Rating: 
Summary: A compelling but seriously flawed film
Review: This film version of a play required for most ninth grade English classes has one major attribute--its well-known, youthful cast and high energy soundtrack attract the interest of young people who would not normally give Shakespeare the time of day. I did enjoy the energy of the film and some of the creative methods employed by the director to modify the material and make it fit into a modern context. Unfortunately, Clair Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio were badly miscast. Danes has done some brilliant work in the past, particularly in My So Called Life, but here, she is unconvincing as Juliet. DiCaprio is dreadful. When one considers that the writing of Shakespeare is among the most poetic and beautiful in the history of the English language, it is particularly painful to listen to the two major characters as they mumble, mutter, and otherwise reduce most of their dialogue to near incoherence. This problem is greatly exacerbated by the fact that the sound track is FAR TOO LOUD. It obliterates the speech of virtually all of the characters. (What happened to the concept that a soudtrack is either background to the dialogue or a louder accompaniment to fine cinematography?) I love Shakespeare and really hoped to like this movie. I must say, I was very disappointed. It doesn't hold a candle to the Zefferelli version of the 1960's. My solution has been to use parts of the recent version to pull students into the story, and then after they read the play, show them the older, far superior film.
Rating: 
Summary: Flashy , Loud, and Empty
Review: As a music video its wonderful but as a story it just doesnt work. The characters are shown in such a bland way and you really cant feel anything for them. It has no heart or deph. You get the impression that the director cared more about the surface of the movie than about its soul. Dicaprio really cant act either, hes just very boring and sounds as if he is trying to act, like someone in a high school play. Claire Danes wasnt quite so bad but she still wasnt very good. Noone really showed any emotion. The best movie based on Shakespeares play is the 1968 version.
Rating: 
Summary: fast paced class act
Review: Greatest adaptation I have seen. Full of meaningful imagery and dialogue. Shakespeare for the masses. Superb acting from Decaprio & Danes (and the guy who plays Tybalt).
Rating:
Summary: ROMANTIC, ROMANTIC, ROMANTIC...
Review: I have read the play and i wrote an exam on it but would never, ever have discovered the passion and deep romance within the story line had I not watched Romeo + Juliet! This movie is so intense with pure love. It moves you on a level that you yourself did not know you posessed. My favourite lines has to be :"...Defy thy Father and refuse thy name, or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love and I'll no longer be a Capulet." This line is so intense because she does'nt even know if he loves her but yet she is saying that if he only proclaimed his love she would abandon her life, her family, her name, to be with him. Nobody does this anymore because the trust is'nt there. My other favourite line is: "I defy you stars!". This is when they inform him that Juliet is dead. he does this part with so much passion and emotion that I cant help but cry with him. This movie is meant for romantics and for people not knowing what real romance is and wants to experience it. This movie is TOO-DAMD-DUIDELIK!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable
Review: The genius of this film is that it appeals to, and draws in a young crowd of people who are sadly lacking in any appreciation of Shakespeare. This is Shakespeare that a sixteen year old understands and relates to. (Hamlet may be a "better" play, but try making a 10th grade class of teenagers learn to love it.)Claire Danes is very appealing as Juliet, and she obviously did her text homework. Leonardo obviously has not. Physically appealing though he is, I doubt that he understood half of what he was saying. I liked the fast pace and the music and the quick, MTV style of the film. Traditional it is not, but it is certainly enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: AN EXCELLENT FILM
Review: This great Hollywood update of the classic Shakespear story of love and tragedy is excellent. A superb cast includes Claire Daines. The story is in the 90's backdrop of Verona Beach. With the Mantague and Capulet families at war in the streets, fighting civil brawls with guns, and damage to the streets. Even the Chief of Police has his hands full with these two families. From them, comes, Romeo + Juliet. Romeo is a Mantague, and while at a Capulet party, he meets Juliet. They fall in love, and carry on a secret love affair between their families, even getting married. While Juliet's cousin seeks revenge on the Mantague's with his gun, Romeo begins a war with Capulet, when the women he loves is of their blood. Soon, Juliet is promised to marry The Govenor's Son, The Batchelor of the Year, by her father. This story is compelling, with lots of action, and classic words. The young lovers are played by Leonardo DeCaprio and Clare Daines. The final scene in which Romeo, kills himself when he believes Juliet is dead, leading the young women to her death as well, is so great, it should go down in one of the best scenes ever made in a film. I absuloutely loved this film, it was an excellent warped, MTV style Romeo and Juliet.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly Innovative!!
Review: I find it very difficult to understand those who continues to make comparisms between Baz Luhrmann's version to that of 1968's. Have they all forgotten that this is the '90's?.Wake up all you pretentious farts out there!!.That version was good,but it was a tard stiffling. The Nino Ricci,s score was heaven sent. Yes it was more faithfull to the play but i doubt it did much to increase love of Shakespeare,s work.That adaptation was by the book.Nothing Original, aside from the film score. Luhrmann,s version however is brilliant....out there...fresh...and current. An introductory to a whole new generation of fans. Having seen this version my niece, who was 14 at the time couldn,t wait to see Brannagh,s "Hamlet". The performance's particularly those of Harold,s and John,s were fantanstic, and the little twist at the end where Juliet wakes up to a dying Romeo is so heartwrenching, and amazingly fitting to the nature of their immediate and all consumming love for each other. So forget about Olivier,s or Gielgud,s or any other past interpretations,Leo and Claire rocks!!.The movie is a delight to all the senses!!.
Rating:
Summary: This is a Movie for the people who are made of passion
Review: This is a Movie for the people who are made of passion. Not only is the movie great, but the sound track is equally as heart throbbing. when I first saw this movie, it impressed me and stuck with me for along time. I use to think about how wonderful Sheakspear worked his words and how great it was for the director to mold it into a mega hit movie.....
Rating:
Summary: One of the BEST movies-- this is Perfect!
Review: I saw this in the theater and I was amazed at how cool this is!!! And watching the video I did that so many times! The acting is perfect, and the cast and the whole movie. I loved the way they mixed Shakespearean script in a modern place with a modern edge. This rocks! Every part was worth it.
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME!!!
Review: I first saw this movie after reading the play in my 9th grade english class and we compared it to the older version. In my opinon, the new movie is soooooooo much better that the old one.
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