Romeo & Juliet

Amazon.com

Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet was unique in its day for casting kids in the play's pivotal roles of, well, kids. Seventeen-year-old Leonard Whiting and 15-year-old Olivia Hussey play the titular pair, the Bard's star-crossed lovers who defy a running feud between their families in order to be together in love. Typically played on stage and in previous film productions by adult actors, the innocent look and rawness of Whiting and Hussey resonated at the time with a burgeoning youth movement from San Francisco to Prague. The tragic romance at the center of the story also clicked with anti-authority sentiments, but even without that, Zeffirelli scores points by validating the ideals and passions of strong-willed adolescents. Less successful are scenes requiring the actors to have a fuller grasp of the text, though the best thing going remains the unambiguous duel between Romeo and Tybalt (Michael York). Lavishly photographed by Pasquale de Santis on location in Italy, this Romeo and Juliet brought a different tone and dimension to a story that had become tiresome in reverential presentations. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Greatest love story of all time!.......2007-08-21

I've seen this movie so many times and never get tired of watching it, again and again and again ... Believe it or not, one's life is controled by Destiny. No matter how hard we try to fight against it, Destiny (or Fate) still conquers and decides our life! Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey are like born to portray, respectively, Romeo and Juliet, the greatest couple blinded by the doomed word "Love". Their love story is even enhanced by great music and marvelous costumes. This movie is true piece of arts!

Very teen-friendly.......2007-07-25

My class loved the movie and asked for a second viewing. Superb! sparked a lot of discussion.

A gotta have.......2007-07-25

The only reason I gave this 5 stars is there is no provision for 6.

Authentic!.......2007-07-13

My sister was a teenager when this movie was made, I was pre-elementary, but I remember the impact it had on her generation. As my own daughter approaches high school and the reading of this work, I found this to be the most closely authentic portrayal, in both language and setting. The mood of this film transports the viewer back hundreds of years, allowing you to bask in the poetic discourse of how we imagine Shakespeare's days. Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting are still as attractive and suited for the roles of the passionate pair; my daughter thought Whiting was as hunky as her generation's beau, Zac Efron.

Romeo and Juliet.......2007-06-28

My favorite version of this oft-filmed classic is Zeffirelli's Oscar-nominated version. Starring two unknowns in the title roles (17-year-old Whiting and 15-year-old Hussey), the movie remains true to Shakespeare, while making the language more accessible to modern audiences. Both Michael York (as Romeo's nemesis, Tybalt) and Milo O'Shea (as Mercutio) lend strong support, while Zeffirelli's unabashed romanticism is enhanced by magnificent period detail and a sweeping score from Nino Rota. The story of youthful rebellion also spoke to basic issues arising in the restive sixties. A top-notch rendering of an eternal classic.

Shakespeare in Love (Miramax Collector's Series)

Average customer rating:

Beautiful
Shakespeare in Love (Miramax Collector's Series)
lovely movie, and worth the grounding
Lame and overwrought
One of the best movies I've ever seen

Shakespeare in Love (Miramax Collector's Series)
Starring: Geoffrey Rush , Joseph Fiennes , Tom Wilkinson , Antony Sher , and Martin Clunes
Director: John Madden
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00001U0E1
Release Date: 1999-12-07

Amazon.com

One of the most endearing and intelligent romantic comedies of the '90s, the Oscar-winning Shakespeare in Love is filled with such good will, sunny romance, snappy one-liners, and devilish cleverness that it's absolutely irresistible. With tongue placed firmly in cheek, at its outset the film tracks young Will Shakespeare's overwrought battle with writer's block and the efforts of theater owner Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush, in rare form) to stage Will's latest comedy, Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter. Jokey comedy, though, soon takes a backseat to ravishing romance when the beautiful Viola De Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow) disguises herself as a young man to wangle herself an audition in the all-male cast, and wins both the part of Romeo and, after much misunderstanding, the playwright's heart. Soon enough, Will's pirate comedy becomes the beautiful, tragic Romeo and Juliet, reflecting the agony and ecstasy of Will and Viola's romance--he's married and she's set to marry the slimy Lord Wessex (Colin Firth) in the near future.

The way that Oscar-winning screenwriters Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard enfold their story within the parameters of Romeo and Juliet (and even Twelfth Night) is nothing short of brilliant--it would take a Shakespearean scholar to dissect the innumerable parallels, oft-quoted lines, plot developments, and thematic borrowings. And most amazingly, Norman and Stoppard haven't forgotten to entertain their audience in addition to riding a Shakespearean roller coaster, with director John Madden (Mrs. Brown) reigning in his huge ensemble with rollicking energy. Along the way there are small gems to be found, including Judi Dench's eight-minute, Oscar-winning turn as a truly regal Queen Elizabeth, but the key element of Shakespeare in Love's success rests on the milky-white shoulders of its two stars. Fiennes, inexplicably overlooked at Oscar time, is a dashing, heartfelt Will, and as for Best Actress winner Paltrow, well, nothing she'd done before could have prepared viewers for how amazing she is here. Breathtakingly beautiful, fiercely intelligent, strong-willed, and lovestruck--it's a performance worthy of Shakespeare in more ways than one. By the film's end, you'll be thoroughly won over--and brushing up your Shakespeare with newfound ardor. --Mark Englehart

