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Movies / On DVD / A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream

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A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)

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Reviews Counted:74

Fresh:50

Rotten:24

Average Rating:6.3/10

Consensus: Faultless production and shining performances display the Bard's talent propitiously.

Runtime: 2 hrs

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: Michael Hoffman's film adaptation of Shakespeare's magical comedy of a love-tangled quadrangle shimmers with sumptuous cinematography and a truly stellar cast that includes Kevin Kline, Michelle... Michael Hoffman's film adaptation of Shakespeare's magical comedy of a love-tangled quadrangle shimmers with sumptuous cinematography and a truly stellar cast that includes Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Stanley Tucci, Rupert Everett, Calista Flockhart, and Sam Rockwell. Relocated from Athens to an Italian villa, the film follows the romantic misadventures of four would-be lovers; at the beginning of the film Helena loves Demetrius who loves Hermia who loves Lysander, but all of that undergoes a change when the four young people chase each other into the woods and wander into the domain of Oberon and Titania (King and Queen of the Fairies), and the mischievous magic of Puck who possesses a flower that causes people to fall in love with the first person they encounter. Into the hilarity and confusion stumble a hapless band of laborers rehearsing a play for the Duke's wedding. One of the band, Nick Bottom, a humble weaver, is given the head of donkey and then, through the power of the flower, wins the love of Titania herself. After a dizzying whirl of magic, mayhem, and a million minor follies of the heart, everything is sorted out and everyone finds, at last, their match. [More]

Starring: Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Calista Flockhart

Starring: Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Calista Flockhart, Stanley Tucci, Anna Friel, Christian Bale, Dominic West, David Strathairn, Sophie Marceau, Roger Rees, Bernard Hill, Bill Irwin, Sam Rockwell, John Sessions, Max Wright, Gregory Jbara

Director: Michael Hoffman

Director: Michael Hoffman
Story: William Shakespeare
Producer: Leslie Urdang
Composer: Simon Boswell

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Aug 5, 2008

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • 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.
  • Source: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
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    Reviews for A Midsummer Night's Dream

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    1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating)
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    Pfeiffer and Everett make convincing fairy overlords!

    Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    E! Online

    Flockhart's delivery of the Shakespeare lines is faultless, her energy level charged, and her charm considerable as she pursues her beloved, Demetrius.

    Full Review Source: culturevulture.net | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Arthur Lazere
    Arthur Lazere
    culturevulture.net

    With the finely timed comedic performances of, most notably, Kevin Kline and Stanley Tucci, one can't help but [laugh].

    Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Dainon Moody
    Dainon Moody
    Deseret News, Salt Lake City

    A sweet springtime surprise!

    Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Dan Jardine
    Dan Jardine
    Apollo Guide

    The movie adds delicate beauty to what we already consider a rollicking Shakespearean comedy.

    Full Review Source: Cinemaphile.org | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    David Keyes
    David Keyes
    Cinemaphile.org

    After watching William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, I'm left with more admiration than fairy dust.

    Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Desson Thomson
    Desson Thomson
    Washington Post
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Intermittently enjoyable!

    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Emanuel Levy
    Emanuel Levy
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    The first two-thirds of the movie is entertaining in spots, but flat as a pancake in others.

    Full Review Source: Houston Community Newspapers | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Gary Brown
    Gary Brown
    Houston Community Newspapers

    Kline shines!

    comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Gary Thompson
    Gary Thompson
    Philadelphia Daily News

    Te movie comes awfully close to being a dream production.

    Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Harvey S. Karten
    Harvey S. Karten
    Compuserve

    A funny, thoughtful, easy to follow and lovely to see!

    Full Review Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Jack Garner
    Jack Garner
    Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

    Sufficiently contemporary and fresh!

    Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    James Berardinelli
    James Berardinelli
    ReelViews
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | comment Comment
    02/27/01
    James Kendrick
    James Kendrick
    Q Network Film Desk

    Bathed in sunshine, stardust and star power, this 'Dream' should be required viewing for anyone who insists Shakespeare is stuffy and dull. ...this is Shakespeare for the masses.

    Full Review Source: Kalamazoo Gazette | comment Comment
    08/05/07
    James Sanford
    James Sanford
    Kalamazoo Gazette

    If there is sacrilege afoot, I'm not enough of a scholar to spot it.

    Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
    07/21/05
    Jeff Millar
    Jeff Millar
    Houston Chronicle
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    It has fun and makes you laugh.

    Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
    06/03/06
    Jeffrey M. Anderson
    Jeffrey M. Anderson
    Combustible Celluloid

    A well-crafted film!

    Full Review Source: Norman Transcript | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Jim Chastain
    Jim Chastain
    Norman Transcript

    What joy to hear an entire film audience roar with glee at Moonshine, Lion and Wall.

    Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
    05/20/03
    Jim Shelby
    Jim Shelby
    Palo Alto Weekly

    ...even sapped of some of its magic, much of the story's poetry remains.

    Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
    04/08/01
    John J. Puccio
    John J. Puccio
    DVDTown.com

    Michael Hoffman's adaptation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream is a delightful way to spend the summer solstice evening, or any other, for that matter.

    Full Review Source: Film Quips Online | comment Comment
    02/08/03
    John R. McEwen
    John R. McEwen
    Film Quips Online
     
     
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