Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

I just bought Romeo + Juliet the other day. Only cost me $4.79, so it was well worth it. I'm a big fan of Baz Luhrman. So far, I have seen Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet. I love them, and own them. (Technically Moulin Rouge belongs to my younger sister.) These two films are part of Luhrman's Red Curtain Trilogy. Strictly Ballroom is the other film, which I have yet to see. That's a new goal for me. To watch it. I think people seem to forget what's entertaining about Baz Luhrman's work, and that's the colorful weird contemporary spin he puts on things that are old or have old fashion charm. I never much liked Romeo and Juliet when I had to read it several times in high school. Yeah, I was already a huge Mercutio fan, but the play as a whole annoyed me. Baz Luhrman makes the play understandable, even with the original words mostly intact. He also adds the drama and emotion that stuffy Brit actors don't seem to be able to find. (Not you Kenneth Branagh. You are fantastic.) Perhaps this has to do with Luhrman's being an Aussie? Don't care. I know I love the guy's creativity and his interviews are hilarious. I sort of want to go in depth about Mercutio right now, even though it would be veering away from the subject. I'll do that tomorrow maybe. So, anyway, I think this trilogy is fantastic so far. Strictly Ballroom must be wonderful, because it was his first film, and the reason people were willing to make Romeo + Juliet with him. Also, Luhrman is apparently working on The Great Gatsby. I never read the book, and never really wanted to. So, I look forward to his adaptation.