Romeo and Juliet: Movie Review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

"Never was a Story of

More Woe

than this, of

Juliet and her

Romeo"

The setting: Verona

The characters: Juliet, her Romeo, some comic relief, overbearing parents, and feuding families.

Plot: Star crossed lovers try, unsuccessfully, to find their Happily Ever After (Spoiler Alert!), amongst said feuding families and untimely realities.

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a story that has stood the test of time.  I read it for the first time in High School, pouring over the drama and the thick, sweet words, watching the 1968 Franco Zeffirelli's version in the process.  This is the version that all follow adaptation are compared, because, like a Jane Austen novel, you can never have too many takes on a single play.

Carlo Carlei is the latest director to the Romeo and Juliet table, and here he serves a plate rich in scenic wonder, beautiful cinematography, and delightful costumes.  This stage is set nicely, and is a wonder to behold.  A great escape piece.

The text, though, is not pure.  Long soliloquy's and monologues are cut down, bite size tidbits for a modern audience.  I should be overly disgruntled by this, but I'm not.  If I want to see a full version I'll find a local performing troupe or simply read it myself, imagining the grandeur.  Here the words fit the screen, making the story easy to follow for those not familiar, or heightening crucial moments through careful editing.

This story, though I've read and enjoyed it many times, was made fresh.  The audience was filled with various ages, many of whom know the tale as well as I.  Yet, through the climaxes end, I could hear sniffles in surround sound.  Everyone holding back tears and breath as the tragedy unfolded.  It was marvelous, really.  There was a teenage girl sitting next to my Mom and I who was in tears by the credits, already knowing the plot, but this version shook her, moving her to the core.  If this adaptation can move people like that, then it's worth watching.

Juliet, played by Oscar nominee (True Grit) Hailee Steinfeld, and the handsome Romeo, played by Douglas Booth, are sweet in their roles, but it is the side characters that truly shine.  Lesley Manville as the Nurse and Paul Giamatti as Friar Laurence were both outstanding.

To date, since this films October 11th release, it has only grossed $1,112,972, opening in 421 theaters.  I didn't even realize until last weekend that this movie was already out, thinking it had a November/December release.  All trailers I saw said it was "Coming Soon."  Dangerous words.

I'll be buying this movie on Blu-ray.

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for some violence and thematic elements

 

My Favorite Political Movie is Disney's Family Band

In the spirit of the election this last week, which I'm still reeling from, I've got to be honest, I want to share my most favorite political film of all time.  And yes, the above pictured Walt Disney 1968 "The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band" is that movie. 

It seems innocent, doesn't it?  It's a musical in the grand ol' Sherman Brother style.  And it's a film filled with family values.  But there are a lot of political themes, because this family is split, with some being Republicans, and a few being Democrats.  The main conflict of the story is that of the 1888 Presidential elections and splitting Dakota into two states (North and South), so that the Republicans could send 4 Senators to the Senate instead of just two.

The election was between Benjamin Harrison, our 23rd President, and Grover Cleveland, our 22nd and 24th President, our only President to serve two non-connected terms.  I think it's okay to state that there's a huge party in which the room is magically split in support between the two nominies, and during song and dance, voting results are rushed in and written on a chalk board . . . one canidate wins the popular vote, and the other the electoral vote . . . . and a giant brawl starts on account of a pie in the face and flaring tempers.  I watched that scene two days ago, and it always makes me laugh.  Nothing has changed!  It's sad but funny.

So if you want a family film that's fun, musical, and a little educational (if you want to explain the voting process that is), this is a great movie.

Sarah