Description

Triumphant winner of 7 Academy Awards(R) -- including Best Picture -- this witty, sexy smash features Oscar(R)-winning Best Actress Gwyneth Paltrow (SLIDING DOORS, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS) and an amazing cast that includes Academy Award-winners Judi Dench (Best Supporting Actress), Geoffrey Rush (Best Actor -- SHINE), and Ben Affleck (GOOD WILL HUNTING, PEARL HARBOR). When Will Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes -- ELIZABETH) needs passionate inspiration to break a bad case of writer's block, a secret romance with the beautiful Lady Viola (Paltrow) starts the words flowing like never before! There are just two things he'll have to learn about his new love: not only is she promised to marry someone else, but she's successfully impersonating a man in order to play the lead in Will's latest production! A truly can't-miss motion picture event with outstanding critical acclaim to match its impressive collection of major awards -- everyone will love this funny behind-the-scenes look at the writing of the greatest love story ever told!

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2007-09-13

This is one of my top 3 favorite movies. I just love the costumes, the acting, the story...everything about it was something I fell in love with.

Shakespeare in Love (Miramax Collector's Series).......2007-08-24

I don't remember buying this one but if I did, it was a gift. I haven't seen it.

lovely movie, and worth the grounding.......2007-08-18

I remember sneaking into the theater at 14 to watch this on Christmas day after my family decided to see "You've Got Mail" instead. So, full disclosure: This holds a special place in my heart for visiting such wonder and wit in my decidedly smalltown life. This is what the movies is about.

Precocious theater dorks unite because on DVD, it's as well-written, clever, funny and magical today as it ever was. A lovely film, and worth the grounding, after all these years.

What a cast. Fiennes was robbed on Oscar night. And next to "Sliding Doors," this is Paltrow's most winsome performance. Add Geoffrey Rush to the mix, and you just can't lose. Can't be done. Even dear nurse is a sight to behold -- here, my most beloved character in a nun habit since Mother Superior. Simply put, and esp. for fans of the Bard, I can't recommend this enough.

Lame and overwrought.......2007-08-02

How did this win the Academy Award?! I guess because it is a movie theater people and the Academy is composed of theater people? The script is predictable and formulaic. Fienes's performance is unbearably earnest.

One of the best movies I've ever seen.......2007-07-31

I'm astounded that this movie has anything but 5 stars from everyone! The editing between the "live" action and the play and players is brilliant. The screenwriting is superb, and the characters are engaging, personable and loveable. It's as nearly perfect as a movie can get, with bright, witty dialog and tremendous aesthetics. I've seen it 6 or 7 times and I'm still enthralled at the craft of the actors, writers, producers, cinematographers, costumers, etc. Fiennes deserved best actor nomination at least for his part. Wow! Get it and you won't be disappointed.

Average customer rating:

Pocahontas (10th Anniversary Edition)
Racist Film with more MISrepresentations of Native Americans
Which is worse, the historical whitewash, or the fact that it's dead boring?
Overall enjoyable
Great dvd

Pocahontas (10th Anniversary Edition)
Starring: Irene Bedard , Judy Kuhn , Mel Gibson , David Ogden Stiers , and John Kassir
Director: Mike Gabriel , and Eric Goldberg
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0007KTBIU
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Amazon.com

Disney's take on this historical confrontation between European settlers and Native Americans follows the paths of two future lovers. One is British adventurer John Smith, who travels the Atlantic with the Virginia Company to establish Jamestown. On the shore is Pocahontas, a typical Disney heroine: bright, beautiful, mischievous, and motherless. The two meet in the untamed wilds of America (the first meeting is quite divine), fall in love, and try to ward off the warring factions. It's Disney's version of a Native American West Side Story. Two Disney trademarks do not quite muster up: the villain isn't hissable and the score's only high point is the Oscar-winning "Colors of the Wind." Calling it "historical" is a stretch, but Disney created a very natural look at the two cultures. The Native American characters are handled especially well, and kids should be intrigued by their world; the movie is a far different lesson from the one their parents and grandparents learned. Disney has discovered a few things, though: you don't have to kill to solve your problems, and you can end the film without a happily-ever-after, illustrated by a touching final visual. (Ages 5 and older) --Doug Thomas

Description

All the music, adventure, and colorful fun of Disney's POCAHONTAS come to life like never before in the 10th Anniversary Edition 2-Disc Set. Bursting with all the "Colors Of The Wind," POCAHONTAS tells the story of a free-spirited girl who wonders what adventures await "Just Around The Riverbend." Pocahontas -- along with her playful pals Meeko and Flit -- relies on the guidance of her loving and wise Grandmother Willow when English settlers arrive on the shores of their village. Her chance meeting with the courageous Captain John Smith leads to a beautiful friendship that bridges the gap between two cultures, and changes history. Now fully restored, POCAHONTAS includes the song "If I Never Knew You," and never-before-seen animation seamlessly integrated into the original film. This 2-Disc 10th Anniversary Edition is loaded with spectacular bonus features, all-new games, and soaring Academy Award(R)-winning music (1995 Best Original Musical Score, Best Original Song, "Colors Of The Wind"). Disney's POCAHONTAS is a fun-filled adventure your whole family will enjoy.

