Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Good concept, poorly executed.

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

This is one of the strangest versions of "Romeo And Juliet" I've come across, mostly because of its setting. I'm fairly certain there have been more films based on "Romeo And Juliet" than "Hamlet". This version is set in modern times, but it doesn't feature two characters from warring families. It actually features two boys in the military who have a gay romance. Their love is forbidden because this was a time where we questioned whether or not gays should be in the military. Now, this movie does have a really good moral to it. Don't judge gays, obviously.The thing that weighs this down is how the execution is really off. It actually features the boys reciting the actual "Romeo And Juliet" play while in this romance. It's pretty awkward to watch. I can see why most people think this movie is just okay. The atmosphere isn't that good. I'll still give this movie credit for putting a new spin on such a classic tale. Since this movie was made, gays have been given complete rights in the United States and that's something I'm always glad to be behind. **1/2

You can not order the pre-fix menu at a 5 star restaurant and have delivered to your table a burger and fries. Cold rubbery fries. The concept of this film is enticing. The execution was not so successful. For as many liberties as were taken with Shakespeare's masterpiece one simple and useful one, would have been to change "Juliet" to "Julien". You wouldn't even have had to ruin the title to do this. Because the actor playing "Juliet" was a man, there seemed to be a concerted effort to not weaken, feminize, or subdue his demeanor. This produced a complete lack of polarity, or Ying and Yang, in the relationship which rendered the romance impotent. And so you have a very sincere attempt at a "Romeo and Juliet" that is devoid of tectonic passion between the two main characters. And they don't die in the end. This project came across, even at it's best moments, more as an open reading of the play than a rendering of what it in reality truly is, the greatest love story ever written. There are some excellent performances in this film. Josh Neff as Mercutio/Capulet, Adam Barrie as Friar Lawrence, Omar Madsen as the nurse, were powerful at moments when allowed by the direction. The actors for the title characters seemed hamstrung by either misdirection or unsuitability for the roles. In the end it didn't even matter that they didn't die tragically because there was no great loss of love. I'm not even sure that they survived to love at all. They seemed drawn to one another. That's not sufficient for a rendering of a Shakespeare classic on the margins of society. I think this could have been really amazing. But when Romeo and Juliet are not driven to defy everything in their lives for their love, their complete and consuming love is not battered by tragedy and death, and they do not die unnecessarily and tragically at the end, I'm really not sure what's left. It seemed here, not much.

This was really a nice adaptation of "R&J'...Yes it took some liberties, but it was well acted and, in the end, a very sweet tale.I am not sure why it has gotten such negative reviews. No...it is not your typical "gay" movie...which is why it works. THe movie is dependent on the Shakeperean text which may have turned some off. The actors are all believable, and if not the best acting I have seen, it is much better than a lot of cheesy movies of the genre. The two leads, Seth Numrich and Matt Doyle play their angst and conflict quite well, drawing the viewer in to their plight.If you go into this film with no expectations you should enjoy it. I think if you are looking for a "gay" film or a masterful adaptation of Shakespeare you will be disappointed. Take it for what it is and enjoy it.

Alan Brown (Superheroes, Book of Love, etc) has adapted a poignant capsule of Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET and directs his version as a little film that is full of riches. Not only has he allowed Shakespeare's lines to be delivered intact but he has the courage to embellish their meaning by placing the story in a military academy, a move that has a lot of punch considering the recent advances in the military attitude toward gays. Brown very successfully mixes this contemporary all male setting with bits of contemporary dialog and music and academy activity with sports etc to offer a very different look at the tale of forbidden love, has cast a highly gifted cast of New York stage actors to play all the roles, and has the courage to make this all work quite successfully. As one PR summary puts it, 'When eight cadets are left behind at an isolated military high school, the greatest romantic drama ever written seeps out of the classroom and permeates their lives. Incorporating the original text of 'Romeo and Juliet,' YouTube videos, and lip-synced Indie rock music, Private Romeo takes us to a mysterious and tender place that only Shakespeare could have inspired.'Once the setting is established, we are privy to a classroom (English literature) where the men/boys are reciting Sjakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet and from there the readers take on the roles as they move outside the classroom. The extremely talented Seth Mumrich plays Romeo and his gifted costar in Broadway's WAR HORSE Matt Doyle is Juliet. Hale Appleman is given the combined roles of Mercutio and Lord Capulet, Sean Hudock shares both Benvolio and Lady Capulet, Adam Barrie is Friar Lawrence, Chris Bresky plays the Nurse, and the magnetic Bobby Moreno plays Tybalt. Of course each of these characters, being military academy pre-soldiers, has a common name and Alan Brown manages to intermix the reality of these students with the Shakespearean characters deftly. The love that Seth Mumrich and Matt Doyle display is very real and touching and while there is kissing here there is no other manifestation of Shakespeare's perfect but doomed love affair: this movie is for all audiences. After the 'tomb scene' and to bring us back into reality, the very talented Matt Doyle sings 'You made me love you' directly to the audience. A fine way to bring this experimental piece to an end.Everything about this film works well - the Shakespeare excerpts are well molded to provide the essential story and are delivered expertly by the cast, the variations of the military academy theme (especially in these times) is a powerful statement, and the use of contemporary entertainment media enhances the story very well. This is a smart, beautifully acted, well devised and delivered 'update' of one of the oldest love stories in history. Grady Harp