12 Best Film Adaptations Of Shakespeare's Tragedies

Based On: Romeo and Juliet

Adaptation:

Everyone knows this one. This is a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet which is set in America and depicts the Montagues and Capulets as warring crime families, but retains the play's script. Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes play Romeo and Juliet.

Leo and Claire are still an iconic pair of lovers for many. That's not too shabby considering they hated each other in real life.

This still holds up. Like the 1960s film, this has an earnest, romantic and delightfully over-the-top feel that makes it hard not to get into. Teenagers have always loved this and who can blame them? The MTV-style visuals are awesome, the soundtrack is great, it's insanely romantic and it's also got young Leo being a heartthrob.

Even so, there's plenty for everyone. The exuberant style and Baz Luhrmann's refined direction make this one of the most cinematically exciting Shakespeare films to date, but it's also highly effective dramatically. The acting is strong and the film is very moving throughout, with the ending being unbearably sad.

It's not perfect; it's a bit exhausting and some adaptive choices are mishandled. For example, the scene where Juliet's father gets angry with her is very badly done and too over-the-top, but for the most part this is a thoroughly entertaining movie and a perfect way to get teenagers into Shakespeare. It generally works very well as an adaptation, since it creatively modernizes the play but also respects it and preserves its essence.