Customer Reviews:

Pocahontas (10th Anniversary Edition).......2007-09-16

I was very happy to find Pocahontas (10th Anniversary edition) and at such a good price. My Grandaughter was so upset when our VCR "ate" our previous tape that I had found at a garage sale. I had been looking all over for a replacement and was happy to find it in the CD format.

Racist Film with more MISrepresentations of Native Americans.......2007-09-02

I really don't have time to write out all the consitencies. Just google "The Real Pocahontas" and you will find many critiques of the film. To begin with...that wasn't even her real NAME!

Which is worse, the historical whitewash, or the fact that it's dead boring?.......2007-08-28

Disney puts a pretty face on its rather ugly retooling of historical and biographical fact by laying on enough textual PC correctives to appease most of the thenthitives out there, and maybe even a few of the people who have some real reason to be offended. (And, yes, they do have reason.) This doesn't help it as a movie, though - and neither does the tiresome and mushy romance angle that slurps up a lot of the screen time. Great pains were reportedly taken with the animation, which I found to be competently uninspired by Disney standards of the period. A key color scheme associated with the character Pocahontas is an unfortunate mash of purples, pinks and golds - a color combination most recognizably associated with Barbie. This Pocahontas is, in fact, something like the genetic offspring of Barbie and a fictionalized historical figure - grown in a medium of touchy-feely new-age sentiment (emphasis on the touchy). I could probably forgive it any faults, though, if it were any good as a movie.

Really, this is material Disney should have left alone. They might have actually had a more entertaining film (albeit a more offensive one) if they had felt free to treat the story LESS respectfully. They might have also had a better movie if they had treated the material with the kind of respect it actually deserves, but is simply way beyond their ken creatively and intellectually. What we get is Disney as a bull trying hard to gingerly tippy-toe around a china shop that it has no business being in in the first place.

A similar schizophrenia plagued their ill-advised adaptation of a famous Victor Hugo novel in the same period, when the studio was evidently nurturing some loftily outsize artistic aspirations, but the result was so grotesquely perverse that it actually ended up being worth seeing - if only for the jaw-dropping 'what were they smoking at Disney' quality. (It also had some truly impressive animation.) 'Pocahantas' is not in nearly poor enough taste to provide entertainment on that level, but it's still in way too poor taste to be accepted or respected on the terms it gropes for. If nothing else, it proves that political correctness doesn't equal real sensitivity - nor does it make for interesting cinema.

Anyway, this one fails pretty miserably. Even if you can get past the inherent offensiveness of Smith and Pocahontas hooking up (according to history, if they ever did it was in what would now be considered a combination of statutory and actual rape), the execution of the romantic element here ranges from excruciatingly dull at best to... {insert puking noises}.

I don't always demand accuracy in portraying people who actually lived. I cringe when ignorant people present as history details of the Marquis de Sade's life that they could only have culled from the highly fictionalized 'Qillls.' I enjoyed that movie, though, (never saw the play) and so I was willing to forgive the fact that it was actually straight-up hogwash as both history and biography - even knowing that the facts of the man's life are actually more dramatic and interesting than than the mostly invented and over-the-top story in 'Quills,' I forgave it. It was an engaging two hours with some fun performances, so I let it go. And when people who have been exposed to it prove repeatedly that they are depressingly given to accepting what they see in a movie as fact if they don't actually know any better, I don't blame the movie, I blame THEM.

My recent experience with the dreadful 'Lonely Hearts' was another story, however. The transformation of lonely, insecure and famously obese serial killer Martha Beck into a sexually confident femme fatale hottie played by Salma Hayek felt like a gross betrayal. Not that a creep like Beck (or Sade, for that matter) deserves anyone's reverence - but the changes were typical Hollywood, they made her less interesting and more banal, and, as a character, she no longer made any sense. (Hayek's man-jumping vamp is clearly NOT the type that would need to look in the lonely hearts pages for a mate - but her presence does allow for loads of photogenic sex scenes that pass for character development. My brother has said, by the way, that he "would DO Pocahontas," but I don't think they drew her that way on purpose, do you? :| ) Making that character conform to a Hollywood standard (stereotype) was symptomatic of the film's overall slick ineptitude and gutlessness. If it had been a better movie, would I have forgiven the inaccuracies? Almost certainly - but after two excellent (non-Hollywood, natch) films that strove to interpret that character faithfully (and were all the more fascinating for it), 'Lonely Hearts' would have had to pull out some serious magic to get by with that. (I don't see it as a possibility, since that particular character interpretation was born of an imaginative bankruptcy that infected every aspect of the script.) Given the dismal situation for actresses in Hollywood who aren't built like Barbie, I would have liked to have seen some outrage over 'Lonely Hearts'' (mis)casting.

