Romeo x Juliet Ep. 1-2
Apr. 22nd, 2007 01:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sub_dividedEpisode 1
Episode 2
I want to take GONZO aside and explain to them in small words that the original play DOES ACTUALLY MAKE SENSE. Romeo and Juliet is not the story of two photogenic young people who are in love solely because the plot demands it. (That too, but...) When Romeo falls in love at first sight, it's at least partially because he's just that kind of guy. Juliet is more cautious, but she's also tired of being sheltered; she's swept away by the excitement. Their love isn't CHASTE, what the heck do these people think balcony scene was?!
I don't mind RomeoxJuliet being an entirely different animal -- the "new" characters are actually pretty cool and the new setting is really cool -- but it bothers me that GONZO thought they could remove all rhyme and reason from the love story and no one would notice or care. It comes off like they think the original play is garbage -- which, ahaha, is probably true. (Boy to William-Shakespeare-the-character: "No one comes to see your plays because they're hard to understand.") Romeo and Juliet isn't my favorite Shakespearean play, but it isn't garbage, and especially not for that reason. Shakespeare is famous for having characters who act like real people. As much as they can within the confines of the plot, anyway
So, yeah. *grumpy face* To be fair, Romeo-and-Juliet-as-ultimate-platonic-love-story is one of those common myths even English teachers have a hard time dispelling. But, honestly, I wouldn't like this show even if I didn't feel it was an insult to Shakespeare. Because I like things that make sense. -_-; Juliet-as-Odin barely reacts when she's rescued by Romeo, so why is it that the next time they meet, all she can do is blush and stammer? Wearing a dress interferes with higher brain functions? Does she even recognize him? (Attn writers, plz address this point!)
I did like the way shots where R looked soulfully into J's eyes, or vice versa, were framed, with wings and feathers and flowers in the background, and symbolically twinned objects rising up into the sky, and moonlight or the light of the setting sun over everything. Visually, RomeoxJuliet is really good. But yeah. Plenty of prettiness, very little internal logic.
Episode 2
I want to take GONZO aside and explain to them in small words that the original play DOES ACTUALLY MAKE SENSE. Romeo and Juliet is not the story of two photogenic young people who are in love solely because the plot demands it. (That too, but...) When Romeo falls in love at first sight, it's at least partially because he's just that kind of guy. Juliet is more cautious, but she's also tired of being sheltered; she's swept away by the excitement. Their love isn't CHASTE, what the heck do these people think balcony scene was?!
I don't mind RomeoxJuliet being an entirely different animal -- the "new" characters are actually pretty cool and the new setting is really cool -- but it bothers me that GONZO thought they could remove all rhyme and reason from the love story and no one would notice or care. It comes off like they think the original play is garbage -- which, ahaha, is probably true. (Boy to William-Shakespeare-the-character: "No one comes to see your plays because they're hard to understand.") Romeo and Juliet isn't my favorite Shakespearean play, but it isn't garbage, and especially not for that reason. Shakespeare is famous for having characters who act like real people. As much as they can within the confines of the plot, anyway
So, yeah. *grumpy face* To be fair, Romeo-and-Juliet-as-ultimate-platonic-love-story is one of those common myths even English teachers have a hard time dispelling. But, honestly, I wouldn't like this show even if I didn't feel it was an insult to Shakespeare. Because I like things that make sense. -_-; Juliet-as-Odin barely reacts when she's rescued by Romeo, so why is it that the next time they meet, all she can do is blush and stammer? Wearing a dress interferes with higher brain functions? Does she even recognize him? (Attn writers, plz address this point!)
I did like the way shots where R looked soulfully into J's eyes, or vice versa, were framed, with wings and feathers and flowers in the background, and symbolically twinned objects rising up into the sky, and moonlight or the light of the setting sun over everything. Visually, RomeoxJuliet is really good. But yeah. Plenty of prettiness, very little internal logic.