William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet

Starring:Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, John Leguizamo, Harold Perrineau, Pete Postlethwaite, Paul Sorvino, Brian Dennehy, Paul Rudd, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Miriam Margolyes, Jesse Bradford, M. Emmet Walsh, Zak Orth, Jamie Kennedy, Dash Mihok, Vincent Laresca, Carlos MartÃn Manzo OtÃ¡lora, Christina Pickles, Diane Venora, Pedro Altamirano
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Product Type: DVD

Product Description

This brilliant and contemporary retelling of the world's most tragic love affair makes this wildly inventive "Romeo & Juliet" unforgettable. This special edition DVD contains audio commentary by Baz Luhrmann, early rehearsal scenes and an inside look at the making of the movie.

Baz Luhrmann's dazzling and unconventional adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic love story is spellbinding. Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes portray Romeo and Juliet, the youthful star-crossed lovers of the past. But the setting has been moved from its Elizabethan origins to futuristic urban backdrop of Verona Beach.

System Requirements:
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, Brian Dennehy, John Leguizamo, Pete Postlethwaite, Paul Sorvino, Diane Venora.
Directed By: Baz Luhrmann.
Running Time: 120 Min., Color.
This film is presented in "Widescreen" format.
Copyright 2002 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

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:

A surprisingly original idea.......2007-06-09

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

In my personal opinion, I believe Shakespeare's writing is way too obscure and out there, and when hearing people say "Shakespeare wrote for the common people", I can only cringe in terror at what plays written for educated people must have sounded like.

This movie doesn't change the dialect or dialogue of the movie, and gives it a weird sort of artistic modern setting, which makes it not only a surprising and original twist, but makes it much more watchable to see a timeless tale truly tested with its claim to timelessness. Even if it took place in the year 3010 AD, it'd still be the same.

I love the way the adults on the newscasts and police speak, and the way the police officer at the end of the movie scolds the Capulets and Montagues, and the beginning scene, with the Montague nerds biting their thumbs at the Capulets was amusing.

Harold Perrineau as Mercutio is spellbinding, and John Leguizamo is equally spectacular in this movie.

What keeps this movie from being a great one in my opinion is the two lead characters played abysmally by Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. DiCaprio, normally a great actor, sounds like he's just memorized the lines and is reciting them like a schoolchild forced to read them aloud in class--lifeless, with little to no emotion, and an apparent lack of understanding as to what he is saying.

Claire Danes is even worse, delivering lines in such an awkward manner as to make me cringe. It sounds literally like a giggling, bubbly school girl reading from a script for the first time while distracted by something else.

Another thing which surprisingly irritated me was the SCREAMING. In many scenes, there was mindless screaming at the hands of Juliet's mother and maid, especially that scene where Romeo is at Juliet's window, and the maid calls for her, and Danes (awkwardly) says "By and by I come", the maid's line is literally a grating, irritating scream: JULIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET! for at the very least, 3-5 seconds long

There's a lot more screaming at the maid's hand and Juliet's mother, though thankfully it's limited just to that scene and scarcely any other. But it is SERIOUSLY annoying having her scream like that when Juliet is CLEARLY shouting back "By and by I come"

All in all, the show is all but stolen by John Leguizamo and Harold Perrineau as Tybalt and Mercutio (respectively), while the lead actors are weak in their roles.

3.5/5

the gay romeo and juliet = a waste of time by !idee.......2007-05-23

review

During the past week I saw the movie, Romeo and Juliet, directed by Baz Luhrmann and starting Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.
The story is based on the play written by Shakespeare but there are many differences.
For on there are guns that are called swords in the movie which I find totally ridiculous. Another difference was the fact that it was set in modern times, which made the movie very hard to understand
Also I think that the actors and actresses were very flat. I think this is because of the setting and language doesn't really go together, and therefore it is really hard to get into the characters mind set.
Over all I think that the movie wasn't very good at all and it is definitely a waste of money and time.

