Rating: 
Summary: Drowning in syrup.
Review: There are three problems with this movie: (1) it tries to be too clever; (2) Joseph Fiennes is an outrageous fop (remember British TV's 'Famous Five' TV series? - he reminds me of Georgina) and (3) Gwyneth Paltrow is a simpering drip. What is it with this woman and acceptance speeches? It's getting to the point where she can't even unwrap a Mars bar without bursting into tears and thanking her parents for giving her the courage to do it. This would be an OK movie if it were just a little more understated, but the whole thing is so self-impressed and mawkish you feel like you're choking on honey. Avoid.
Rating: 
Summary: Not of an age, but for all time. And better on DVD
Review: Purists who turn up their noses at Shakespeare in Love are truly missing something. This was, after all, written by Tom Stoppard, author of some of the very best plays of modern times (Arcadia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead - the latter filmed with Gary Oldman and Tim Roth. Plus the Gilliam movie Brazil). He's done a splendid job of balancing accessibility with genuine wit. The screenplay is littered with allusions to the bard's works, and gives some great - albeit hypothetical - insights into how and why he wrote. This would be a great teaser for high school students studying Shakespeare. It makes him (and his works) seem fun, human, and relevant to today. And there are great quiz opportunities in spotting the many references to the plays: twelfth night (the sequel commissioned by the queen); Hamlet (studying the skull); Macbeth and others (ghost scene); more on Romeo ("a plague on both their houses"). Beyond that, in true Shakespearean style, we are offered the "play within the play" - in this case Romeo and Juliet. Excellent editing gives us just enough to convey the mood of an Elizabethan performance, leaving us wanting more. This film does a great job of broadening the appeal of the most popular writer. And don't miss the topical in-jokes - the "cabby" rowing the boat, and especially Glenda Jackson saying she knows what it's like to do a man's job (she plays "M" in the Bond movies). Bill S. would have approved. High praise indeed.
Rating: 
Summary: Bread and circuses taste is well served
Review: Perhaps it is a great movie for those who actually know very little about Shakespeare, literature, history and art in general. I am sure it won the Oscar becuase it's so revoltingly simple and unsophisticated, but unfortunately, it profanes a serious subject of art and lets an ordinary person think that now he is familiar with something more subliminal than his everydy chores. I guess it has an appeal to masses, otherwise it's hard to explain why it wins these rave reviewes. All in all, it's a soap opera at best, and even the sonnet they selected is the most beaten up Shakespeare's piece. The film shows what happens when a theory that art's purpose is to entertain working people is implemented live... By the way, Saving Private Ryan is even worse, in my opinion - a totally fantastic story good for elementary scholl kids...
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely fabulous, entertaining and moving
Review: To appreciate this film, it really helps to really appreciate a good performance of Shakespeare. Shakespeare was quite the clever comedian and his plays, even the tragedies, contain wit and tonge-in-cheek humor sophistocated even in today's world. To create a story about Shakespeare that includes his work... it's Shakespearian itself... a play within a play, comedy & tragedy working together. The wardrobes and backdrops are stellar... and the acting will blow you away. Dame Judy Dench won a much deserved Oscar for her performance of Queen Elizabeth. I must say I felt the movie "Elizabeth" was more deserving of the Oscar than this film, but this was a very close second (if not a tie) in my book... it might just be my personal bias that makes me take comedies a little less seriously than a huge historical epic. Nonetheless, this is a film of note and worthwhile seeing. It is masterfully made and masterfully performed. The film contains nudity and there is sexual content, so this isn't for young kids... but the sexual content is not beyond what is seen on prime time TV nowadays, so if "NYPD Blue" doesn't make you blush, neither will this film. Very funny, highly intellectual, and very very Shakespeare.
Rating:
Summary: Belongs on that long list of overrated garbage...
