In my morning’s browsing I found this excellent (and positive!) review of Luhrmann’s famous Romeo and Juliet. Perhaps I should say “infamous” as there are plenty of purists out there that would take the Zeffirelli version over this one anyday. This reviewer, however, reminds us just how good a movie this is (as opposed to how exact an interpretation) by pointing out the homage to classic spaghetti Westerns, John Woo, and Shakespeare’s other works scattered throughout the movie (“Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Hot Dogs”?)
I’ve always been a believer that whatever it takes to make Shakespeare accessible to the masses — without sacrificing the original! — is worth encouraging. If Leonardo DiCaprio screaming his lines at John Leguizamo is what it takes, then so be it. At least they’re not rapping.
This review makes me want to watch it again. What more can you ask from a review?
Tags: Shakespeare
This version rocks. It was what turned me onto Shakespeare at age 13…very powerful indeed.