English teacher gives this DVD an A-.......2007-05-23

Let me begin my review by addressing those who are undecided whether to purchase this version (Luhrman) or the Zeffirelli. There seems to be a bias amongst educators (bordering on the arrogant) that the Luhrman version is somehow less "authentic" than the Zeffirelli. Simply performing "Romeo and Juliet" in doublet and hose, however, does not make it any more "Shakespearean". In fact, I would argue that modern-dress is more in keeping with the spirit of the original as Elizabethan drama had no elaborate sets or costumes; doublet and hose WERE modern-dress in Shakespeare's time. If we discount "updating" as a reason to discount the Luhrman version (which in my experience is invariably the excuse), we have to judge the movies on how well they illuminate/connect/inspire Shakespeare's words for our students. In my opinion, the Luhrman version does a better job of this than the Zefferilli.

First, the updating works (for the most part). My students clearly understood gangs and rivalries; presenting the Montagues and Capulets as such, eliminated questions as why the two families hate each other or how the feud got started (answers which are outside the text). The guns and cars appealed to the boys; the love and romance appealed to the girls. My students could see themselves in the context Luhrman provided; they could relate to what was going on screen as present and relative, not merely events from 400 years ago.

Secondly, casting famous actors (DiCaprio and Danes) as the leads hooks many of my students at the beginning. They watch the movie BECAUSE Leonardo DiCaprio is in it, but soon the magic of the Bard's words (which they struggle to follow at first) keeps them interested. DiCaprio IMO is uneven; some scenes he performs better than others. Danes's performance (other than her fake crying in the Capulet vault) was generally strong and very believable; her words did not seem "acted" but rather natural. The supporting cast was also very good with Tybalt and Benvolio standing out.

There were some scenes that didn't work well for me. The Capulet ball in particular was strange. Mercutio came dressed in drag and this (unfounded) homosexual subtext was amplified by him prancing around on the stairs with some Chippendale dancers. Just plain strange. Also, the Queen Mab speech was weird and luckily cut short; Luhrman did try to tie it into the events as a sort-of intoxicated rambling at the "pre-party" (complete with Ecstasy) before Romeo crashes the ball. Another weak performance was Lady Capulet who played it for laughs (which again I couldn't see from the text), and it was an unconvincing performance played that way. The only time Lady Capulet seemed believable was when she played it serious (Tybalt's death, the argument with Juliet and Capulet). Some students also didn't care for all of the musical numbers, but most liked how Luhrman tried to include contemporary songs into the movie.

Some of the sequencing of scenes are a bit off, but this is a movie students definitely love and get into... which I think is how Shakespeare would want it.

The classic tale.........2007-05-09

..Re-done and beautified. Some parts are wacky but this is a very good story if you enjoy Romeo and Juliet. The dialogue is the same as the story, by the way.

Incredible modern adaptation.......2007-04-26

Truly an amazing cinematic experience, this flick totally flies out of the box by sticking to the original Old English dialogue while still maintaining the portrayal of a modern setting. Every actor gives an impressive performance and each shows their understanding of the Old English dialogue they use to express themselves. In fact, I gained a greater understanding of some of Shakespeare's terminology by the inflection and timing the actors used to speak the playwrite's words. Well worth the watch. An impressive piece of cinema.

Average customer rating:

A Plague on Both Their Houses
Not perfectly 16th century, but well done
Romeo oh Romoeo
Shakespeare must be rolling over in his grave!!!

William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio , Claire Danes , John Leguizamo , Harold Perrineau , and Pete Postlethwaite
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Romeo & Juliet
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ASIN: B00008G7UJ
Release Date: 2003-01-14

Description

Baz Luhrmann's dazzling and unconventional adaptation of William Shakespear's classic love story is spellbinding. Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes portray Romeo and Juliet, the youthful star-crossed lovers of the past. But the setting has been moved from it's Elizabethan origins to the futuristic urban backdrop of Verona Beach.

Customer Reviews:

A Plague on Both Their Houses.......2005-12-30

The story of the Capulets and the Montagues has never looked like this before. Baz Luhrmann has created an updated version of this timeless classic. Often considered the perfect tragic love story, Romeo and Juliet proves that Shakespeare was an outstanding playwright and a master wordsmith. Unfortunately, even the best writing cannot carry a movie when the actors have no passion nor innate skill.

