Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

As a Shakespeare professor, I was interested in seeing this production, because I'd heard that it was beautifully filmed (in Verona, no less) and produced. Sadly, I had to turn it off after fifteen minutes (and even that was through gritted teeth) because I found it completely unwatchable. Although the film advertises itself as being a faithful depiction of Shakespeare's play and language, it actually dumbs down the language and re-writes or even invents whole passages. I am by no means a prissy "purist" when it comes to productions of Shakespeare's plays; I love the Baz Luhrmann version of R&J (though my heart will always belong to the Zeffirelli), and I love many contemporary interpretations of other plays as well. But I can't stand it when the plays are "modernized" to make them more "accessible" to audiences. In the hands of a thoughtful director and strong actors, Shakespeare is accessible in the original and a lot more enjoyable than some dumbed down production. (Substituting "yes" for "aye" so that viewers don't get confused? Seriously?) Stick with the Luhrmann or the Zeffirelli versions for now, and do your best to support local theater companies in your community that are working hard to present live theater Shakespeare.