sense of sheer delight.
Give this film a chance - let yourself go - watch Shakespere for once - this is how Shakespeare should be - not dried out in the school classroom - but full of wonderful life - and not a little spice!
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've never greatly cared for this play, like 12th Night it seemed more cruel than funny. Therefore I approached an "All Star" version with caution. However this film was a delightful surprise, not only is it a very good ensemble, but the director has managed to make sense of the humour of the "rude mechanicals" for me for the first time. I think this interpretation, even if its not slavishly faithful to the play, gets closer to the intended humour. Its the first version I've seen that actually made me laugh and believe Puck's assertion at the end that no harm has really been done.
35 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was deeply unimpressed with the casting of this glossy version of one of my favourite plays, until Kevin Kline appeared on screen. Not only is his performance sublime, but he actually gave an interpretation of Bottom that I have never seen before, one that I found very human and moving. He is worth the admission price alone. Just as well since most of the other performances left me indifferent. Kline's performance lifts this to a four star rating, along with the fantastic incidental music - I've rarely heard the Mascagni used so effectively.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
SURPRISINGLY GOOD
I really didn't want to watch this but, (having foolishly agreed to a democratic DVD selection process within the family), was forced into sitting through what I expected to be an... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sou'Wester
So disappointing
I was looking for a DVD of MND to use with a year 9 English class and thought this might fit the bill. What a disappointment it was. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Avid reader
A Midsummer Nights Dream [DVD 1999]
Happy customer. The item arrived well packed, on time and as described. Good quality of the DVD. After all just happy customer.
Published 6 months ago by lada
A Magical Confluence
We've all seen adaptions of the Bard's work, have sat through films and plays because of rave reviews feeling we ought to like them, most leave me cold. Tuscany,bicycles? Read more
Published 10 months ago by The Wyrd
Shakespear at its best
An old favourite in our house. Our original disk got damaged and would not play so great to replace at a reasonable cost.
Published 11 months ago by Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie
A Midsummer Nights Dream Dvd 1999
I thoroughly enjoyed this Dvd and interpretation of A Midsummer Nights Dream it was truly magical and would recommend it to anyone interested in becoming acquainted with... Read more
Published 12 months ago by rosemary
rubbish!!
I was unfortunate enough to buy it and have regretted it!! The cast is bad, the setting reminds me of school plays, the director didn't do his job. Read more
Published 15 months ago by debbiepvd
disappointing
Very disappointing version, the shakespearean language did not sit well with the setting or the cast, very little to recommend it.
Published 15 months ago by A. L. Mcleod
I love it.
I really loved this adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The well-known actors and actresses made it all the more interesting for me and the end Act was hilarious. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Ms. C. J. Coleman
Starlit, star performance
As a Shakespeare addict I can be critical of performance but this is a real treasure. The Italian setting, the light operatic music, are magical. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Natalie
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