Leonardo DiCaprio has just the right look to play young Romeo, but he lacks any true acting ability. He takes some of the most passionate lines ever written and plows through them like a bull in a china shop, determined to just get through and get out as quickly as possible. Take for example the scene when Romeo first speaks to Juliet. "If I offend with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this..." DiCaprio delivers these lines with no emotion, no passion, and no apparant thought for what he is actually saying. This soulless acting continues throughout the film.

Claire Danes is better, but not much. She is far more convincing than her counterpart, but the lines still come across flat.

Not all this is the fault of the actors. The director is ultimately responsible and that brings us to Baz Luhrmann. Cinematically, this film is impressive. He's done a wonderful job of updating the play to modern times without tying it directly to any particular period or location. The creative way that he introduced the "Dagger" (now a semi-automatic pistol) and the "long sword" (a rifle) are proof that Luhrmann does care about the details. If only he cared a little more about the acting, and worked a little harder to draw forth a more passionate performance from his stars.

Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 version is a vastly superior performance from an artistic point of view; however, Luhrmann's updated version provides a version that the youth of today will probably connect with. If the goal is to get kids to watch and appreciate Shakespeare, then show this version first. Once they're hooked, have them watch the 1968 version and show them what Shakespeare was really meant to be.

Not perfectly 16th century, but well done.......2005-12-11

After peeking at the reviews already written for this movie, I thought that perhaps I could share my two cents.

First of all, no. This is not set in the 16th century. This is not in Italy. They do not use actual swords (though if you watch, most of their guns are named after the classic 16th century weaponry).

However, that's not what Baz Luhrmann was after. He wanted to take the story and, with as few script/theme/feeling changes as possible, make it present day. He wanted to show audiences the timelessness of the story, the ways in which it still could apply to modern times and modern people. He managed to create a feud between two families that seemed a real and common part of these characters' lives, while still managing to convey a true love story. Some may think that the love is too playful, too childish, but that's what Shakespeare wrote! Juliet was supposed to be so much younger than she is in this (but, again, to make this fit with present day, someone of marrying age needed to be used), and the love is between two young people who are just learning what love really is.

I love the film. I think the soundtrack and the setting work well together, giving a 1990's feel to the story, but Luhrmann's attention to phrasing, to detail, amazes the watcher with its Shakespearean accuracy.

The move is worth an open mind, if nothing else. Even for those who don't "get" Shakespeare, or maybe especially for them, this is a way to appreciate his story without a freshman English teacher or a lot of confusion.

Romeo oh Romoeo.......2005-11-24

Give me a break. Please get a back bone. If you like blood, ya like Leo or Claire, and ya wanna see them totally rock out with all types of people (including the guy from matrix) then buy it and be happy ya did. This movie rocks, yah!

Shakespeare must be rolling over in his grave!!!.......2005-08-10

I am a huge Shakespeare fan and love many of his works!! I love the way he wrote, the old english words he used, I love it all!! When I was in High School in the mid 90's, my English class read the original Romeo & Juliet play by Shakespeare and then after we read the play, we watched the 1936 Black & White film and I just totally loved it for the acting and drama, and it was romantic and followed the play very well. Now Romeo & Juliet is my favorite Shakespeare play!!

A while after this 1996 film was released, when it came to video stores to rent, I decided to rent it. I thought it would be good because I liked Claire Danes and Leonardo in other shows and movies. Well I can honestly say that after watching this 1996 version, Shakespeare must have been rolling over in his grave!! I hate to talk so negatively about a film based on Shakespeare's masterpiece but I have to be honest!! This film should NOT have William Shakespeare's name in the title. I was very, very appalled by the very, very drastic changes they made to what Shakespeare meant it to be!

Here are some things in this version that just made me sick:

1. The dialog does not match what you see on screen. There is this line "drop your sword." Hello?? They were carrying guns!!! I mean, come on!!! If You're going to makes changes to a play, at least do it right!!!

2. The guns!! Nowhere in Shakespeare's masterpiece play does it mention the characters with guns!! They had swords and daggers, not guns!!

3. The rock, alternative, and dance music does not fit, it's meant to be classical!!

4. The famous balcony scene was a total disgrace!! Romeo is supposed to be right below Juliet's balcony and Juliet is supposed to be up at her balcony when she says the famous "Romeo, Romeo, Where For Art Thou Romeo?" They totally messed this up in the 1996 film when Juliet says that line only when she says it, she is walking right by Romeo on the ground where he was!! I was really, really looking forward to the famous balcony scene the way Shakespeare meant it to be right before I saw the part in this 1996 version but I was so appalled that they killed the scene!!

