Not better than Zeferreli's but certainly brilliant

Rating: Null/10 (9 April 2001)

This film is very, very different from the genius of Zefferelli. Yet it is still a brilliant film. The frenetic editing and the wild, hallucinagenic, stimulating and eye-popping prologue and opening scene sum up the squander, the pleasures and indulgences of two great families. If I had to compare this to any other films, it would be Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas and Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now, both build on the ability to hook you and draw you in as a viewer to not only respect the story and characters but come out foaming at the mouth for more. Lurhmann knows this, he also knows that this is Shakespeare, and while it's certainly genius of the highest order, most stupid and ignorant teenagers won't understand Shakespearan speech, so he knows he has to hook you in the beginning till you grow to know and accept it for what it is. Damn fine writin'! The cast is glorious, the editing flashy and genius, the cinematography dazzling, and the directing is 4-star. Can't wait for Moulin Rouge!!!