The story begins in a Tuscan hill town
called Mt. Athena, at the turn of the
century, where two suitors quarrel over
who has the right to receive fair Hermia's
(Anna Friel) hand in marriage. Hermia's
father, Egeus (Bernard Hill) favors Demetrius
(Christian Bale), though Hermia only has
eyes for Lysander (Dominic West). Egeus
evokes the ancient laws, and declares
that either Hermia wed Demetrius, or be
sentenced to death... though this gets
changed around a bit when Theseus (David
Strathairn), Duke of Mt. Athena adds that
she can choose to join a convent. All
but Hermia and Lysander leave the room,
which is a perfect time for them to plan
their escape.
It is around this time that Helena (Calista
Flockhart) spies Demetrius (her love interest)
through the window, and begins to call
his name (rather loudly and obnoxiously).
Ignoring her, he closes the window, and
she reluctantly turns away, mumbling the
whole way, when she happens upon Hermia
and Lysander kissing behind a pillar.
They reveal their plans to her, and as
if on cue, Egeus begins calling to Hermia
from the balcony window. Helena, in a
desperate attempt to win over Demetrius,
reveals Hermia and Lysanders plans to
him, and follows him into the forest that
night.
The majority of the movie covers the
antics that take place in the forest,
where we start with a carefree party taking
place. This is where we meet Puck (Stanley
Tucci), a mischievous sprite who's quick
on his feet and is the right hand man
of Oberon (Rupert Everett), King of the
Sprites (or Fairies, Pixies, you get the
idea). The fairy queen, Titania (Michelle
Pfeiffer), and Oberon are in the middle
of their own 'lovers quarrel'.
The movies climax is when Oberon charges
Puck to find the rose that was struck
by cupids' arrow, so that he can use the
oil from that rose, to make Titania fall
madly in love with the first thing she
sees upon waking. Who happens to be Nick
Bottom, who while rehearsing for the play
with his troupe, wandered off and found
a hat and a cane, which transformed him
into an ass ( A donkey ). The oil is also
used in an attempt to solve the problems
of the lovesick Helena. But of course,
things go awry, and soon Lysander, and
Demetrius are infatuated with Helena,
much to Hermia's dismay... however, Helena
thinks this is all some cruel joke, and
the two (Helena and Hermia) get into a
good old fashion Mud Wrestling match.
All the kinks in Oberon's plan eventually
work out, and the three couples (Theseus
& Hippolyta, Lysander & Hermia,
and Demetrius & Helena) are wedded
the next day, after which, we finally
get to see the play the troupe has been
working so hard to put together. Although
it's a bit late in the movie, the fact
that it is pure comedy redeems it.
In my opinion, the movie was well put
together, and while the acting wasn't
without it's share of kinks, the cast
played their parts as well as anyone could.
