Fascinating - I'm going to see it again!

Rating: 9/10 (6 January 2003)

I had never heard of the director, Baz Luhrmann, until I saw Moulin Rouge. But within two minutes of playing Romeo & Juliet on my VCR, I wanted to shout "hey! I know this guy!" It's all there: the juicy visuals, the frenetic energy, the throbbing music, the beautiful people, so loud and uninhibited. Damn! I wish I'd seen this at the theatre! But like Moulin Rouge, it probably threw people for a loop.
I say let it. This movie is a treat. I don't just want to, I NEED to see this movie again so I can catch what they're saying. Yeah, I could read the play, but I never did twenty years ago in high school, so why fool myself? Besides, Juliet's romantic musing about Romeo is soooo much sexier when Claire Danes is saying it.
(Makes me wonder: Leonardo di Caprio is in the just released Catch me if You Can, but what has Claire Danes been up to? Mod Squad doesn't count.)
Shakespeare is certainly a famous fellow, but it took this movie to open my eyes and mind. Thanks Baz. Keep living loud.