Romeo + Juliet (1996)
September 13, 2009 by kitten
Filed under Romance, Tearjerkers
It’s hard to choose a favorite Romeo and Juliet remake because there have been so many great versions of this Shakespeare classic, but it I had to pick just one, it would have to be the 1996 version with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes starring as the ultimate tragic lovebirds.
Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet is bold and visually stunning. Taking the actual Elizabethan dialogue and setting it against a modern backdrop was a brave step, but it works fantastically. There is nothing lost in translation here and that might be the biggest reason this film works so well.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Heath Ledger was a beautiful, beautiful man. Those eyes, that smile… so hot, and 10 Things I Hate About You really gives us the chance to see that beauty in full effect. Plus, we also have Andrew Keegan who is also too adorable for words. Add to that great comedy and mix in a bit of drama, and the result is a winning chick flick.
Based on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, Ten Things I Hate About You keeps the feel of the play while being contemporary and fun. Even though it came out ten years ago, it doesn’t feel dated or out of place with today’s romantic comedies.
Heath and Julia Stiles have great chemistry and it’s not hard to identify with Julia’s character, Kat. She doesn’t want to fit in. She wants to do her own thing and when we find out why it’s easy to sympathize with her as, let’s admit it ladies, a lot of us have been there.
