Shakespeare's A Midsummer example essay topic

432 words
Michael Hoffman directed William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and it is an enchanting new version of Shakespeare's most magical comedy. It has dangerous potions, fairies and strange romances. It is a tale of a wondrous single night in which wicked spirits turn the world of love on its head. First I have to make it clear that I have never really thought much of A Midsummer Night's Dream. I have always considered it fairly frivolous and not too important in William Shakespeare's career. I really do not know why, it just is what it is.

I must say, that Michael Hoffman's William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream is a very good film, BUT, it is not for everyone because it is purely Shakespeare updated to 19th Century, Tuscany, Italy where the characters ride around on a new invention, the bicycle. All the magical fairies, tangled romances, Oberon and Puck are all here to bedevil the ill-fated humans, as Puck says, 'What fools these mortals be'. The movie opens with an interesting effect to show the name of the film, it's quite magical. The opening is interesting but then it bogs down for about 15 minutes and since I was tired I found it a bit of a struggle staying awake, but I did and I was rewarded.

I quickly woke up as the scene moved into the woods late at night as the fairy world came to life with interesting, magical creatures. Stanley Tucci plays the mischievous Puck quite well as does Calista Flock heart as Helena, one of the tortured lovers; she nails Helena's love craziness. Christian Bale as Demetrius, Sophie Marceau as Hippolyte and Dominic West as Lysander play the other lovers. Rupert Everett's Oberon has a brooding to him that I have never seen which makes that role work for me in ways it has never before. I personally feel that Michelle Pfeiffer as Titania, the fairy Queen was absolutely beautiful. Kevin Kline as Nick Bottom and Ms. Pfeiffer stole the show in my opinion.

They did an excellent job. This is a good film for school teachers to take their students to see but remember this is not a youth market oriented film like Romeo and Juliet that was put out two years ago. This film will help student's understand this play a lot easier, but it will not be an easy sell. It is worth the money if this type of film is your cup of tea..