Sigh. Facepalm. I suppose it was only a question of time until somebody would do a version where the ass is an actual butt (a rump, a set of backside buttocks) instead of a donkey. What a rape of Shakespeare. What an affront to the actors. This is beyond stupid; beyond idiotic; beyond tasteless. Unwatchable.

The first 20-30 minutes of the film was very amateurish, but then it seemed to get better - only to completely self-destruct when the ass appears (about 50 minutes in). Sorry, my desire to watch the rest of the film evaporated right there. Fast-forwarded through the rest in about a minute. Granted, there wasn't many more scenes with the ass, but, now it was ruined. No longer of any interest. I hope the actors got paid well, because this is such a shame for them (except of course Fran Krantz, who undoubtedly shares the writer/director's deficient sense of "humor"). Just... no. Just argh.

There's a wonderful feeling I get as a movie begins to unfold and I sense its taking me to a place I really need to go. MND took me there early in the film and never let me down. Its as magical as Shakespeare originally intended and I've got to believe he would have loved the respect, creative genius, and sheer joy that Mott et al brought to the screen. Simply put: it made me happy. Can't wait to take my wife and share it with her.

I'm not happy giving this film adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream only six stars, because much of it is very clever. The film works best when it's remix of the plays themes with modern elements, but at times it is more of a mashup, cutting and pasting elements from other Shakespeare plays into the narrative (such as quotes from other plays appearing on paper weights, a character reciting lines from Hamlet while lacking on the phone). At too many moments, the film becomes self-conscious and cute - which becomes tiresome. Too bad. I really like Shakespeare and much of the remixing here was a kick. But the director lost the play's narrative which drops this film to a six star affair.

Excellent work from Hamish Linklater here. Lily Rabe and Rachael Leigh Cook are strong, as well. And, despite the 6 star review, this is a very talented director - I hope she gets other opportunities.