zounds!

Rating: Null/10 (5 July 2002)

a good piece of theater? no a creative and original film? yes I am a Shakespeare fanatic and know R+J by heart but the script was so cut and mish mashed that had I not I would have had no idea what was going on. Oh, and the actors have no idea what they're saying (what was up with Mercutio?)I hate Leo, but I'm forced to admit he was one of the film's best actors (and that's sad.)John Leguizamo was a cute (and good looking) Tybalt, but would have made a better Mercutio (since he usually plays comedic roles) and I still don't get why Tybalt's making out with his aunt in the party scene, but whatever. Oh, and Mercutio being on drugs is so not funny. Is it trying to say that people can't be witty or creative unless they're on drugs. I mean I'll be the first to admit that the Queen Mab speech is bizarre and random, but give Mercutio some credit here...he's not a drugged up loser. But despite the butchering of the text, the acting, and the really lame Shakespeare in-jokes (The "Globe Theatre" pool hall, Merchant of Verona Beach etc.)the film was flashy, colorful, and bizarre enough to keep my attention and make me laugh(kind of reminds you of Moulin Rouge hmmmm?)Basically if you view it as a comedy it works-and there's a few well done scenes (the opening fight scene(although the Cap. servants Samson and Gregory were turned into Monts.and vice versa), the Tybalt death scene, and parts of the fight scene.) In conclusion I still hold that the best R+J ever was Marin Shakespeare Company's teen show with our raver Montagues, swinger Capulets, punk rocker Friar Laurence, and a sexy blonde very female Tybalt that might have some unresolved feelings for her favorite bad boy aka Mercutio (you know they really would make a good couple!)Anyway if we want traditional serious Shakespeare don't look here, but if you want to laugh your ass off then this will do the trick. Plus people are always taking Shakes. too seriously. It's not all a bunch of old men in tights making ten page speeches about death, honestly. Zounds!