Watch A Midsummer Night's Dream

A Midsummer Night’s Dream from 2016 is a film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s famous comedic play of the same name. The movie stars John Hannah as Theseus/Oberon, Elliot Levey as Philostrate/Quince, and Eleanor Matsuura as Hippolyta/Titania. The movie follows the original story of the play but has been modernized to suit the current audience.

The movie is set in the modern era, in a world of technology and social media, and the characters are dressed in contemporary clothing. The story is about love and relationships, with Shakespeare’s signature wit and humor adding levity to the themes of the play.

The movie opens with Duke Theseus and Amazon Queen Hippolyta discussing their wedding plans. At the same time, four young lovers are also tangled in a love triangle. Hermia, played by Rachael Leigh Cook, is in love with Lysander, played by Hamish Linklater. However, her father has arranged for her to marry Demetrius, played by Finn Wittrock. Meanwhile, Helena, played by Lily Rabe, is in love with Demetrius but is ignored by him.

The mischievous Puck, played by Avan Jogia, overhears their conversations and decides to intervene. He uses a magical flower to make Demetrius fall in love with Helena, but his plan backfires when Lysander also falls in love with Helena. Chaos ensues, and the four lovers end up being chased by the forest’s wild inhabitants.

As the night wears on, the fairy king Oberon and queen Titania become embroiled in their own domestic troubles. Their fairy kingdom is turned upside down as the fairy queen acquires a love potion and falls in love with Bottom, played by Max Carver, who has been transformed into a donkey. Oberon and Puck also use the flower to enchant Titania and try to fix the situation in the fairy kingdom.

The movie’s director, Casey Wilder Mott, has done an excellent job of adapting the play to modern times. He has retained the original dialogue and story structure while adding a contemporary flair to the movie. The film’s high point is the use of technology and social media in the movie. At various points in the story, characters use their smartphones to post selfies, update their statuses, and record video messages. The movie has an ethereal quality to it, and the special effects used to depict the magical forest and creatures add to the otherworldly feel of the film.

The performances by the cast are also commendable, with John Hannah and Eleanor Matsuura stealing the show as the fairy king and queen. Their verbal sparring and exchanges are a delight to watch. Avan Jogia as Puck is also noteworthy, capturing the character’s mischievousness and humor.

One of the film’s drawbacks is its pacing. The first half of the movie feels slow, and it takes a while for the story to pick up momentum. The characters are also not given enough time to develop, making it difficult for the audience to connect with them emotionally.

Overall, A Midsummer Night’s Dream from 2016 is a stellar modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s play. The movie’s visuals and use of technology work incredibly well, and the performances by the cast are impressive. The film’s only letdown is the sluggish pacing and underdeveloped characters. Nonetheless, the movie is a must-watch for fans of Shakespeare and anyone looking for a whimsical and magical movie experience.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a 2016 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4.