A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream

A Midsummer Night's Dream

1999Movie116 minEnglish

The lovely Hermia is to wed Demetrius, but she truly cares for Lysander. Hermia's friend, Helena, is in love with Demetrius, while other romantic entanglements abound in the woods, with married fairy rulers Titania and Oberon toying with various lovers and each other.

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Insights

IMDb6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes48%
Metacritic51/100
Google Users68%
Director: Michael HoffmanGenres: Fantasy, Romance, Comedy

Plot Summary

In mystical ancient Greece, four young lovers flee into a moonlit forest, only to stumble into the realm of fairies. Led by the mischievous Puck and the warring king and queen Oberon and Titania, the lovers find themselves ensnared in a magical, chaotic web of love potions and enchanted transformations. Meanwhile, a troupe of amateur actors prepares to perform a play for the Duke's wedding, unaware of the whimsical, amorous pandemonium about to engulf them.

Critical Reception

The 1999 film adaptation of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' received a mixed to positive reception from critics and audiences. While some praised its visual flair, star-studded cast, and energetic approach to Shakespeare, others found it to be a somewhat uneven translation of the Bard's intricate comedy. The film was generally seen as an entertaining, if not definitive, rendition of the classic play, particularly appealing to those who appreciate modernized or stylized adaptations.

What Reviewers Say

  • Visually rich with a strong ensemble cast that brings energy to the material.
  • Attempts to balance faithfulness with modern appeal, resulting in an uneven but often charming experience.
  • While entertaining, it doesn't quite capture the full magic or comedic brilliance of Shakespeare's original play.

Google audience: Audiences generally found the film to be a colorful and enjoyable adaptation, appreciating the performances and the attempt to make Shakespeare accessible. Some viewers noted that while entertaining, it didn't always hit the mark in terms of comedic timing or capturing the full depth of the play.

Fun Fact

The film was shot on location in Italy, with the forest scenes filmed in the grounds of a Renaissance villa and at a botanical garden.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

This is my favourite Shakespeare story, full of mischief and mayhem, comedy and even a good bit of lust mixed in with the true love. This, however, is a really pedestrian adaptation that doesn't measure (for measure) up at all. The all impo...