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Excellent but underrated film

A Masterpiece!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

The problem with Shakespeare and any adaptations like this one is that the modern viewer fails to become emotionally connected because the language used is so "unusual" and at times difficult to make sense of. If the language and dialogue used is NOT like REAL language that everyday people use, then NONE of the drama seems REAL enough to feel any real emotions. It's too obvious that the whole piece is STAGED and therefore UNREAL. An effective drama should seem real - like it's really happening or could have really happened just as it is depicted. This is why melodrama is NOT effective. Melodrama is overacting....effected speech and mannerisms. It's NOT REAL....and therefore the audience cannot become emotionally engaged. Having made this point....the actors were all good, young and cute and I would love to have seen them in a really good true to life romantic gay drama. But I absolutely loved the closing song, "You made me love you", a Judy Garland tribute to Clark Gable back in the 1930s.

As with each time I see Shakespeare, it took a few minutes to get used to the Elizabethan English, but after a while, I got the rhythm of the language and enjoyed this movie more and more as it went on. The acting by every single actor is simply wonderful. I really felt for the characters. And though the American military academy setting seems odd for Romeo and Juliet, it worked given the prohibition on being out in the US military at the time the movie was made.And - spoiler coming - I was brought to tears when Romeo woke up at the end. Gay or straight, young love deserves to survive. And in this case, young gay love surviving in the military sends a strong, positive message. I doubt Shakespeare would have minded.

A group of failed gay porn stars trying to do a Reader's Digest condensed very of Shakespeare. I say failed because, yes, they may have good bodies, but they are all quite ugly. The 'acting' is all strictly bad high school amateur quality. And to add insult to injury, they tack on a happy ending (no one is killed and the lovers both survive and are happy together). What I wish someone would do is the original version, which did have an all-male, with boys playing the female roles. Of course they would have to find young boys who could actual act and I doubt they have many in Canada. I guess the setting was chosen was the cheapest available...as were the actors and director. Oh, and if you thought this might be in some way 'erotic', you would be wrong. There is no sex, except for a couple of kisses, and no nudity, except from the waist up. It would probably get a PG rating if it weren't 'gay'. Probably the worst Shakespeare film ever made.

Brotherhood and Love....and not about the bashing....and not about the hate....and not about the struggle. Because...I think we need more films like that....I think we need more things saying that Love is Universal....and it is beautiful, no matter what. And I'm really proud to be a part of this project." (( These words are the heartfelt expressions of Matty Doyle (Glenn / Juliet), in preparing to give an encore rendition of "You Made Me Love You", at the following YouTube address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25_D9qvxJ0c ))Bringing life and passion to a 400+ year old play is a gutsy, yet potentially tricky endeavor. In doing so, Director Alan Brown had a "Nice" idea (he's had them before). BUT...will raw Shakespeare (let alone with a cast not-trained-in-Shakespeare) pull in everyday Gay viewers around the world? Time and return on expenses will tell. Though I personally hunger for the success of this film work, that "BUT" remains a potential killer for his efforts.Still and all, if anything can keep this film work alive...and long remembered...it will the touching, yet sizzling, Love Story given us by Seth Numrich (Sam / Romeo) and Matt Doyle (Glenn / Juliet). They hold absolutely nothing back in both their emotional and physical lovemaking. Their scenes together are oh-so-easy for this reviewer to play, and replay again.BUT, now I must be honest...and say that about the basics of this Story---the basics of Shakespeare---I am ill-equipped to give you more. Yet, there is someone....someone from the several existing reviews of this film, whose deeply descriptive and perceptive words say it all. And those words belong to Rachel Schweissinger, and can be found in her May 19, 2012 review at Amazon.com, entitled: "Outstanding, Heartbreaking, Haunting, Beautiful". Do yourself a favor and read them.PS--Thank you, Matt Doyle, for giving us a today's-rendition of "You Made Me Love You." It's right up there with another favorite---Harry Nilsson's 1973** track of that same song. And perhaps you'll consider another visit to "Feinsteins" and give us your go at R & J's true Signature Song: "Always" (the perfect lyrics for J. to sing to R.). Oh, and Harry needs the competition.**Audio CD/MP3---"A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night"