5. Claire Danes and Leonardo didn't have enough emotion and passion to be Romeo & Juliet overall!! The couple romantic scenes this film did have, it was alright but I expect superb acting and drama between the two star crossed lovers!!!

6. This 1996 film was ruined from the very beginning with the newscaster and TV!!

7. There were cars in this film!! There were NO cars in Romeo & Juliet!!!

8. I felt like I was watching a Ganster film and not a romantic film overall. I mean, there was a feud between the two families in the play but this film took it way too far like when they were always shooting and killing each other, to an extent that made me feel like I was watching more Ganster than Romance!

9. There is acid using in this film!! People using acid drugs?? Oh my god, I feel so sorry for Shakespeare, so sorry that his masterpiece play is being treated this way!! I just cannot comprehend how they could treat his legacy like this!! I am just so, so appalled beyond words!

The only saving factor in this, is they kept the old english words/dialog and a couple of Romeo & Juliet romantic scenes but I will stick to the REAL Romeo & Juliet films, the 1936 Black & White and the 1968 version, those are REAL Romeo & Juliet adaptions that don't disgrace and disrespect Shakespeare!

Average customer rating:

A surprisingly original idea
the gay romeo and juliet = a waste of time by !idee
English teacher gives this DVD an A-
The classic tale..
Incredible modern adaptation

William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio , Claire Danes , John Leguizamo , Harold Perrineau , and Pete Postlethwaite
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

Romeo & Juliet
Hamlet
The Odyssey
Shakespeare in Love (Miramax Collector's Series)
Tristan and Isolde (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: 6305364613
Release Date: 1999-05-25

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A surprisingly original idea.......2007-06-09

the gay romeo and juliet = a waste of time by !idee.......2007-05-23

English teacher gives this DVD an A-.......2007-05-23

The classic tale.........2007-05-09

..Re-done and beautified. Some parts are wacky but this is a very good story if you enjoy Romeo and Juliet. The dialogue is the same as the story, by the way.

Incredible modern adaptation.......2007-04-26

The Plays of William Shakespeare - Romeo and Juliet

Average customer rating:

Bad examples are valuable, too!

The Plays of William Shakespeare - Romeo and Juliet
Starring: Alex Hyde-White , Blanche Baker , Esther Rolle , Dan Hamilton , and Frederic Hehne
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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The Plays of William Shakespeare - King Lear
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ASIN: B000059XTV
Release Date: 2001-01-30

Description

The clearest and most understandable Shakespeare productions ever made. Staged as seen in the 16th Century, featuring award-winning performers. The tragic tale of young love thwarted by a family feud. Starring Alex Hyde-White, Blanche Baker, Esther Rolle, Dan Hamilton and Frederic Hehne. 165 minutes.

Customer Reviews:

Bad examples are valuable, too!.......2003-09-11

This has got to be THE worst R&J ever produced anywhere. The staging is clumsy, the costumes embarrassing, the acting turgid. The voices are a cacophony of mixed bad British, grating American, and others never actually used anywhere. Although if you like cod-pieces, this is the production for you.
The formidable Esther Rolle's subtext seems to be that she can't wait to go home and take a shower. The director has relegated her to the demanding task of standing there looking African, presumably in a desperate bid to add visual interest to the crowd scenes.
The producers used the phrase "staged as seen in the 16th century;" in my opinion only the first five minutes would have been seen, after which the actors would have been pelted with rotting vegetables by a disgusted audience uttering earnest calls for getting their money back and/or burning down the theatre.
This DVD could, however, be useful for encouraging folks to try their hand at acting. Once they see this they should be thinking "Hey, I could do better than that!" A splendid bad example-- acting teachers can say "See? This is what I want you to avoid." This R&J is a fine collection of the very worst acting habits and traits.
The only high points: there is one good actor in the cast, in a minor role (Try and find him, like 'Where's Waldo!') and the sword fights, which do show some of the modern improvements in fight choreography. Perhaps they only seem so good because they prevent the actors from speaking while they fight.
Personally, I'd rather watch dogs play poker.

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