'Pocahontas' is another can of beans, entirely. As someone else put it when it came out, imagine a movie in which Anne Frank falls for, and runs off with, a German soldier. That's not overstating it by much. Let's say somebody DID make that movie. Would that be bad? Of course. What if it was actually an exciting and entertaining movie? Personally, I feel it is the responsibility of the viewer to NEVER take what they see in the movies (or on TV, or in the news, etc.) at face value - and if they do, that is a failure of the culture they live in. (F A I L U R E, people.) I have nothing but disgust for parents who use the TV and the computer as a babysitter without instilling any kind of media awareness in their kids (pointy finger: you know who you are... I hope) - but they probably know no better themselves how to evaluate what they absorb. So if the 'Anne Frank in Love' film were real, and if it were actually good, I'd probably recommend it as cinema, but it would be a heavily qualified recommendation. (See my review of 'Cannibal Holocaust' for an example of a VERY heavily qualified recommendation.) I am not the kind of jackass who feels obliged to run down Leni Riefenstahl's remarkable talent just because she made movies for Hitler. Hitler, the monster, at least had some taste to choose her. Now let's say for a moment that the 'Anne Frank in Love' movie got made, and that it's main target audience was CHILDREN...

Hmmmmm...

Well, the one star rating here isn't because I don't respect the movie's approach to history, it's because, first and foremost, THE MOVIE BLOWS... and I don't respect its approach to history, either - particularly given the target audience.

If you show this to kids (not that I can see them being engaged by it, but okay), it demands A LOT of context and explanation. (Or you can just go ahead and BE an irresponsible parent. Most evidently are these days.)

Overall enjoyable.......2007-08-23

I rate this straight down the middle. The music is pretty nice, as well as the animation but the story struck me as mediocre. Perhaps because the writers took great liberties in re-writing history. Still, I did for the most part enjoy watching it. I havent seen it in a while and probably won't but if you love Disney, then definetely watch this.

Great dvd.......2007-03-11

My favorite Disney movie of ALL time and this is a wonderful DVD! It has extras on a second dvd and the scene of Pocahontas and John Smtih singing together was added back in! GREAT DVD!!

Shakespeare Collection (Hamlet 1996 / A Midsummer Night's Dream 1935 / Othello 1965 / Romeo & Juliet 1936)

Average customer rating:

what's high-brow?
Looks Interesting
Warners continues to go highbrow with this new boxed set

Shakespeare Collection (Hamlet 1996 / A Midsummer Night's Dream 1935 / Othello 1965 / Romeo & Juliet 1936)
Starring: Kenneth Branagh , and Laurence Olivier
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000QC6O98
Release Date: 2007-08-14

Description

HAMLET: "Hamlet has the kind of power, energy and excitement that movies can truly exploit," award-winning actor/director Kenneth Branagh says. In this first-ever full-text film of William Shakespeare's greatest work, the power surges through every scene. The timeless tale of murder, corruption and revenge is reset in an opulent 19th-century world, using sprawling Blenheim Palace as Elsinore and staging much of the action in shimmering mirrored and gold-filled interiors. The energy is electrifying, due to a luminous cast. The excitement of the Bard's words and an adventurous filmmaking style lift the story from its often shadowy ambience to fully-lit pageantry and rage. Now presented in an amazing 2-Disc Special Edition. ROMEO & JULIET: Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard in the title roles are "so good that one can forget they are too old for the roles" (Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide). Adding to this allure of this nominee for four Academy Awards?* including Best Picture are lavish sets and costumes (Botticelli paintings inspired Shearer's wardrobe) that fuel the film's then-astonishing $2-million budget. OTHELLO: The original cast and soul-shattering impact of the play's 1964 staging by the National Theatre of Great Britain are captured on film. As the valiant war hero swept into a maelstrom of jealousy and revenge, Olivier won his seventh Academy Award? nomination.* The movie's Desdemona (Maggie Smith), Emilia (Joyce Redman) and "honest Iago" (Frank Finlay) also captured Oscar? nominations.* And the result, Bosley Crowther wrote in The New York Times, is that "this Othello is one of the boldest you'll ever see." A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM: Love is blind, fickle and true. And under the sway of capricious fairies it becomes blinder (a queen romances a donkey), more fickle (best friends swoon over each other's beau) and truest of all (lovers repledge their devotion). "Lord, what fools these mortals be!" in Shakespeare's bewitching comedy. James Cagney, screen-d

Customer Reviews:

what's high-brow?.......2007-07-23

The Texas Refugee also makes claims of "Warner going highbrow." What pray tell that this have to do with this unreleased box set? Warner is simply plowing through their own libraries and the MGM one they bought, without any specific attention to genre, age, original studio, or whether it's high-brow, low-brow or mid-brow.
My rating in in "anticipation" of a fine release with expected transfers of a high level of excellence.

Looks Interesting.......2007-07-18

Funny how the "Texas Refugee" has bought this box set that has not been released. Hmmm.

I am looking forward to seeing the 1935 A Midsummer Night's Dream and the 1996 Hamlet again. I have not seen MND for a very long time, but I have very fond memories of it. The 1996 Hamlet is arguably the best on film.

(Why do I have "Peter Jackson" in my badge?)

