If you're a fan of Shakespeare -- or if you like a good romantic comedy, but wonder what all the fuss was about back in 9th grade English -- get your hands on this DVD as soon as you can. If you know or care nothing about Shakespeare, you'll be won over by the first-rate acting, the attention to period detail and the witty dialogue. But if you are of that dying bread that still appreciates the art of the greatest writing the English language has ever produced, then you will be swept away by this charming evocation of Shakespeare's work and world. All the performances are uniformly solid; Joseph Fiennes brings a believably manic creative energy to his portrayal of Shakespeare. Dame Judy Dench earned a well-deserved Oscar for her small but pivotal contribution as a wise and magnanimous Queen Elizabeth. Yet it is Gwyneth Paltrow who steals the show as well as the heart of the Bard. She has never been more radiant, and she succeeds in communicating both strength and vulnerability in her role as a woman who longs to tread the boards in a world that barred her sex from the stage. Arguably, the star of the show, however, is the wonderful writing by playwright Tom Stoppard. Cleverly weaving countless alusions to Shakespeare's life and works into the dialogue (don't worry -- it doesn't hurt the movie a bit if you don't 'get' them), he makes a convincing case that Shakespeare created his classic 'Romeo and Juliet,' not in a burst of romantic inspiration, but out of the whole clothe of his day-to-day experiences. Far from a dusty and academic homage to a long-dead writer, 'Shakespeare in Love' is the sort of playful and appropriately exploitive turn on the old metaphor of theater as life that the Bard of Avon himself would have loved!Read full review
Used DVD cheap and without defects. For the film, the girl actress is pretty and hot. For the rest, 100% enjoyment only comes if you can understand British accents and if you know something of the life and times of Shakespeare. For example, if you never heard of Christopher Marlowe, some aspiects of the comedy will pass you by.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Cute story....not sure how factual it is but, enjoyable just the same. I like both actors who play the leads and seeing them together is fun too. Overall, a fun and entertaining story of young love, romance and a time in Shakespeare's life when he wrote one of his best loved stories.
Powerful emotional film about what it takes to make a play sell in elizabethian England. I have this movie recorded on VHS several years ago but I really like the picture quality DVD has to offer along with the never ending dynamic sound you can get from them. I bought this movie to share with my wife and I. We both loved it and will watch it for many years to come
I have been a huge fan of Shakespeare since High School. I love his plays and I love learning more about his personal life. There isn't a lot out there about his personal life, but it's definitely interesting. I bought this movie because I'm currently taking a Shakespeare Course in college and my professor suggested I watch the movie because of how the theater business is portrayed. I truly enjoyed watching the movie because it was entertaining with love and comedy. Joseph Fiennes is HOT so that was a definite plus. I definitely recommend the movie.
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