Synopsis: It's the Shakespeare story innit? Girl and boy meet and fall in love except they come from families that hate each other.
Stan's thoughts: It's not my favourite Shakespeare play but probably the one which I think works best adapted to screen. I really enjoyed Baz Luhrman's version even though in all the excitement the delivery of the lines got a little garbled.
Here the diction was much clearer which is part of the battle but then Julian Fellowes has tinkered with Shakespeare's words to make it more 'accessible' (see article about the row that has ensued). I didn't find what he'd done particularly offensive. He's pared the script right down and it works for screen keeping the story fast paced. (I love Shakespeare on stage but I don't think I've ever thought - ooh I wish they'd been another 15 minutes).
Instead it is the love story pure and simple and it is beautifully done in traditional costumes, in the plays Italian setting. I wasn't entirely convinced by the two leads. Hailee Steinfeld just looks a bit too young and child like to turn the head of Douglas Booth with his Burberry ad campaign looks.
I liked Baz Luhrman's take on the final suicide scene and I equally like what they have done here, just turning the tragedy button up another notch.
Overall I was moved to tears so it was doing something right or perhaps I was feeling particularly sentimental yesterday.
Ratings- Stan's: 63%
- IMDB: 47%
- Metascore: 42%
- Rotten Tomatoes: 24%
- RT audience rating: 61%
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