Rating: 
Summary: Open Mind Folks!
Review: We have been watching this movie in our eighth grade English class, as well as reading the play Romeo and Juliet, as well as meeting with our Shakespearean expert who just happens to work at our school to act out scenes. Not only that, but we have also been studying the Shakespeare's time period. That being said, let me also say that Shakespeare was not this serious man who didn't understand comedy. In fact it was quite the opposite. True, Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy but is a comedy as well. That's how most of his works are. An example of this is how he would cast men as women. Just the sight of this would bring laughs from the audience. With all that understood, the movie Romeo and Juliet is a great adaptation.
We have only watched the first 30 minutes, and I might add more to this review once we finish it, or when I get the DVD, whichever comes first! But I loved the newscaster as the chorus. What a creative touch. As for the swords or guns controversy, this is set in modern times. Who uses swords in our day? But to keep the Old English was smart. After all, what is Romeo and Juliet without Old English? It would not be the same. I mean, the famous Queen Mab's speech in anything but Old English? Hard to imagine. And te contrast between Old English and modern times was a very interesting one. And even if it was written in today's language, it would be too much like West Side Story. They wanted to stick to the roots of Romeo and Juliet. Also for all those people who criticized Mercutio for being a drag queen, he is not a drag queen or a transvestite. Well what can I say? This is the modern version. The performance given by Leonardo DiCaprio is great, he speaks Old English like he's spoken it his entire life. However Juliet, I don't quite agree with. I don't think she brought her best to this film. The acting isn't the best and she looks quite bland compared to Romeo, who is quite handsome, and I don't really understand the whole Cuban thing with Juliet's family.
All in all, a great film, one that must be seen with an open mind, otherwise don't even bother to watch it at all. It was filmed to show today's fourteen year old's that yes, Shakespeare lived in the 1600's and true, Romeo and Juliet takes place in the 1400's but it has a universal message of love, one that can still be understood today, even if it is 2004.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVED IT
Review: Not only is this movie amazingly directed, but it also helps to understand what Sheakespear wanted to get across to the viewer. Having the characters set to a modern time made it a lot more interesting- such as having guns and or drugs.
Rating:
Summary: Can't Not Like It
Review: I was first introduced to this movie when I was a senior in high school. I didn't understand it at all and, furthermore, thought that it was silly and juvenile. However, after developing a love for the performing arts and actually reading shakespeare, I have developed an appreciation for this movie that is hard to explain to the casual viewer.
I believe that Baz Luhrman's take on this is brilliant! Mercutio steals the show, but is only highlighted by his introduction and death scene (which is the pivotal point of the story). Teenage angst and true love that no grown-up can remember experiencing rules the roost here. Guns are brilliantly substituted for swords and daggers, and the word-play is only enhanced by the film's use of the cast's modern nuances. I find myself watching this every couple of months and loving it!
As for the director's use of Shakespeare's dialogue, I belive it is nothing short of genius. To blend the modern with the elizabethan is a difficult task, and luhrman does it with a grace that shows confidence and true emotion, which resonates in shakespeare like a great bell being rung through all our time.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful
Review: Okay I don't normally like Leonardo Decaprio, but he did an excellent job in this movie. One of the best I have seen. It's up there with Moulin Rouge,Ever After, and A Walk to Remember. SO that says a lot for me. But this is a classic tale with a very modern twist to it. It has it all, love, death, car chases, shootouts..and most of all ROMANCE! Okay I'll stop now. But this is still a favorite of mine and I have seen it 10 times. Maybe I'm obsessive, but so goes life. It's a wonderful film and whoever doesn't like it well...I'm just ashamed...J/k..Okay but seriously go see the film..it's wonderful!
Rating:
Summary: Why modernize a timeless classic ... again?
Review: Take a timeless classic, set somewhere in the 1500s and modernize it to the 20th century. I'm not sure what the purpose of doing this is ... maybe to entice teeny boppers to appreciate brilliant literature with a big box office draw like Leonardo DiCaprio! That's probably why I couldn't get into this movie. Shakespeare would roll over in his grave! No one would believe that anyone talks like that in this day and age. I think that if a retelling of Romeo and Juliet had to be done, put it in modern-age language. This cannot compare to Zefferelli's version (1968) or West Side Story (1961), nor would I try. Even Leo couldn't save this one.
