Very good, but could have been better

Rating: 9/10 (20 June 2005)

I am still young, and still love the story of Romeo and Juliet. This might change, as some people have said on the message boards, as I grow older, but that is not the case right now.
I think that this presentation was very good. They adapted it well to a more modern setting. However, there were two major things that irked me.
The fights, to me, were far too stylized. This kind of thing just annoys me. I felt it should have been more violent, less ... cartoonish.
And the biggest thing that I have a problem with is Juliet's death. I love how the director has Romeo dying just as Juliet waking, I feel that was a good choice and a very dramatic one. However, there is significance in Juliet bringing a dagger to her heart. It is not the same when she blows her brains out. The story loses a lot with the way it is in this movie. This should have not been changed, it is far too big symbolically.
I also want to mention the music. The music is excellent! It fits the scenes, and is a nice mix of popular music and classical style. One of the reasons why I can forgive some of the annoyances.
It is one my favorite movies, even with my complaints.