Warners continues to go highbrow with this new boxed set.......2007-05-12

I was very pleased with my "Literary Classics Collection" and "Motion Picture Masterpieces Collection" that I purchased from Warner's, and it looks like the studio originally known for gritty urban dramas continues to go highbrow with this collection of four movies featuring interpretations of works by the Bard. The press release by Warner Home Video has the following extras listed for each movie:

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)
Cast includes James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland (in her screen debut), Joe E. Brown, and Mickey Rooney. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It won for Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing.
DVD Special Features:
Commentary by film historian Scott MacQueen
Olivia de Havilland screen test
Vintage featurette "A Dream Comes True" (8 minutes)
Presenting... Gallery of 6 teaser trailers showcasing cast members
Warner Bros. Studio Café teaser trailer
Musical short "Shake Mr. Shakespeare"
Theatrical trailer
Subtitles: English, French and Portuguese (feature film only)

Romeo and Juliet (1936)
This was actually an MGM production. George Cukor directs with Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard in the title roles. Nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture.
DVD Special Features:
Vintage short "Master Will Shakespeare"
Classic MGM cartoon "Little Cheeser"
Theatrical trailer
Subtitles: English (feature film only)

Othello (1965)
Lawrence Olivier in the title role, Maggie Smith as Desdemona, Joyce Redman as Emilia, and Frank Finlay as Iago. All four performers were nominated for Academy Awards for their performances.
DVD Special Features:
Vintage featurette "Olivier Talks About Othello"
Theatrical trailer
Subtitles: English (feature film only)

Hamlet 2-Disc Special Edition (1996)
Cast includes actor/director Kenneth Branagh, Kate Winslet, Derek Jacobi, Julie Christie, Robin Williams, Jack Lemmon, Billy Crystal and Charlton Heston. This rendition is set in the 19th century.
DVD Special Features:
Introduction by director/star Kenneth Branagh
Commentary by Kenneth Branagh and Shakespeare scholar Russell Jackson
New digital transfer from original 70mm elements
Soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1
Featurette "To Be on Camera: A History with Hamlet"
1996 Cannes Film Festival promo
Shakespeare movies trailer gallery
Subtitles: English, French and Spanish subtitles. (feature film only)

William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet (Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Hollywood Schlock, Not worth viewing
Amazing!
Loved it
A surprisingly original idea
the gay romeo and juliet = a waste of time by !idee

William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet (Special Edition)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio , Claire Danes , John Leguizamo , Harold Perrineau , and Pete Postlethwaite
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
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ASIN: B000060OFT
Release Date: 2002-03-12

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:

Hollywood Schlock, Not worth viewing.......2007-08-20

For decades folks have been setting the Bard's plays in modern times, and with varying degrees of success. This one fails so badly that more tears will be shed over the poor acting and mangled dialogue than over the actual plot.

Both Romeo and Juliet are in over their heads in this movie. Shakespeare's language can still be spoken in a way that is understandable when its natural rythmns and accents are correctly utilized. DiCappril especially seems to have no idea half the time what the words actually mean that he is speaking. And Claire Danes as "Juliet" is even worse.

The selective editing of the dialogue murders some of the more famous passages of Shakespeare, such as the morning scene debate about whether the lark has sung. The death scene lacks the dialogue and therefore the punch of the original. How anyone could shed a tear over the deaths of this "Romeo and Juliet" is beyond me. And the schlock of the TV announcer announcing the end of the play is poorly done. It could work as an excellent device for the close of the play, but this rendition spoken with no greater degree of involvement than that of a TV reporter, leaves one cold. So much for these "star-crossed lovers." You leave this movie wondering if they really were lovers after all or just two uninteresting actors trying to act as if they were in love. Deserves NO Star!

Amazing!.......2007-07-10

This is one of my favorite movies of all-time. The modern setting makes it possible for the everyday person to understand and relate to this classic Shakespeare play. Leonardo DiCaprio does an amazing job portraying Romeo, and I love Harold Perrineau Jr as Mercutio. He add so much life and attitude to the character. This movie is great, I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good movie to watch. (Except the end is so sad!)

Loved it.......2007-07-09

If you don't think this kind of movie idea can work, then you must see it. Yes, everyone knows the story already, and the original text can be very hard to follow, but they managed to make this as interesting to today's youth as i imagine it must have been to the original audience.

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.

The Shakespeare Collection (Romeo + Juliet / Titus / A Midsummer Night's Dream)

Average customer rating:

terrific collection
Interesting and modern interpretations of Shakespeare for general audiences

The Shakespeare Collection (Romeo + Juliet / Titus / A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Starring: Osheen Jones , Dario D'Ambrosi , Anthony Hopkins , Jessica Lange , and Raz Degan
Director: Julie Taymor , Michael Hoffman , and Baz Luhrmann
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000E6ESK8
Release Date: 2006-04-18

Description

Includes the following titles:

*A Midsummer Night's Dream *Romeo & Juliet Special Edition *Titus 2-Disc Special Edition

Customer Reviews:

terrific collection.......2007-08-11

three of possibly the most interesting films you'll see, all are dramatic, comical and beautiful in their own way.

