The movie is one of the many film versions of Shakespeare’s famous play Romeo and Juliet. The movie has changed the setting of the story considerably, with the story taking place in modern times, the location being changed to a fictional city called Verona, the weapons used by the characters in the duel being changed from swords to firearms, and the two big families being pitted against each other not just because of feuds, but also because of a gangster war.
Also an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, this movie is not as watchable as West Side Story.
1996 / USA / Drama Romance Crime / Baz Luhrmann / Leonardo DiCaprio Claire Danes
Plot Synopsis:
Romeo (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Juliet (Claire Danes) fall in love at first sight at a party celebrating Juliet’s finding the man of her dreams.
But their respective families are bitter rivals and often clash.
Romeo sneaks into Juliet’s backyard and the two profess their love for each other. Knowing that the discord between their families is an obstacle, they secretly consummate their marriage with the help of a priest.
Juliet’s cousin, Tevye, is a violent man who wants to fight Romeo but Romeo only wants peace. Romeo’s best friend, Mercutio, tries to kill Tevye but is killed by Tevye first, and in his anger, Romeo kills Tevye as well.
Romeo is deported and Juliet is to marry another man.
The priest plots to have Juliet fake her death, but Romeo, who has not received the letter, believes it and drinks the poison when Juliet wakes up ……
