Julie Taymor's Midsummer Night's Dream Reviews- Page 2

[edmundog2]

Posted: 6/15/15 at 11:52am

It doesn't look funny. I feel like that should be the first requirement...

[GalindaLucinda]

Posted: 6/15/15 at 11:54am

Do you think it's worth it to see the Fathom Events version?

 

I've never been, am curious how well they're able to capture the scope/feel of the production?

[ggersten]

Posted: 6/22/15 at 11:04pm

Just back from the movie theatre.  We three mortals of varying age (adult, 20 and 14) all greatly enjoyed it.  Visually - it is impressive.  The camera work overall was excellent.  I don't know how many cameras were used - but there is quite a variety of shots and close-ups.  (I did feel cheated though when the end credits indicated there was a re-recording person and foley artists).  Taymor is credited as the director of the film, too, so she has come a-ways since Across the Universe.  

There was a short bit before the movie with Taymor explaining her vision and how she came to it.  I think Taymor has a unique way of seeing the stage - and no matter how audacious, it may be - she gets her visuals to work.  And, she was not above making fun (or paying homage?) to herself.  The multiple use of the sheet - the bamboo - the elevators - the pillows! - the making of the acting troupe as a bunch of Brooklyn or Bronx guys.  

I thought the acting was uneven.  The young actress playing Hermia, Lilly Englert, has what appears to be a lisp and it was really offputting. I sort of got used to it. (I have no idea if it is real or affected) The actors playing Lysander and Demetrious were ok - and were best when puffing up against each other when both are entranced by Helena. Mandi Masden's Helena was fairly one-note - teetering on the edge of hysteria - but I enjoyed her performance.   

David Harewood was a magnificent Oberon.  Max Casella was an hysterical Bottom.

And Kathryn Hunter's Puck is Puck as I've never seen Puck - or imagined Puck.  Just entrancing throughout.  

This was a Midsummer Night's Dream as I have never seen nor imagined.  And for that alone - it was a fine evening at the movies.  Although, it was not nearly as insane as the trailer made it out to be.  

[A Director]

Posted: 6/23/15 at 1:33am

Julie Taymor sucked the life out of The Tempest; looks like she did the same with A Midsummer Night's Dream.  The play's language means nothing to her, so she goes into visual overload.  She should have thrown out the text and done an all visual production.

 

I saw a production in the late 1990s the created the feeling of dream/nightmare with simple powerful visuals and the actors knew how to speak the text.

 

To this days, people still speak about Peter Brook's white room production from the 1970s. I doubt this will be true of Julie Taymor's mess!

[Jon_sense]

Posted: 6/23/15 at 5:49am

A Director, did you see Taymor's production?

[Roscoe]

Posted: 6/23/15 at 8:41am

The language got plenty of attention -- this production wasn't as over-loaded with visual gimmickry as I was expecting it to be.  Taymor even seemed to be working hard to concentrate on the actors at the expense of the settings -- there were actually times when I wanted her to pull back so I could get a fuller view of the set/projections.  This was as much an actor's production as a designer's production.  The big fight between the two couples was handsomely brought off, and Casella's Bottom was a tasty surprise.

I'll cop to some disappointments -- particularly the Pyramus & Thisbe section, which fell a little flat, except for the marvelous Wall and Moon.

Overall, lovely, funny and genuinely moving.  I hope it'll make it to home video at some point.

Not to spoil anything, I particularly enjoyed one little bit of costume-related self-parody on Taymor's part.

 

 

Updated On: 6/23/15 at 08:41 AM

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 6/23/15 at 11:49am

I agree Roscoe…I really thought there would be a lot more artsy Julie visuals! What she presented was restrained and not over done. In a way…lol…I think I wanted more because that is what I really thought she was going to do based upon the trailer I watched. Yes the fight between the two couples was really well done. I wanted to cheer them on to keep going - keep ripping everything off!

I didn't love it. I enjoyed it though. Glad I saw it. I believe this might have been more impressive in person in the round.