Interesting and modern interpretations of Shakespeare for general audiences.......2006-12-29

These movies are a real value and a good introduction for modern people to Shakespeare. They are not done in a very classical way, but rather take a lot of poetic license in their approach. They are a refreshing interpretation of Shakespeare that are very accessible to a general audience. Serious Shakespeare fans may want something more traditional, but overall these tapes bring a refreshing approach to these classical plays. Titus was especially powerful and provides a lot of creative visual interest, great acting and high emotional impact. While it was a bit disturbing, it was also quite interesting in a way that is unique to Anthony Hopkins. Purists may want to look elsewhere, but I enjoyed seeing these interpretations and recommend them given the caveats above.

Romeo and Juliet (Royal Ballet)- Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn

Average customer rating:

A sensual joy
Better than the play . . .
Sound Quality
Historically significant
The Ballet That Spoiled All Other Ballets For Me

Romeo and Juliet (Royal Ballet)- Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn
Starring: Margot Fonteyn , Rudolf Nureyev , David Blair (VI) , Desmond Doyle , and Julia Farron
Director: Paul Czinner
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00003M5GE
Release Date: 1999-11-30

Amazon.com

It's not a stretch to call Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn the most sublime of all dance partners and Sergei Prokofiev the most gifted 20th-century ballet composer. And so it goes without saying that the 1966 film version of the Royal Ballet production of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet featuring Nureyev and Fonteyn as the star-crossed lovers is an absolute must-have for anyone who cares a whit about the art. Director Paul Czinner has made all the right moves, alternating between full shots of the performers with long shots that accentuate how Kenneth MacMillan's fastidious choreography is inexorably linked to the characters, their story, the elaborate sets, and the viewer. Nicholas Georgiadis's costumes are sumptuous without being overdone, the supporting dancers and ensemble are as exquisite as the leads, and John Lanchbery conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House with just the right mixture of joviality and tragedy that Prokofiev's classic score needs but doesn't always receive. --Kevin Filipski

Customer Reviews:

A sensual joy.......2007-04-11

This is an extraordinarily enjoyable spectacle, a true feast for the senses. First of all, the sets and costumes are beautifully formed and colored. Then, the music by Prokofiev is perfect, exquisiely toned to evoke love, excitement, sorrow; it's as excellent as the play or the ballet. And the protagonists are perfectly cast, with an added poignancy coming from what one knows of their tragic personal lives, doomed lovers indeed: Nureyev dying from AIDS, Fonteyn descending into poverty and loneliness (see Tony Palmer's excellent bio), David Blair (the perfect Mercutio) dying suddenly at 43.

There are many truly memorable moments: the formal stepping out of the males and then the females at the grand ball, the High Renaissance itself; the duel between Tybalt and Mercutio, and the latter's dying moments; the exuberant mass dances in the marketplace. I especially liked the three harlots for their devil-may-care elan..

Better than the play . . ........2007-01-10

This film by Paul Czinner dates from 1966 and was the first time he used his new technique of filming a live performance. Although these roles became synonymous with the two legendary principals, this ballet was actually created on Lynn Seymour and Christopher Gable, two of the Royal Ballet's rising young stars of the era. Seymour, however, took ill right before the premier and Fonteyn took over - and when she took over, Nureyev naturally became her partner. It was bitter for Seymour and Gable, but they had no choice but to become the second cast. Although Fonteyn was about 46 at this time her technique was still equal to the choreography, and although she does not look young, her ability to project the gamboling, youthful character of the young Juliet is remarkable. For this feat alone, the film is worth having. Nureyev was at the height of his powers, only 6 years past his defection from the Kirov Ballet, and his passionate response to Fonteyn is also one of the strengths of this performance. I must acknowledge here that he has never been one of my favorite dancers and his self-involvement on stage is one reason why, but here credit must be given where it is due. The blending of his passion and Fonteyn's dramatic and lyric gifts make this familiar story riveting. The supporting cast is no less extraordinary in dramatic conviction, and they could serve as a lesson in dance-theater to today's young dancers who seem to rely on mime and broad gestures when not moving on stage. Although past his technical prime, David Blair is superbly cynical as Mercutio, and Derek Rencher brings deadly purpose to Juliet's cousin Tybalt. Without exception, this is a cast that brings the characters to life and whose attention to dramatic values honors their country's literary as well as balletic heritage. I enjoyed Nicholas Georgiadis's sets, although they came in for some criticism at the time as being "heavy". This is most definitely worth seeing and keeping - it was probably one of the last performances of Fonteyn's where she was still fully in command of her technique and did not need choreography tailored to what she still could do. And as a personal note, I prefer this ballet version of "Romeo and Juliet" to all the others I have seen, and that includes the legendary one produced by the Kirov in the 1930s, for which Prokofiev wrote this score, and which starred the immortal Galina Ulanova (this is also available on film, I believe).

Sound Quality.......2006-03-13

The dancing was as expected wonderful, but, unfortunately the sound quality was not. I tried playing it over my amp,no way, so normal sound was called for, also very shakey, not what I had hoped for !!

Historically significant.......2006-01-29

Overal excellence by two of ballet's stars. Prokiev's music may be difficult for some to enjoy compared to Tchaikovsky. Choreography just so so.

