Drama > R Drama

Where for art thou in thy automobile, Romeo, dude?!

Advantages: Stunning visuals, acting, modernisation
Disadvantages: Nothing really

...modern update of Shakespeare's classic Romeo and Juliet met with instant success. It combined trademark intense visuals from Luhrman with an impressive musical score, and some great up and coming actors. I've never really been a fan of Leonardo DiCaprio, and although I found his portrayal of lovelorn Romeo a bit annoying at times, the basics of it were impressive. A Montague set in modern day Verona, he has as his family'e enemies the Capulets. ...
...of the Capulets, and when she finds the love at first sight reciprocal, it sets off a whole series of mistimed and unlucky events. Claire Danes is really good as the wide eyed and innocent Juliet, who likes what she sees and dreams of the impossible. She and Leo together are a good lead pair of actors, and are brilliantly supported by stars such as John Leguizamo and Harold Perrineau. The whole cast do a good job, with familiar names such as Pete ...

pmcds 12.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Romeo And Juliet (+CD) (DVD)

"Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?"

Advantages: Breathtakingly beautiful
Disadvantages: None

...Leonard Whiting, just 17, as Romeo and Olivia Hussey, a mere14 as Juliet. This makes them more or less the actual ages of Shakespeare's characters. I thought that both Whiting and Hussey were superb actors (even at their young ages) and they play well off each other. These roles were debut ones for both young actors. Having two young, attractive actors playing the lead parts did attract a lot of younger audiences. I was a teenager at this time and ...
...Apocethary scene explains just where Romeo got his poison and the fight with Paris explains the Prince's "brace of at your discord", these were both omitted from the film. Despite the missing parts of the play, Zefferelli uses the rest of the script so well and creates a story full of pathos. The sets, the costumes, and the cinematography are bright and colourful, and not only the young lovers, but all the cast exuded youth. This cast of the film ...

oldchem 07.08.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Romeo And Juliet (DVD)

One of the most beautifully brutal films of all time.

Advantages: Acting is amazing, especially De Niro and the whole thing looks gorgeous.
Disadvantages: Some may be put off by the violence or the lack of a character to root for.

This film is hailed as a modern classic and rightly so. It's an unashamedly brutal no-holds-barred study of a vicious foul-tempered, arrogant man. Yet through Scorsese and De Niro's masterful balance we see just a truly lost individual. There is no attempt at making LaMotta likeable or even apologetic for his actions. Just pitifully human. De Niro is exceptionally good and the film was clearly a labour of love for the actor. Giving the opportunity ...
...entire film with a fearless, risk taking performance. Be it the professional standard he reached as a boxer himself in training to the mass of weight he piled on for the latter scenes. De Niro at this stage in his career certainly never took the easy way out and the film benefits from having one of cinema's greatest actors at the top of his game. This is not to say that the film is all DeNiro, Cathy Moriarty is beautifully restrained as LaMotta's ...

Syklone 15.08.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Raging Bull (DVD)

My only love sprung from my only hate.

Advantages: Amazing adaptation of the classic
Disadvantages: None!

...Juliet is a Capulet and Romeo a Montague, so when they fall in love it is forbidden and therefore kept secret. The couple wed, however the escalating fued between the two families threatens to tear them apart, yet the tragic ending actually ends up bringing the fued to an end. The couple are dubbed 'star crossed lovers' by Shakespeare. Whilst the original play is set in Elizabeathen times, Luhrman propels the story into modern day times, setting ...
...is used, providing a stark contrast between the period in which the play was written and the modern day. For example whilst they refer to swords in the dialogue, guns are used in the film. Yet the dialogue never once seems out of place in the film, instead it fits perfectly which is a testament to Shapespeare's durability! The movie stars Claire Danes as Juliet and Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo. Both play the parts well, although I think that Danes ...

rachieb123 19.07.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Romeo And Juliet (Special Edition) (DVD)

The Dance Above All

Advantages: Ballet of the Red Shoes, Anton Walbrook, Moira Shearer, Leonide Massine, Technicolour, Brian Easdale's music.
Disadvantages: Marius Goring, how conflict is resolved in story.

'The Red Shoes', the 1948 British classic and another brilliant cinematic achievement by the Archers (writers-directors-producers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger), is said to have sent droves of young girls to the barre and ballet classes. Beyond this interesting effect on youthful viewers, the film remains today a powerful tale of near-manic obsession, with, alas, tragic results. This early exchange at a post-performance party between Boris ...
...dancer he has met for the first time, establishes the film's two protagonists' overwhelming devotion to the ballet: Lermontov (imperiously): 'Why do you want to dance?' Page (unfazed): 'Why do you want to live?' Lermontov (with a very slight pause): 'I don't know exactly why . . . but I must!' Page (coolly, steadily): 'That's my answer, too.' Victoria Page soon gets a chance of a lifetime when the world-famous Lermontov decides that she will ...

zerbine28 01.07.2005 · Read full review
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Review of The Red Shoes (DVD)