It was a pretty good idea gone sour

Rating: 5/10 (12 August 1999)

The play has been updated many times into contemporary or historic environments, often successfully as in West Side Story. The setting in southern California and once again conencting it with contemporary conflicts was a legitimate approach to the play. The language should have been updated as well, as has been done by a number of scholars. Using what was essentially Shakespeare's original text, while well-intentioned, created what I saw as the film's downfall. The young actors were just not up to the demands of Shakepearean dialogue. The production values were outstanding. It was a pretty good idea gone sour.