Rating: 
Summary: A very likeable tongue-in-cheek response to Private Ryan
Review: I rather enjoyed this movie. On one hand it is light and fluffy, yet on the other provides a deeper context in which to enjoy Shakespeare and the Hollywood struggle of the time.A correction, Gwyneth is NOT English. I'm sorry, but talk about predictable. When the old man saluted the headstone in Private Ryan my wife and I wanted to regurgitate the pizza we had eaten earlier. Why do loud noises and flashy explosions coupled with a 20 minute stairway scene (I got the point after the first 5 minutes) equate to a great movie? By the way, if you liked Shakespeare, try renting Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are dead, a play written by Tom Stoppard in the 60's that he made into a movie in early 90's. Thanks for your time.
Rating: 
Summary: "Much Ado About Nothing".....Literally.
Review: Blah, blah, blah, words, words, words. That's all this movie is filled with. I cannot fathom the fact that this won best picture!!!!!!!!!!!! What were they thinking? The movie was run of the mill and on top of that really, really BOREING. The worst part of the film for me was the way Gweneth was supposed to be a man. I actually "forgot" at certain times that she was in drag, and supposed to be playing a man. That's how unconvincing it was to me. You mean to tell me none of those guys actually knew "he" was a "she". At least make it real for the audience! And this won best picture!?! And as for Judi Dench's performance? Certainly not an oscar worthy. Her costume acted circles around her! All and all, this movie was a tasteless as a scone.
Rating: 
Summary: Alright, but disgustingly overrated
Review: First of all, I can't stand Gwyneth Paltrow. She is the epitome of a stuck-up, egotistical hollywood pseudo-celebrity. I'm so tired of her trying to convince herself and the rest of the world (although she did dupe "the academy") that she is a great performer who takes on roles that challenge her as an actress. Face it Gwyneth, you're not that good. You know it, I know it. Quit fooling yourself. Ok, about the movie. It was funny, entertaining and witty. However, it was NOT IN ANYWAY SHAPE OF FORM THE BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR. If the academy didn't want to give the top prize to a deepling depressing (although excellent) film (ie Saving Private Ryan), it should have given it to the film that deserved it, Life is Beautiful. Paltrow's performance was nothing to brag about. Dench, although a phenominal actress, was only onscreen in the film 8 minutes longer than I was. When "Shakespeare in Love" won best picture, all lingering faith I had in the academy awards was destroyed. Do yourself a favor, if you haven't seen "Life is Beautiful", do. It's probably the best film I've ever seen. Shakespeare in love is not.
Rating:
Summary: It all depends on your personality
Review: I have been reading some of the comments from previous viewers and they range from hating the film to thinking it is the best film ever made. I think that how you feel about the movie will depend on your personality type. If you liked Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Much ado about nothing, then I think you will enjoy this one as well. It shows shakespeare from a different perspective and I thought it was inventive and refreshing. Those who say that Joseph deserved an oscar are right. He was wonderful. But the competition involved was just better. Gwyneth was good as well. I though this movie was touching, funny and just fun to watch. I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: This movie is way overrated ...
Review: George C. Scott, who recently passed away maintained that OSCARS are not always awarded on the basis of actual merit. This movie proves that notion.
Rating:
Summary: Well deserving of the Oscars it won
Review: A fictional look at a portion of Shakespeare's life, suggesting the events that influenced the playwrite and giving reasons behind the unexplained mysteries and contradictions that are debated today. Historically correct in its atmosphere surrounding the story. It is a wonderful screenplay with many subtle jabs at the motion picture and entertainment industry as a whole. A romantic love story intertwined with the greatest love story, Romeo and Juliet. This is a movie that should not be missed, worth watching over and over again.
Rating: 
Summary: Big time movie companies stick it to us DVD fans again!!!
Review: I love this film and think it was one of the ten best of last year. When it came out on DVD a few months ago, I bought it and I knew I would have to wait for the special edition and sure enough, that is exactly what has happened. I am tired of companies doing this to us DVDphiles. Disney/Miramax/whatever seems to be the only cvompany doing this. In the future, please put the regular DVD and the SE DVD out on the same day or just put the SE out like Warner Bros. and Columbia does. I know this will fall on deaf ears. Oh well...
Rating:
Summary: Did it really won oscars?
Review: This movie is simply flat: its dialogue and story are trite with no originality, compounded with mediocre performances by the leading actors and the director. It tries to be funny but fails, it tries to be dramatic (a la Romeo and Juliet) but is unconvincing, and we know that it is not a historical depiction of shakespeare's life, then what is it that the movie tries to portray, and try to be? Sometimes I got the impression that it tried to be a spoof on Shakespeare and its time, but did not go further. From every angle it is a flop, I mean artistically, because it made a lot of maney, right? I agree with the reviewer of 10 October 1999 that it is boring. Also, I agree that for period movies one is better served with "SENSE AND SENSIBILITIES" and "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE". They have a very witty, engaging dialogue and a substantial story worthy to spend the time. For a more accessible Shakespeare movie I definitely recommend "MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING", a really funny play and skillfully adapted for the screen. For a 20 century equivalent of Shakespeare's films, I recommend "MY FAIR LADY", based on the greatest BERNARD SHAW's "PYGMALION". It is really, really funny, timeless and original. It is the most sophisticated romantic comedy ever put into the siverscreen.
Rating:
Summary: So boring, even my wife hated it...
Review: My wife generally likes "chick flicks" of this nature (i.e. well done an and not insulting). But the other big thing a "chick flick" needs is that it has to be both romantic and at least moderately entertaining, this film has neither. THERE IS ABSOLOUTELY NO CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE LEAD ROLES! 7 awards?!?! Come on, good cinematography and good acting don't make up for a completely empty plot. It was so boring my wife apologized for the fact that I had to sit through it.
Rating:
Summary: Predictable and Boring
Review: The other night my husband and I had a night all to ourselves. No kids. We decided to rent a movie that we could both enjoy. He wanted to rent ANALYZE THIS and I wanted to rent SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE. "You need to broaden your horizons" I told him. He agreed. BIG MISTAKE. Once we began watching the movie, we started calling out what we thought would happen next. Boy, were we good! You would have thought WE wrote the screenplay. Anyway, after about 20 minutes of this drivel I notice that my husband had a pained look on his face, as if he had just eaten rotten cheese. So I cut him loose. He was free. I, on the other hand, am a glutton for punishment so I forced myself to finish watching. I heard my husband in the kitchen fixing a bowl of ice cream. He was watching 'Friends' and I found myself more interested in Chandler's one-liners than the ones being spewed from the lips of Vi and Will. I REALLY DID try to watch the whole movie. But when they finally began the performance of "Romeo and Juliet" I just had to turn it off. The prediction my husband and I jokingly made at the begining of the movie was actually being played out on screen like a big joke. It was too much. It was time to admit defeat. Click-Stop-Rewind. Time to go apologize to my husband. When I returned the movie to the video store I wanted to ask for my money back. I didn't. Instead I rented ANALYZE THIS. My husband and I laughed our butts off. NOW, I am NOT trying to compare this movie to SHAKESPEARE! What I AM trying to do (in my roundabout way) is suggest that you save yourself time and money by just skipping it. If however you DO decide to rent SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, then just rent a second movie along with it. That way you'll only have to watch the first 10 minutes of the movie and can just predict the rest. THEN watch the second movie you rented. Hopefully you'll enjoy that one more. Rent SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, EMMA or PRIDE AND PREJUDICE instead. They are all MUCH better, and will make you laugh and cry!
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