I always read lists like this. Always. Because you knew never know if it’s going to be a rehash of all the standards we’ve seen before, or if there’s going to be maybe 1 that’s new to me — or, like this list, be almost entirely new content!
We’re talking about adaptations of Romeo and Juliet, by the way. And I can honestly say that of the 15, I had no idea that about 10 of them were Romeo and Juliet stories. That doesn’t mean I’m interested in going to hunt them all down, of course (some are even foreign films), but it’s nice to know there are journalists out there who are still actually researching their stories and not just churning out the cut and paste jobs for Valentine’s Day.
Bonus – #12 on the list is local favorite Sealed With a Kiss, which the reviewer calls, “one of the modern Romeo & Juliet adaptations that most respects the original’s text” and “almost a retelling more than a revision.”
#13 of course is Gnomeo (why else would they be publishing such a list?) and I agree with the summary here, as well:
Nor does it prevent them from arrogantly boasting to their audience that their film, Gnomeo & Juliet, has a more exciting opening than the original play, and a better, happier ending. Apparently gnomes know as little about humility as they do about tragedy.
I wonder how many of these find their origins in Shakespeare and how many find themselves rehashing the material Shakespeare used—the story of parentally-forbidden love. I've seen too many stories that others claim to be based on Romeo and Juliet that turn out to be stories of star-crossed lovers, yes, but without any real Shakespearean connection.
kj
Hey! That took out the funny part of my post–where I opened and closed with < skepticism > and < close skepticism > tags!
kj
"Sealed with a Kiss," from a technical standpoint, shows you what happens when you take too long to make something like that. The animation, Flash animation at that, took four years to finish, and by then, Flash animation had become better and easier, making the movie look like it was animated by an eight-year-old suffering from a bad cold.
Also, Juliet was thirteen. Just saying.
Well, Juliet's always 13, it says so in the script, so I'm not really sure what that comment is "just sayin."
re: the animation you're completely right. But consider that the guy made it by himself, on his own computer. The fact that it exists at all is a good thing. The man had a project in mind and saw it through to completion.
Heck, Gnomeo took 11 years they tell me. It's got state of the art animation, and all kinds of celebrity voices and music. But is it better? Depends on what you're looking for. Sealed tells a better R&J story, that's for sure.
Happier, sure. But do you really think that the Gnomeo and Juliet ending is *better*?