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William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet (1996) Reviews

William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet (1996)
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The classic Shakespearean romantic tragedy is updated by director Baz Luhrmann to a post-modern Verona Beach where swords are merely a brand of gun and bored youths are easily spurred toward violence. Longtime rivals in religion and business, the Montagues and the Capulets share a page from the Jets and Sharks of West Side Story when they form rival gangs. Romeo (Leonardo DiCaprio) is aloof toward the goings-on of his Montague cousins, but after he realizes that Juliet (Claire Danes) is a Capulet at the end of one very wild party, the enmity between the two clans becomes the root of his angst. He relies heavily -- and with serious consequences -- on his rebel gender-bender of a friend, Mercutio (Harold Perrineau Jr.), and Father (not Friar) Lawrence (Pete Postlethwaite) for protection and support. Romeo is, of course, exiled, and it looks like Juliet will be forced into an arranged marriage with the bland Paris (Paul Rudd). It ends, as Romeo and Juliet must, when Romeo hears a tragic piece of misinformation and brings his suicide wish to what was meant to be Juliet 's temporary tomb. This time, though, the turf and the weapon of choice have taken a turn toward the surreal. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

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Starring:
Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, (more)
Director(s):
Baz Luhrmann
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
PG13
Format(s):
DVD
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Average Ratings

(33 member reviews)  

Member Reviews

Chase M.

i love this movie.. leonardo dicaprio and Claire Danes make a perfect Romeo and Juliet. this is the first romeo and juliet ive actually liked i loved it

Yes   |   No


Jenn F.

I loved it! I was no "R&J" fan- the old film everyone had to watch in highschool was horrible, remember? But this one made the language fun and come to life. I have watched it many times- and will continue to! I finally understood all the lingo!

Yes   |   No


Kathy H.

The actual text of Shakespere spoken from the Characters set in a modern era. Read the book first!

Yes   |   No


Amy F.

DIfferent!!! But I liked it!

Yes   |   No


Ken G.

Unlike the 1960s film directed by Zephirelli, this film includes the full role of Friar Lawrence, the protagonist of the play. The love story of Romeo and Juliet, the characters, is but an interesting part of the larger story--the healing of age-old hate within a city. Shakespeare's play is not just a sad story, and neither is this film.

Yes   |   No


Julie L.

Hopefully I already watched this movie I loved in the past cuz I didn't receive the right one by mail... I was really disappointed when I put it on and it was an old version of it !

Yes   |   No


Andre P.

The soundtrack is also excellent...Radiohead, Garbage etc.

Yes   |   No


Glenn B.

The thing is some guy (probably Baz himself, but who knows?) sat back in his chair and thought really hard, how do we tantalize audiences with something they've never seen before? Then, they took Moulin Rouge and added it to Romeo and Juliet and set it in modern times, and ended up with Romeo+Juliet. So, why bother? If you haven't read the play, don't. I tried to watch this before I did, and I couldn't understand a single word. Also, if you hate Moulin Rouge (I do, but I got over it for sakes yet to be said), don't bother. The style of acting is extremely exaggerated and the camera movements are nauseating, combining gargantuan scores with flamenco-like movements. I admit, at times, the acting by pretty much everybody seemed campy. But it took the play, which I like, and made it its own. It is vry much an acquired taste.

Yes   |   No


Martin F.

Normally with a bad movie it is possible to watch and laugh at how bad it is. This is the first movie I couldn't watch all the way through. Unbelievably stupid!

Yes   |   No


Evelyn E.

I saw about 15 minutes of it and i couldn't stand it. The acting sucked soooo bad. They talked like olden time people. (EXAMPLE:thou hast showneth me your loveth.) Crap like that. I had no ideo what their saying. It was stupid and I warn everyone not to see this movie. But if your stubborn then go ahead. You'll hate it.

Yes   |   No


 
 
 

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    Member Reviews
    Read all (33)
     
    Chase M.

    i love this movie.. leonardo dicaprio and Claire Danes make a perfect Romeo and Juliet. this is the first romeo and juliet ive actually liked i loved it

    Yes   |   No

     
    Jenn F.

    I loved it! I was no "R&J" fan- the old film everyone had to watch in highschool was horrible, remember? But this one made the language fun and come to life. I have watched it many times- and will continue to! I finally understood all the lingo!

    Yes   |   No

     
    Kathy H.

    The actual text of Shakespere spoken from the Characters set in a modern era. Read the book first!

    Yes   |   No

     
    Read All 33 Reviews
       

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