 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Review Date: May 19, 2003
- PG-13
- Genre: Drama
- 1999
Common Sense Media says
Sumptuous version, both earthy and enchanted.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there is some earthiness (including an inexplicit scene of Puck relieving himself, some brief nudity, and Hermia's firm resolve not to have sex with Lysander until they are married).
What's the story?
Four couples sort out their romantic entanglements in Shakespeare's most magical love story. Hermia (Anna Friel) and Lysdander (Dominic West) love each other, but her father wants her to marry Demetrius (Christian Bale). Demetrius loves Hermia, but is loved by her friend Helena (Calista Flockhart). When Hermia and Lysander run off together, Demetrius chases after them, with Helena chasing him. Meanwhile the Queen of the Fairies, Titania (Michelle Pfeiffer), and her King, Oberon (Rupert Everett), argue over custody of a changeling child. The local Duke Theseus (David Strathairn) prepares for his marriage to Hippolyta (Sophie Marceau), and a group of workmen rehearse a play to perform at the wedding celebration. With the help of the mischievous Puck (Stanley Tucci), Oberon exposes his queen to a potion that causes people to fall in love with whomever they first see after they wake up. The queen falls in love with a man who has a donkey's head. But Lysander and Demetrius are exposed, too, and fall in love with the neglected Helena, forgetting all about Hermia. But by morning, everything is sorted out, and the wedding festivities end with the workmen's remarkable play.
Is it any good?
Filmed several times before, most famously with James Cagney as Bottom and Mickey Rooney as the Puck, this sumptuous version of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM manages to be both earthy and enchanted. The cast includes Hollywood royalty (Michele Pfeiffer as Fairy Queen Titania, theater-trained performers (including Ally McBeal's Calista Flockhart and and Kevin Kline, magnificent as Bottom the would-be actor), international stars Sophie Marceau and Rupert Everett, and "new vaudevillian" and MacArthur genius grant award-winner Bill Irwin. The resulting mix of acting styles clashes at times, as does the mix of music and the switch of setting from ancient Athens to 19th century Tuscany, arias and all. Ultimately, though, it is charming, an accessible introduction to the works of that guy in the movie with Gwyneth Paltrow.
Kids will enjoy the movie more if they have some basic introduction to the plot.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about may want to talk about an era in which a father could order his child to marry the person he chose, about "the course of true love," and how people work out the problems in relationships. Older kids may like to talk about the metaphor of an enchanted forest as a place to find self-knowledge and to resolve issues.
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AGE
a little inappropriate
OK, first there is more than one scene of nudity, both male and female, although most of it is hard to see, it also has a few bad words too.
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AGE
Faithful adaptation
After reading the book (which can be tedious at times, but you're glad you tackled the classic at the end) I can report that it was very true to the source, Shakespeare's language in it remained. The acting is fine, especially Kline and Tucci who seem to have the most fun with their roles. There's a surprising amount of nudity in this movie, which surprised me when they showed it at school.
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| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | Michael Hoffman |
| Cast: | Calista Flockhart, Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 116 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 14, 1999 |
| DVD release date: | April 15, 2003 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | some sexual content |
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