Rating:
Summary: A whimsical, very creative film
Review: Well, what can I say... I know that there are a lot of people out there that do not particulary like this flim. That's okay, but let me tell you, i think this flim is so different (in a good way). The director, Baz Luhrmann, inteneded for this film to be modern visually, yet Shakespearian verbally. Its that combonation that reminds you that you, the viewer are still watching a movie, that this could in no way duplicate real life. Baz has a way of luring the viewer into so fantasyland, where there are artistic images, romantic love plots, tragic endings, a modern setting, and an in-tact William Shakespeare lyric. Its a masterpiece. I really hope everybody would for once have an open mind, and treat yourself to viewing this film.. We must appreciate the creativity and genious aspects of the Director's intent.
Rating:
Summary: This movie rulezzzz
Review: First of all, to all the negative reviewers, u guys can bite me! lol To the rest of the supporters, i'm with ya! Leonardo & Claire are awesome. They are PERFECT for this remaking!!!! I love this version far more than any other and i have both of the Leo & Claire versions (Special Edition & the other one). My favorite scenes were when they first noticed eachother (Leo & Claire) through the aquarium at the Capulet party. Then i liked when Romeo jumped out of the car to go back for Juliet when the party was over. Soooo romantic.... :)"Did my heart love till now? Forswear in sight, for i never saw true beauty till this night" - Romeo to Juliet :)Leonardo DiCaprio & Claire Danes are the BEST!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: So Very 1990's
Review: Ooooh-soup-bowl haircuts,a cast consisting mostly of under 20 year olds and that largely moribund soundtrack to boot.
Baz Lurhmann's take on The Bard's "Romeo + Juliet" is THE single
most dated and nausiating film I've seen!Not only is the dialog
all set in ye olde' english but the SETTING remains throughally
contemporary-guns instead of swoards,gangs instead of knights!
It coulda' been a great avante-garde idea but it's so obviously
designed to pander to the culturless,cynical MTV-generation
psuedo-grunge teens of the mid 90's that the overal results and
excellent cinamatography is smothered in a context that looks
and feels truely pathetic.Unless your ARE one of the type's listed above-then this might be the way for you to embrace
Shakespere.But if your not-steer clear of this wretch-inducing
mistake!How Leonardo DiCaprio survived to get to "Titanic" is
beyond me,but he did.And Baz Lurhmann MORE then made up for this
blunder with his recent triumph "Moulin Rouge".Phweee!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Shakespeares Revenge
Review: This movie was shown to our english honors class to understand the the play better. It was kinda funny because we had also read the play and i think to movie made the really good play into something horrible. It was so cheesy that the plotted jokes in the movie were an insult to humanity. But it was kinda funny to see people with pink hair and in the setting of mafia criminal areas in old time Shakesperian language. Pink hair, gun fights, hip hop cross dressers don't match with Shakespeare. Its supposed to be about sword fights bad acting and the old time knight of the round table like stuff not gangs warlords and drugs. The drugs back then was cheap wine and really smelly cheese. The "Queen of Mab Speech" with the black guy "trippin' on E" and in a dress was utterly horrifying. Poor William Shakespeare probablly rolled over in his grave at the turn out and the unsuccess of the movie. Whoever directed this movie Shakespeare will come back and crucify you and burn down your village and shame your ancestors. Remember the term "Bitting thumbs". Its another old way of giving the middle finger. I bet shakespeare is in his grave bitting his thumb at the director, screen writer and Leo Decaperio. Mwhahaha may he have mercey on souls.
Rating:
Summary: Leo & Claire r gr8, stop bagging them!
Review: Look, I'll admit I'm a Leo fan, and Claire is okay 2, but, C'mon, this movie was GR8! The first time I saw it was when i was a little kid, about 7, and i thought it was crappy then. But that was then and once i'd re-seen it, i thought it was terific. the special edition DVD shows in detail how the main 3 scenes were shot (the gun scene, water scene, death secene) and I luv the interview section. Baz Lurmann has out done himself.The movie starts off with a TV report and ends with it. Romeo first spies Juliet dressed as a knight and her as an Angel, smart move by Baz. If u listen closely 2 the lines, u will start 2 not only understand the Shakspearian dialect but u will hear some things quiet easy 2 miss. I also luv how they've based everything around the 'water barrier' as Baz describes it in the commontary (i luv DVDs with commontary) and the fish tank was guenious. Look, i just want 2 say, if u r a Leo or Claire or Jesse Bradford or John Legessamo (i have no idea how 2 spell his last name) fan or ur just up 4 a good movie, this is the one 2 c. and guys, this isn't what i'd descibe as a chick flick mainly because of the death of tybalt scene and the fight and gun scenes. Well, i hope u all like it. - Haylz
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