I am insulted

Rating: Null/10 (7 February 2003)

As a director, I am thoroughly disgusted by this movie. They're shooting each other, yet speaking English more commonly used in the 16th century? Ummm...no. You cannot make Romeo and Juliet a contemporary film if you don't want to change the dialogue. It seems like it would be an obvious rule, that you can't go halfway in this business, but apparently the director and screenwriter need to be reminded of this. With Romeo and Juliet, you either have to take the IDEA of Romeo and Juliet (West Side Story is a prime example of this) and set it in the present, or make it a period piece. You can't mix them. I blame everyone involved with this movie. I blame the screenwriter for writing it, the director for making it, the producer for actually spending money on it, and the actors for putting their wallets before their brains. These people are really gonna have to redeem themselves in my book. And you wanna know the sad part? This movie actually made money. Lots of it. Forget those intelligent, witty low-budget movies that make about $5.00 at the box office. Because its wrapped up with a shiny bow on it, this movie made a LOT of money, which to me is just pathetic. I certainly wouldn't pay money to see it; in fact I had to force myself to watch it for free.