Romeo + Juliet (thoughts and impressions)

Shakespearian writing is a strange kind of meta dance between the action of the play and the dialogue. Dancing barbs and contradiction one at the other. Mirroring the very act of consciousness itself in microcosmic study. This movie adaption adds elements of farce exaggerating elements of the grotesque that (while always present in the text) in there unedited format had more dignity and less slapstick. Combine with the alt rock reading of Shakespearian verse (it is more often screamed then read with subtlety). And you have a vibe like glitter and pavement. Maybe the most Hollywood thing ever made. Near unjustifiable and yet impossible to ignore to look away from at the emotional equivalent of a blowtorch being lit and held to an exposed and shortly beating heart. The editing down makes for a story mostly true in key beats… but also the on the fringe it collages dialogue for its own purpose so often that it feels like its own thing. The key dramatic choices are visual and a commentary…