Review: The concept of "Shakespear in Love" may have its compelling points: Shakespeare writes his tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" while falling in love with a "forbidden" woman. Unfortunately, a 1990s flavor spoils the beautiful sets and costumes. Romance and love are reduced to a string of lustful sexual encounters (and the courtship is short). Viola shows all of the modern attitudes that Rose did in "Titanic" - horribly out of place, and downright depressing. Shakespeare is portrayed little better. Despite "Shakespeare in Love"'s moments of clever comedy and the very well acted "Romeo and Juliet" scenes (maybe enough for 2 and a half stars), the shallowness pours from the movie and sinks it. Another example of why the Oscars are most often a joke.
Rating:
Summary: BEST PICTURE!
Review: This film has a great look and a great cast who give pretty good performances. However, I believe that Saving Private Ryan should have recieved Best Picture (that's Hollywood politics for you). I recommend this film, but ENOUGH WITH SHAKESPEARE! He's not over rated (well, slightly), however, he is WAY to over-emphasized- him and Hemingway.
Rating:
Summary: Finally an Oscar winner that deserved the award
Review: After years of garbage winning the best picture (Forrest Gump, Dances with Wolves, Braveheart, etc.) it was nice to see a best picture winenr taht was an actual good movie. Based on a classic Far SIde type joke (the one I remember is Herman Melville surrounded by a bunch of discarded papers that all say "Call me Fred", "Call my Izzy" "Call me Charlie") it has Shakespeare trying to write Romeo and Ethel the Pirates Daughter, which eventually becomes Romeo and Juliet. Great Theater injokes abound including casting Rupert Everett as Christopher Marlowe and having the evil kid with rats turn out to be John Webster (the writer of Duchess of Malfi and The WHite Devil - two very ultraviolent plays that make Pulp Fiction look like Anne of Green Gables) and it also gave a good insight into the creative process of writers particularly theatrical writers. More of a fan letter to Shakespeare than anything else, this was a great little comedy and a welcome addition to anyone's video collection. If you like this one, Tom Stoppard's other Shakespeare inspired movie "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead" is better. (you might want to watch Hamlet first)
Rating: 
Summary: Charming film...but a Best Picture winner? Hardly.
Review: There's much to recommend this charming film - the wonderful performances, the period sets and costumes, and of course, the Bard himself. But how film beat out "Saving Private Ryan" for the Oscar is absolutely beyond me. Actually, I DO know...this is the same Academy that picked "Oliver" over "2001: A Space Odyssey", "Forrest Gump" over "Pulp Fiction", "Dances with Wolves" over "GoodFellas", "Ordinary People" over "Raging Bull", and so on and so on.... The Academy likes historical epics, and this one was no exception. So enjoy this film...but the REAL best picture of that year was "Saving Private Ryan".
Rating:
Summary: Not what i thought, but better than imagined
Review: This film is classic Shakespeare in a modern tongue to keep the 20 and 21 century man or woman on the end of their seat for love, fantasy, humor and drama. I didn't see the film on the theater because I have not been an overall fan of the main actress, however when pushed a bit to view it at home on DVD, I found that not only was I surprised at the content and the elegance of its' filmaking, I found I have continued to watch it several times over. I don't know if it's a mixture of the romance, the humor or the quick wit of Shakespeares' writing or the beauty of the filmaking, but I find myself gravitate towards it every so often and watch it religiously when it appears on cable. I am not one to watch these types of movies but the old tale in a new way keeps it intersting and moving right along. I would reccommend it for a home collection whole heartily.
Rating:
Summary: Not historically accuracte; however a very romantic movie!
Review: Shakespeare in Love is not a history lesson by any means; in fact, most scholars are not very sure of what kind of person Shakespeare was in real life. However, if one is looking forward to a witty and smart movie that is also slightly erotic and tragic, then Shakespeare in Love is a perfect match. Platrow was awesome in her role as the love interest of our poet in training; Fiennes was also spectacular in this movie and was snubbed at the academy awards.
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