Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

I have avoided this version for a long time. Having been brought up on the Franco Zefferelli version with Whiting and Hussey, I've always rejected one where the characters are much too old. But once one gets past that limitation, this moves quite well. And, there certainly are some spectacular set designs. The lines are delivered in a rather unemotional and mature way. Perhaps that works against the message. But the studio system put these heavyweights in play because of the big contracts. Once thing. Andy Devine! Still, the spectacle works and it is a truly sad ending.

This adaptation of Romeo and Juliet has never been highly regarded. Not a great success commercially or critically at the time of its release, even now this version seems hated upon by many, mainly because the leads are much too old to be playing teenagers and the film is so covered in MGM gloss that it occasionally seems almost vulgar. However, I cannot bring myself to disown it entirely, and I do believe it has its merits.What saves this film from total mediocrity are the sets and costumes. The sets are just beautiful and the costumes, while sometimes a little ludicrous and over the top, are pleasing to the eye. The black-and-white cinematography adds a dreamy, romantic touch to the film.The performances are all over the map. Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer are adequate as the titular lovers, however, they lack passion. When Romeo learns he is banished, he does not cry out or moan, but reacts as though he's just lost a game of checkers. Shearer's Juliet is demure and sweet, but only occasionally does she really come alive. Basil Rathbone is excellent as Tybalt. While some find John Barrymore's Mercutio to be the highlight of the movie, he does absolutely nothing for me and gets on my nerves. Everyone else was passable.If you want to watch a great one or try to get students interested, then you're much better off with the 1968 film. Nevertheless, if you're curious, there's still some good things to come away with.

anything with LH and I am happy. First leading man I had a crush on.Does anyone know the name of the music that Juliet makes her entrance. Not the dance or the love theme. the one the troupe of little boys sing. In my head and making me nuts.Anyway, it was a big movie. Not that fond on NS but she does well. How do you fit WS in a hour and a half? Worth watching. Besides until the FZ film R & J were never played by youths. Felt a mere youth could not find the emotional range. bla bla bla Love them both and plan on buying the black and white version.enjoyHollywood did not make great films about great plays very often. caydj

The fine cast and production make this adaptation of "Romeo & Juliet" a satisfying one, both as a movie and as a realization of Shakespeare's play. Most of the cast is matched up very well with their characters, and the lavish settings provide a good backdrop for the drama.Although it's soon clear that Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer are quite a bit older than the original characters were, in other respects they are well cast. Shearer's eager innocence and Howard's refinement fit together well, and although they are clearly not the teenage characters of the original, their romance is believable and convincing in itself.The other roles include some nice casting. Reginald Denny as the loyal Benvolio, Basil Rathbone as the hard-hearted Tybalt, and Edna May Oliver as Juliet's bustling nurse are all enjoyable to watch. But the highlight of the cast is John Barrymore, who steals every scene as the fun-loving, ill-fated Mercutio, a character who is well-suited to Barrymore's strengths. It's a blessing that at least one of Barrymore's numerous Shakespearean roles was captured in a film for posterity.The script abridges many of the scenes for cinematic purposes, and it does well in fleshing out the basic story with the duels, festivities, and other events, at times also dramatizing developments that in the original text are only mentioned by the characters. Overall, it is a well-conceived, well-executed, and enjoyable movie version of the famous story.