The Ballet That Spoiled All Other Ballets For Me.......2005-04-30

Tonight I watched Romeo and Juliet again, this time with two of my granddaughters. I have seen it with my parents, with my wife and three children, and now with my grandchildren. I attended the movie in Washington, in Boston, and in Albany, NY many years ago. This version has become part of my life, as have its stars, Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn. Why I have not reviewed it before, I do not know.

This Royal Ballet version of Romeo and Juliet is so fine, so spectacular, so moving, and so incrediblly beautiful that in my opinion there is no other ballet that can compare with it. First there is the poignantly tragic love story of Shakespeare. Add to it the hauntingly expressive, classic-yet-modern music of Prokofiev. Stir in Kenneth MacMillan's sensitive and exuberant choreography. And as the supreme touch, have it danced by the most exhilarating male dancer who every performed, in partnership with the most delicate and vulnerable ballernina of the past century. Here you have the masterpiece of all masterpieces. A ballet that puts other ballets to shame with their weak plots and lack of emotional substance.

My two favorite scenes are the balcony scene, and the scene where Romeo dances with a lifeless Juliet. The first exudes love and passion, as Nureyev and Fonteyn are transported by their new-found love to a height beyond all measure. In the second, your heart freezes and you strain to hold back tears as Romeo tries to coax the life back into Juliet by dancing with her limp but still graceful form. There are no touchingly valid moments such as these in any other ballet I have seen.

The superb costumes are worthy of a Zefferelli production, although this is not one, of course. The scenery is adequate but not impressive. But most important, all the dancers communicate a vitality that is convincing and contagious. The swordplay is amazing in its complexity and realism. Tybolt's death and his wife's grief are overdone with just the right touch of modernity.

But mainly, Nureyev and Fonteyn bring each scene they dance into brilliant flower. And when they dance together something of the mystery and tragedy of their two very different lives comes to the surface and animates their performance, giving it a realism that communicates their deep emotion for each other.

This is heartfelt and heart-wrenching art. When it finishes, one is exhausted and drained, but also inspired and delighted that this one-of-a-kind performance was recorded so that one may enjoy it over and over again.

Average customer rating:

Slow to start

Romeo & Juliet - The Music Edition
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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ASIN: B000K7VHLY
Release Date: 2007-02-06

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:

Slow to start.......2007-08-27

I hadn't watched since the 90's. Forgot how the movie started off. Once it gets goin, this is an interesting if not completely over the top rendition of the Bard's classic.
The music edition's extras were mostly lost on me, but one of these days I'll give them a watch.

Average customer rating:

Opulent Production

Romeo and Juliet
Starring: Norma Shearer , Leslie Howard , John Barrymore , Edna May Oliver , and Basil Rathbone
Director: George Cukor
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000QGE8J2
Release Date: 2007-08-14

Amazon.com

The lovers of Shakespeare's tragi-romance are brought to suitably quivering life by Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard in this glossy 1936 MGM take on the play. And yes, they're a tad older than the headstrong youths of Shakespeare's story (Howard was 43!), but they make up for that with sheer fervor. Shearer's performance looks like Great Lady acting at times, but she commits completely to Juliet's passion, and Howard is a delight. Basil Rathbone and Edna May Oliver are slam-dunk casting as Tybalt and the Nurse, respectively, and if John Barrymore is too weathered for Mercutio, he nevertheless works up an antic, sarcastic energy in the role. The production was supervised by MGM boy wonder Irving Thalberg (Shearer's husband), and it's an utterly lavish affair; the courtyard for the balcony scene looks exactly as expansive and studio-moon-drenched as your romantic imagination tells you it should. The film went the way of many such prestige productions: director George Cukor later said it lost a million dollars. (This was the same year he made Sylvia Scarlett, another box-office flop that has aged well.) It may be Shakespeare Lite, but the film zips along on the back of a love story that has been, to say the least, quite durable over the years. --Robert Horton

Description

Shakespeare's classic tale of love and youth ruined by a family feud. The Montagues and the Capulets, two powerful families of Verona, hate each other. Romeo, a Montague, crashes a Capulet party, and there meets Juliet. They fall in love and secretly marry. After killing a nephew of Lady Capulet in a fight, Romeo is banished from Verona. Capulet tries to marry Juliet to Paris, a prince. Juliet seeks the counsel of Friar Laurence, who married her and Romeo. He suggests a daring plan that ends tragically.

Customer Reviews:

Opulent Production .......2007-08-14

Visually - this is one of the best looking black and white period films I've ever seen. The photography, costumes and sets are spectacular. Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard are too old for their roles and were not Shakespearean actors, but are better than most Hollywood actors in classical parts. It was common during this era for older actors to play these roles on stage. John Barrymore stands out from the rest. I've only seen this on VHS, but the DVD transfer should be sharp and clear.

