Romeo + Juliet (1996)

The critic argues that Luhrmann’s frenetic adaptation is not a mess but one of the greatest Shakespeare movies, praising the crackling chemistry between DiCaprio and Danes.

The critic calls Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film a terrific success that remains a sunburst of energy and instinctively respectful to Shakespeare’s story. They single out the irreverent yet grounded approach and the performances, especially Leonardo DiCaprio’s Romeo.

Baz Luhrmann’s gleefully cinematic version of the play is relentlessly inventive and innovative. It sticks with the original dialogue while making the adaptation visual through striking sets, costumes, and compositions that evoke wealth, poverty, love, hate and other forces in a post-punk, multi-ethnic Verona; DiCaprio and Danes steal the honours as the vulnerable, impassioned leads.

Baz Luhrmann's flamboyantly hip, achingly modern and unashamedly teen-targeted update transplants the lovers to MTV-era Verona Beach with gang warfare, raves and party drugs while keeping the dialogue true to the text. A bold, infectious and courageous Shakespeare adaptation that made DiCaprio a teen pin-up and minted Luhrmann as a master showman.

The critic praises Luhrmann's bold, inventive update of Shakespeare to a modern setting with guns and corporations, highlighting the strong performances by DiCaprio and Danes and the accessible, visual storytelling.

The critic finds the brash, excessive film loud and exuberant with positive energy that makes it irresistible despite its flaws. It singles out Claire Danes' fresh and natural performance as Juliet for particular praise.

The critic hails the film as Luhrmann’s true masterpiece and a quintessential marker of a generation that mixes MTV-style editing and pop music with Shakespeare’s language to reach new audiences. The preserved dialogue and visual updating of the story’s subtext are singled out as effective.

The critic calls it a clever and well-executed reworking of the tragedy that captures the passionate emotions of youth through a modern setting. DiCaprio and Danes are singled out as superb leads who handle the Elizabethan dialogue convincingly amid the guns-and-cars world.

The critic views Luhrmann's frenetic adaptation as a witty, uneven experiment in reinventing Shakespeare through post-modern kitsch and pop iconography. It praises the bold stylistic choices but notes the results are headache-inducing and mixed in success.

The review lauds the film's radical, visual reinvention of the play in a Mexican corporate setting with modern elements, calling it a rich, rude, violent ride that makes Shakespeare accessible, though noting some sacrifices in the language delivery.

The review describes the film as aggressively modern and trendy but flawed, striking yet silly, with stylistic attitudinizing often substituting for traditional storytelling strengths. It highlights Claire Danes' youthful purity and spontaneity as the standout element amid the cacophony.

The critic finds the film entertaining as a modern adaptation exercise despite issues with young actors delivering Shakespearean dialogue and MTV-style editing. Pete Postlethwaite's precise performance as Friar Laurence is singled out for praise as elevating the film.

The critic concludes the film is not good and a mess with questionable acting and pacing issues, though it holds nostalgic appeal. Young Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, along with the fish tank scene, are singled out as highlights.