Puck O David Straithairn example essay topic

A MidSummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare was turned into a movie in 1999. Popular celebrities became Shakespearean actors using old English. The play which was once a romantic comedy was transformed by Hollywood into something, well different. The movie version of the book was interesting. The maker had a different point of view in how the film was shot and how the characters acted.

The film and the book had some major differences. In Shakespeare's play, he makes the characters Athenian. The characters in the movie were clearly not Athenian. The women wore long flowing dresses and the men wore trousers. Also, the hats and accessories worn by the women were English. The setting of the film seemed to be in Italy during Shakespeare's time.

Michael Hoffman, the director also changed the technology used in the film. The characters rode wooden bicycles. The book talked about the characters running from each other instead of riding a bicycle. This changed the mood of the story because maybe women were not as helpless. The book made women into poor weak girls who needed a man to protect them because of the uncivilized time.

The technology showed how women, even though they were not equal were athletic and didn't just sit at home and clean the house. There were a few differences within the play within a play. To start, there was no prologue. Snout, as the wall started the play and whenever a character forgot his lines, Quince would shout them out. Also, there was an explanation to why Starveling used a lantern as the moonshine instead of opening the window. The film showed Starveling opening a window to find a wall.

Therefore, he used a lantern on a stick. Another character was introduced into the movie. This was Starveling's dog who disrupted the play. He bit Bottom's cape and was sent spinning, he also knocked down his owner and the lantern. These extra parts were quite funny. It gave the viewer insight to what happened that was not talked about in the play.

It is almost impossible to distinguish if the book or the film was better. They both have their pros and cons. The book let the reader imagine what was happening instead of just taking someone else's point of view. It also helped to better understand the use of the language and any hidden meanings can be examined. The only disappointment that the book gave me was that some parts were unclear. Shakespeare left out some scenes which might have helped the plot along more and maybe give more insight into what the characters were thinking.

The film also had some good points. It made the book come to life. There were beautiful costumes and cute hairstyles. The scenery was great. The room where the play within a play was performed was amazing. The architecture and light colors made the room look majestic.

The play performed by Bottom and the other workers was hilarious. It was a lot better than that part in the written version. Even though the movie was good, it did in my opinion have some flaws. I did not like some of the actors chosen for the parts. David Straithairn who played Theseus should not have been chosen for that part. Theseus was a legendary hero.

He defeated the Amazons to win Hippolyta. Theseus was meant to be a strong muscular man. Even though Straithairn is probably a credible actor, he should not have been cast as Theseus. Also, the actress Anna Friel, should not have been cast as Hermia. The book has Lysander calling her an "Ethiop". Friel has reddish-brown hair.

There is no reason for him to call her an "Ethiop". Overall, both the book and the film were great. Even though the movie was faster than the book, both were very good. o Michael Hoffman... Director o Kevin Kline...

Nick Bottom o Stanley Tucci... Puck o David Straithairn... Theseus o Christian Bale... Demetrius o Michelle Pfeiffer... Titania o Anna Friel... Hermia o Bill Irwin...

Tom Snout o Rupert Everett... Oberon o Calista Flockhart... Helena o Sam Rockwell... Frances Flute o Dominic West... Lysander o Sophie Marceau...

Hippolyta o Roger Rees... Peter Quince o Bernard Hill... Ege us o John Sessions... Philiostrate.