What a wonderful update! I loved it!

Rating: 10/10 (20 January 2002)

I was only about 9 years old when this movie had first been released and I hadn't been able to see it until now. I am 14 now, and I read Romeo and Juliet, the play, for English as most freshmen like me have. I had to watch both versions of the movie as well (the 1968 Zeffirelli version and this 1996 version). As you could probably predict, I enjoyed the 1996 version better, mainly because it is a version I can relate to more. I had to watch it in class and then the following weekend, I went out and bought it because I enjoyed it so much.
I really don't like Shakespeare at all, and I don't know much about "how good" actors are speaking in Old English, but I thought overall, Leo DiCaprio and Claire Danes were good at it. Cut them some slack, they are both 2 very talented young actors and for this being their first time doing a Shakespeare film, they did pretty damn well if you ask me. Their chemistry onscreen was good, but it could've been better. I'd have to say that the parts they performed their best in were when they met across the fishtank (There was no dialogue, but their faces really said it all. I also thought that was very romantic), and the night before Romeo's banishment from Verona, in Juliet's room. The death scene was a surprising twist from the play, and it put me in tears.
But, I think they should've spent more time on the wedding scene. It felt like that was only going on for 1 minute. What I also didn't like was the relationship between Romeo and Mercutio. Mercutio... a drug dealer? The two were supposed to play best friends but they only seemed like casual acquaintances and "drug buddies" in this movie.
The special effects were great, and the music was wonderful. In my opinion, I truly enjoyed this movie a lot. Good acting, and an excellent modern remake on an old classic. This is a movie today's teenagers will enjoy, but if you're older, I would think that you would like the '68 version because it keeps the traditional stuff. (At least my parents liked the 1968 version better). I really think you should go out and rent it. You'll be happy you did.
**********/10