Masterpiece

Rating: Null/10 (2 March 2003)

I'm one of Shakespeare's biggest fans. Ask anybody, it's true. So, when I heard about a contemporary adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, I initially thought "What? Why mess with what's perfect?" I was wrong. This film does what other versions fail to: inject the passion and power that you could only usually find in your own head as you read the text. This is as the stage performances must have seemed like to the first audiences. No matter how many times I watch this movie, I still always find myself praying that the lovers do not meet their destiny, and that is a testament to how involved one can feel with the characters and story line. True, most of that is down to the Bard himself, but I think Baz, DiCaprio and Danes need a lot of credit too. Only staunch traditionalists and imbeciles could find any fault with this colourful, heart-racing, heart-wrenching masterpiece. Stand not amazed? You must be joking!
BTW: I hate West Side Story. I hate all musicals, but that one had me nearly crying as I laughed at the 'aggressive' fight-dancing hilarity. I only mention that as it is a related film and I can't bring myself to write a review on it in its own right.