Beautiful adaption

Rating: Null/10 (16 January 2003)

The way this was adapted was very clever - using the original Shakespeare dialogue, but 'updating' it to modern times was incredible. What an idea! It's so much more interesting than watching a costume drama with Romeo in tights or something. I like the way that instead of having swords, their guns are called 'swords'. Very clever.
***MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS***
Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes are perfectly cast as the star-crossed lovers. They look exactly the right ages for the parts, and the chemistry is amazing. You actually believe that these two are in love, and they're not just getting married for the sheer heck of it. The swimming pool kissing scene is exciting and sexy - the way it feels like it should be. But my favourite scene has got to be when they first lay eyes on each other. What a beautiful way to 'introduce' the pair to each other. Through the glass of a giant fish tank. The first time I saw that I almost fell in love with the both of them - it was so emotional and created such an atmosphere of the love between them. It was perfectly done. Leonardo's performance as Romeo was one of the best of his career - back then when he still looked like a skinny 18 year old. His tears brought tears to my eyes - the bit where he drinks the poison in front of Juliet and she touches his cheek - his reaction is heart breaking. And probably the part that made me cry the most was when Tybalt kills his best friend Mercutio, and he's crouching over his dead body crying.
Baz Lurhman revitalised the classic play and made it into a fantastic movie for the MTV generation. Every Shakespeare film should be like this one.