Two Strobe Lights Up!
The mischievous and dark classic tale by William Shakespeare is re-imagined in filmmaker Gil Cates Jr.'s adaptation. Music, drugs and romance are the forces behind A Midsummer Night's Rave, a high-energy film about the complicated "love square" between four adolescents and fueled by a teaspoon of teenage angst, a cup of lack of communication, a few tablespoons of lust, and a pinch of ecstasy.
Without a doubt, this is the most provocative modern-day retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream, the popular play written by Shakespeare. Cates Jr. has been the only one to hit the nail right on the head with this adaptation. The film retains the barest skeleton of the original plot while directly straying from its dark aspects in favor of a more charming and daring approach.
Thanks to compelling performances led by Chad Lindberg and Glen Badyna in flawless character execution, the Cates Jr. release proves highly entertaining despite the heaviness surrounding the story that inspires it. Chad Lindberg portrays the infamous Nick Bottom who delivers nothing less than the comedic relief expected from his character and Glen Badyna plays Puck, the one responsible for the trouble that ensues.
It all begins with Mia, the girl next door dating a rich socialite playboy that her mother wants her to settle down with and eventually marry—Damon. Enter Xander, Damon's counterpart, your typical shaggy-haired teenager without a penny to his name and the owner of Mia's heart, but not to his knowledge. Similarly, Xander secretly yearns for Mia but withholds this information from everyone except his best friend, Helena, who just so happens to be Damon's ex-girlfriend— feelings included.
Mix all of these ingredients together at a forest-themed rave complete with seductive beats, a rave master, and his drug dealer's latest "love potion" and you have a recipe for excess.
By switching the setting from a forest to a forest-themed rave in the city for A Midsummer Night's Rave, but leaving the characters and main plot intact, Cates Jr. caters a message to younger audiences and offers an alternative solution to dealing with problems faced by the youth: a solution that surprisingly does not involve drugs. Although this may seem out of place for a plot taking place mostly at a rave, it breaks down stereotypes and allows for a new generation to build interest in an author most often thought to be archaic and boring.
You don't have to be familiar with Shakespeare's play in order to enjoy this film—although it allows for the understanding of some subtle jokes—but it goes without saying that Cates Jr.'s film will take you on an enchanted ride that leaves you with a sudden urge to dance the night away.
Oh what a tangled web we weave! A Midsummer Night's Rave should prove to be a box-office hit with anyone who has a sense of rhythm and humor. But if you're easily offended by casual drug use, then you might want to think twice about catching this tempting flick!
The mischievous and dark classic tale by William Shakespeare is re-imagined in filmmaker Gil Cates Jr.'s adaptation. Music, drugs and romance are the forces behind A Midsummer Night's Rave, a high-energy film about the complicated "love square" between four adolescents and fueled by a teaspoon of teenage angst, a cup of lack of communication, a few tablespoons of lust, and a pinch of ecstasy.
Without a doubt, this is the most provocative modern-day retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream, the popular play written by Shakespeare. Cates Jr. has been the only one to hit the nail right on the head with this adaptation. The film retains the barest skeleton of the original plot while directly straying from its dark aspects in favor of a more charming and daring approach.
Thanks to compelling performances led by Chad Lindberg and Glen Badyna in flawless character execution, the Cates Jr. release proves highly entertaining despite the heaviness surrounding the story that inspires it. Chad Lindberg portrays the infamous Nick Bottom who delivers nothing less than the comedic relief expected from his character and Glen Badyna plays Puck, the one responsible for the trouble that ensues.
It all begins with Mia, the girl next door dating a rich socialite playboy that her mother wants her to settle down with and eventually marry—Damon. Enter Xander, Damon's counterpart, your typical shaggy-haired teenager without a penny to his name and the owner of Mia's heart, but not to his knowledge. Similarly, Xander secretly yearns for Mia but withholds this information from everyone except his best friend, Helena, who just so happens to be Damon's ex-girlfriend— feelings included.
Mix all of these ingredients together at a forest-themed rave complete with seductive beats, a rave master, and his drug dealer's latest "love potion" and you have a recipe for excess.
By switching the setting from a forest to a forest-themed rave in the city for A Midsummer Night's Rave, but leaving the characters and main plot intact, Cates Jr. caters a message to younger audiences and offers an alternative solution to dealing with problems faced by the youth: a solution that surprisingly does not involve drugs. Although this may seem out of place for a plot taking place mostly at a rave, it breaks down stereotypes and allows for a new generation to build interest in an author most often thought to be archaic and boring.
You don't have to be familiar with Shakespeare's play in order to enjoy this film—although it allows for the understanding of some subtle jokes—but it goes without saying that Cates Jr.'s film will take you on an enchanted ride that leaves you with a sudden urge to dance the night away.
Oh what a tangled web we weave! A Midsummer Night's Rave should prove to be a box-office hit with anyone who has a sense of rhythm and humor. But if you're easily offended by casual drug use, then you might want to think twice about catching this tempting flick!