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Amazon.ca
Baz Luhrmann (Strictly Ballroom) takes a shot at reinventing Shakespeare's story of star-crossed lovers as a visual pastiche inspired by MTV imagery, Hong Kong action-picture clichés, and Luhrmann's own taste for deliberate, gaudy excess. The result is explosive chaos, both in terms of bullets and visual sensibility, which some may find impossible to stick with for more than a few minutes. Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes play the leads, though not with much distinction, while Pete Postlethwaite makes a huge impression as this movie's version of Friar Laurence. The film is successful in spots, but overall its fever-dream game plan is difficult to ride out. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Came promptly.
I like this production-- good detail, great cast. Had a couple of indignant grade 10's when it came out, but it is pretty solid.
I like this production-- good detail, great cast. Had a couple of indignant grade 10's when it came out, but it is pretty solid.
By Tanya Elchuk
Format:DVD
I think this was a well thought out modernized version of the classic. It re-invented the fantasy aura that originally it would have obtained by setting it in the past, instead pushing it into a future that was strangely relatable, yet, not so believable. Good fiction can put you there , and make you believe, even if it's not supposed to be. Just like our main charater's love story. Either way, past or present-Romeo & Juliet works best as a fantasticle, untimely tragedy, and I think Baz got it right. I found his interpretation, and yes I'll admit - strange at first - but that's mostly due to preconceived ideas on how this classic is "supposed" to play out, however once one drops all that, it was wonderful, enlightening and engaging. Capturing all the honesty and angst of young love and passion. After all that said, my favorite though is ultimately how Baz had the death scene played out. Not Romeo dead before Juliet wakes up but Romeo dying as she wakes up and the knowledge in both their eyes as he dies realizing how close they both came to having everything. Frustration, horror, sorrow, love, anguish, releif...I felt it all with them...brilliant.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By "ajlingo"
Format:DVD
Maybe my viewing experience of this film was tainted when, while seeing it in the theatre, one of the 13 year old girls sitting in the row in front of me turned to the other and said, "is Leo going to talk link this THE WHOLE TIME?".
For a Shakespeare purist (as I am myself), the problem is not the modernization of the setting and the use of the language in that setting (I personally love it), but it's the absolutle murder of the language by the majority of the cast that makes my skin crawl. This movie, in terms of the execution of the script, does a disservice in getting kids hooked on the poetry of Shakespeare's writing.
However, I will admit that visually it's great. The setting is apt. Mercutio is amazing. But, teachers, I would think twice about showing this version to your class.
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3.9 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Shakespeare On Drugs...
This version of Romeo and Juliet, was shocking at the beginning. At first I was like " Are they going to talk liek this the whole time? Huh?" Because it was such a mix. Read more
Published on Sep 25 2005 by Andrea
3.0 out of 5 stars
It Almost Worked for me, but...
Read kerki and Eric's review. I won't be redundant and say the same things, because I agree wholeheartedly. Visually, this was quite stunning..beautiful. Read more
Published on July 4 2004 by "lunalu69"
1.0 out of 5 stars
One Awful Movie
This needs 0 stars. This movie was so poorly made. they try to put shakespearian dialog in with a movie that takes place in the 90's with a bunch of seemingly stoned spazes and... Read more
Published on Jun 6 2004
4.0 out of 5 stars
I Loved It!
It appears from other reviewers that I'm in the minority, but I loved this movie. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I'm not exactly thrilled with Claire Danes as... Read more
Published on April 26 2004 by SusieQ
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best movie ever
This movie is awesome Leonardo DiCaprio is the best Romeo yet
Published on April 19 2004 by Betty Weller
1.0 out of 5 stars
Shakespeare as Served by Taco Bell
William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' has been performed and adapted countless times, and, unfortunately, most of said adaptations have been utterly unable to arouse more than... Read more
Published on April 15 2004 by J. Eric Dietrich
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice to watch after reading..
I thought this was a great movie. It shows us in our current era, the views on what happens in Romeo and Juliet. Read more
Published on April 15 2004
1.0 out of 5 stars
Very Bad.
This 1990's version of the great play is very, very bad. I did not like DiCaprio as Romeo and the Shakespearean language seems so out of place for a 1990s setting. Avoid it.
Published on April 13 2004 by Dhaval Vyas
5.0 out of 5 stars
This was a Baz Masterpiece!!
I didn't know much about Shakespeare before this film. Now seeing how beautiful the language truly is makes the movie breathtaking. The acting is phenomenal. Read more
Published on April 12 2004 by P. Knackstedt
4.0 out of 5 stars
updated
it was a very ineresting update to a time less classic. But they still did not get it that right
Published on Mar 12 2004 by pos3000
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