X
- 1996
- PG-13
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 2 h
- 1996
- PG-13
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 2 h
Summary 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 who now meet in the futuristic urban backdrop of Verona Beach. Their two rival families, the Montaques and the Capulet...
Directed By: Baz Luhrmann
Written By: William Shakespeare, Craig Pearce, Baz Luhrmann
- 1996
- PG-13
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 2 h
- 1996
- PG-13
- Twentieth Century Fox
- 2 h
Romeo + Juliet
60
6.2
Where to Watch
Summary 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 who now meet in the futuristic urban backdrop of Verona Beach. Their two rival families, the Montaques and the Capulet...
Directed By: Baz Luhrmann
Written By: William Shakespeare, Craig Pearce, Baz Luhrmann
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 20 Critic Reviews
60
60% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
30% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
10% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 20 Critic Reviews
60
60% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
30% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
10% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Amid the clamor from outraged purists and Shakespeare spinning in his Stratford-on-Avon, England, grave, you should notice that Luhrmann and his two bright angels have shaken up a 400-year-old play without losing its touching, poetic innocence.
Baz Luhrmann takes the audience on a unique ride through one of the Bard's best-known texts, illuminating the story, occasionally subjugating the language but always delivering a vision that is bold, brassy, hugely inventive and accessible and, in a strange way, just right.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 143 User Ratings
6.2
50% Positive
71 Ratings
71 Ratings
32% Mixed
46 Ratings
46 Ratings
18% Negative
26 Ratings
26 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 143 User Ratings
6.2
50% Positive
71 Ratings
71 Ratings
32% Mixed
46 Ratings
46 Ratings
18% Negative
26 Ratings
26 Ratings
Is this movie great, objectively speaking? Maybe, maybe not. All I know is that I freaking love it, and in my opinion it's aged like a fine wine. It's deliberately quarky editing and humor of certain scenes together with the Shakespearean drama of the tale, mold into a fully cohesive and realized vision of this ancient classic told in a modern setting. Only very seldomly does the Shakespearean line delivery feel awkward agaisnt the juxtaposition of a modern environment, thanks in large part to great performances by the cast, a fitting soundtrack, and awe-inspiring visuals. There are so many brilliant and beautiful cinematic shots in this movie. The visuals are the true highlight of this film, just above, yet working in perfect tandem alongside the epic love drama that is the story itself.
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As the doomed lovers, DiCaprio and Danes -- both luminous, limpid-eyed beauties -- are allowed to deliver delicate, unpretentious performances, and their love becomes a modest, frighteningly fragile oasis amidst a tawdry saturnalia of noise and glitter.
Luhrmann, an Australian who pretty much let his camera go nuts in the egregiously overrated "Strictly Ballroom", here makes reasonable, imaginative decisions that are, arguably, true to Shakespeare.
Romeo & Juliet is a series of spectacular production designs posing as a motion picture.
I have never seen anything remotely approaching the mess that the new punk version of "Romeo & Juliet" makes of Shakespeare's tragedy.
The result is embarrassing: quick cuts and shaky, hand- held camera work, bad acting and lots of attitude.
Part 2 of Baz Luhrmann's Red Curtain Trilogy: 'Romeo + Juliet'.
I remember watching a little bit of this years and years back at high school and I seem to recall enjoying it a lot. I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I might've on this viewing, but it is still a film I'd recommend for sure - it's very good.
I'm yet to see a bad - heck, even a just mildly good - film from Leonardo DiCaprio, which remains the case after this. It's probably the weakest performance I've seen from DiCaprio so far, though that's just through process of elimination as he's still impressive here as Romeo. Claire Danes (Juliet) merits props, also.
John Leguizamo (Tybalt) is the pick of the rest of the cast, which also includes the likes of Paul Sorvino, Miriam Margolyes and Paul Rudd. Speaking of the casting, apparently 14-year-old Natalie Portman was originally cast to star alongside DiCaprio (then 21... dodgy!).
I love the modern day set up and how they bring this famous tale to life in it, though I do think the choice to use Shakespearean dialogue was perhaps the wrong call. It's not like I didn't appreciate it, but it does feel a bit forced and unnatural at times - still cool that they did it, mind.
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Romeo + Juliet is a free interpretation of one of Shakespeare's most famous plays. Fans of Shakespeare's work may think that Romeo + Juliet is some kind of cartoon from Baz Luhrmann. But you shouldn't immediately take the film negatively. First of all, there is a good cast, and a beautiful young DiCaprio. The transfer of the film to the American entourage of the early 90s is not badly implemented. The film well conveys the dialogue in the style of a play. And although the plot here is as predictable as possible, Romeo + Juliet is interesting to watch. In general, this is a bad movie, of course not for every viewer. Clearly an amateur. But it's Baz Luhrmann, he has almost all the movies except The Great Gatsby. If you liked his other movies, or musicals, this is the movie for you.
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Yes, I have to confess that this movie moves quite quickly and is visually appealing. As with Moulin Rouge, the soundtrack and cinematography work together to create a fantastic visual experiment. The movie's concept, though, strikes me as odd and a little absurd. There are two options: either you completely adhere to Shakespeare's original plot, scenarios, etc. (which obviously wouldn't appeal to the audience it was intended to appeal to), or you perform a modern adaptation and place the story in a contemporary setting. Reading baroque dialogues from the 16th century while shootings take place and fast automobiles are on the road just looks really weird and exciting. It simply seems like an odd combination of the unquestionable status of Shakespeare with the undeniable allure of action films that doesn't actually work that well.
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The old language makes this movie so exhausting to follow and ridiculous to see in a modern era. The pictures are beautiful and colorful, the sound is also great.
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While I personally didn't like the book, I can still see that this was a terrible adaptation. The decision to make it take place in modern day was confusing at best, since it added nothing and the dialogue remained the same. Several important scenes were glossed over, such as everyone's reaction to the deaths of the main characters (it's not a spoiler because everybody knows it). The acting, outside of the main cast (with the exception of Mercutio) is laughable at best, and obnoxious at worst. The cinematography was notably off, too, and combined with all of the problems with the book, this movie was a pretty miserable experience overall.
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Production Company
Bazmark Films,
Estudios Churubusco Azteca S.A.,
Twentieth Century Fox
Release Date Nov 1, 1996
Duration 2 h
Rating PG-13
Tagline Two households both alike in dignity, In fair Verona where we lay our scene. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life.
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Nomination
BAFTA Awards
• 4 Wins & 7 Nominations
MTV Movie + TV Awards
• 1 Win & 6 Nominations