Average customer rating:

IGNORANT PEOPLE - RUS, not Russia!!!
Low quality DVD
Love the movie - Hate the DVD transfer
Shakespearean Overtones in this Forgotten Epic
Pleasant engaging Cossacks

Taras Bulba

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000B6GE30

Product Description

PLOT SUMMARY: A "Romeo and Juliet" story that takes place in 18th century Ukraine. Taras (Yul Brenner) has settled into comfortable farm life after years of adventures and swashbuckling with his cossack companions. Though not wealthy, he is able to send his son Andrei (Tony Curtis) away to a Polish school. At this time the Poles are overlords of Ukraine and the origin of the cossacks is struggle of the Ukrainian serfs to free themselves and their land of Polish domination. Toward this end Taras hopes that his son will be educated in the ways of the enemy. Instead, Andrei falls in love with the daughter of a Polish nobleman, setting the stage for a clash between love, family honor, and a struggle for national identity. [IMDB]

Customer Reviews:

IGNORANT PEOPLE - RUS, not Russia!!!.......2007-06-20

let's get something straight

UKRAINIANS and their cossack ancestors are not RUSSIANS - they are RUSYNS, not to be confused with their so-called similiar northern kin and centuries old enemeies, the MUSCOVITE RUSSIANS. The latter would want you to believe that the Ukrainians are Russian so that they can keep the land that is wealthy of natural resources for themselves, for they usurped the title of KIYIV-RUS and called themselves RUSSIANS and tried many brutal campaigns of assimilation to destroy Ukrainian identity. Also, you do not place "THE" in front of UKRAINE - it's a country, not a region of Muscovy Russia. You do not say "THE BELOROSIA", "THE POLAND", "THE CROATIA", "THE ITALY", "THE ISRAEL", get the idea now?

Going back to the movie, it depicts Ukrainian cossack warriors in the 16th century, not the 18th century and is supposed to be parallel to the life and times of the famous Ukrainian Hetman BOHDAN KHMELNITSKIY.

It's a pretty decent depiction with a whole lot of drama and romance that also kind of blurred the historical narration of things.

Low quality DVD.......2006-02-20

While the movie is good, thanks to Yul Brynner, this DVD is very bad. It looks like it was transfered from a worn out VHS tape to DVD. My old VHs version of it plays better than this DVD. The jacket has a few mis spelling names! Yul is Yel and other typos. I am almost sure that it is not released by MGM.

Love the movie - Hate the DVD transfer.......2005-11-03

The other reviewers have already written about the movie - which gets my 4 stars. My comments here deal with the 1-star DVD transfer quality of the Kung Kuao "Best Movie Collection" edition from Taipei ... the one that lists YEL Brynner (sic) as the star of the film. First appearances are deceiving. This has nicely produced sleeve and disc artwork (despite the typos) but things go downhill when the disc goes into the player. The picture quality has deteriorated and it bears all the hallmarks of a second or third generation dub from tape. The menus are amateurish. It looks like it's been lifted from a TV broadcast or from a second-rate projection (track-marks across the screen from high contrast areas, weak colour and clearly visible texture and flaws in the projection screen). It's certainly watchable but a very far cry from the sort of quality we've all come to expect from DVD and DVD prices. It does run the full, uncut 122 minutes so if you're a collector and fan of the film then I'd recommend it to round out your catalogue. Copies are still to be had on e-Bay. If you're a videofile looking for a mint print then this one isn't for you. My old MGM VHS copy is far superior in both picture and sound but at least the DVD version provides a more stable copy that is less prone to damage. Be prepared to be disappointed. Roll on the studio-quality DVD release from MGM so we can really enjoy this great epic the way it deserves to be seen.

Shakespearean Overtones in this Forgotten Epic.......2005-10-24

Yul Brynner with his gypsy background and larger than life screen presence is the quintessential TARAS BULBA. Brynner plays the title character with great bravado accentuating his charisma with his unique and appealing mannerisms. Set in the sixteenth century, TARAS BULBA is an enticing, emotional and enjoyable action historical epic focusing on battles between Polish cavalry and Russian Cossack's for the control of the Ukraine. Composer Franz Waxman's score is both rousing and romantically haunting and along with Brynner's performance is truly the centerpiece of this intriguing film. Waxman's score beautifully captures the magnificence of the Cossacks as they ride with gathering momentum across the screen and equally captures the obsessive nature of the love affair between Tony Curtis and Christine Kaufmann. Tony Curtis, no stranger to this genre, gives a very credible performance as Taras Bulba's son torn between love and duty. Director J. Lee Thompson's flair for impressionistic storytelling is quite evident. There are many indelible images that the viewer can take away from this film. Norma Koch's costumes, Edward Carrere's art designs, Joseph MacDonald's cinematography and Franz Waxman's brilliant score again all contribute to the enduring nature of this underrated film.

Pleasant engaging Cossacks.......2005-10-20

While visiting Taiwan, I was lucky enough to spot a copy of this in a large bin of DVD's. Though apparently not well known here, DVD's of older American films can be found in Taiwan for about $3 a disc. The films are not usually high quality transfers and at that low price are obviously not intended to be. It is startling to see them resold in this country at regular DVD prices. Apparently some merchants trading on ignorance decide to make a handsome profit by reselling the DVD's at current American prices often 5 or 6 times the original retail price of the DVD. It is important to keep this in mind when reviewing the quality of the DVD. I saw this film when it was first released in theaters and thought it was very good. However, I have discovered over time that the film seems to have been loathed not only by critics but even by some of the people who made the film. Watching the film as an adult, I would say the film is neither loathsome nor a classic. Yul Brynner plays a cossack warlord who sends his sons to study the ways of the Europe