ROMEO AND JULIET (2013)
Beautifully brings Shakespeare’s classic tale to life, with discernment.
Should You Watch It?
This is a beautiful rendition of Shakespeare’s classic play, brought brilliantly to life by wonderful performances, incredible sets, and elaborate costumes. The language is slightly modernized, but the movie retains the essence of Shakespeare’s original language.
The romance is also the film’s central concern. Romeo and Juliet act on impulse and feeling, falling in love after only glimpses of each other and taking extreme measures to be together. Yet the story places their marriage within a church, includes counsel from a priest, and shows that revenge and hasty decisions can destroy a family.
For teenagers and adults, this is worth seeing with discernment. Parents of younger children should consider the tragic violence, suicide, drinking, and sexual content before watching.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESJuliet Capulet is nearing the age when she must marry. At a lavish ball intended to introduce her to Paris, the man chosen for her, she instead meets Romeo.
But Romeo is a Montague, and the Montagues and Capulets have been bitter rivals for years. Their love is forbidden, so they begin meeting in secret with help from Romeo’s priest, Friar Lawrence, and Juliet’s nurse.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this adaptation succeeds as both a beautiful film and a strong presentation of Shakespeare’s play. The performances bring the story to life, while the sets and costumes provide the visual splendor expected from a rendition of the classic.
The language is slightly modernized, but the movie retains the essence of Shakespeare’s original language. It is a polished, visually impressive production of a familiar tragedy.
The Worldview
ROMEO AND JULIET presents a romantic worldview centered on passion and the feelings of the moment. Romeo and Juliet fall “in love” after mere glimpses of each other, without knowing each other’s names, and then take extreme measures to be together. The story therefore treats romantic desire as powerful, but also shows the disastrous consequences of hasty and impetuous decisions.
The film includes important Christian and moral elements. Romeo and Juliet marry within a church and receive counsel from a priest. The story also shows that revenge can completely destroy a family and bring about death.
The film’s deepest warning is that passion and revenge, when left to rule, can lead people into ruin. Scripture likewise warns that “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Romantic worldview, following the passion of the moment, with Christian, moral elements of marriage in the church, counsel from a priest, signs of the cross, crucifix, prayer, images of Mary and baby Jesus, ‘God bless you’ is said, and the bad consequences of revenge are shown; one profanity, one obscenity; sword fighting, two men killed in sword fight, main character takes poison, other stabs herself, man slaps other man; kissing, implied sex inside of marriage; no nudity; drinking; no smoking nor drug use; and, revenge.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Romeo and Juliet make life-changing decisions after only brief glimpses of each other. What is the difference between strong feelings and wise love?
Proverbs 14:15 · 1 Corinthians 13:4–7Romeo and Juliet marry in a church and seek counsel from Friar Lawrence. Why does Scripture value both marriage and wise counsel?
Genesis 2:24 · Proverbs 15:22The families’ rivalry and revenge bring death and destruction. Where do you see anger becoming destructive, and what does God call us to do instead?
James 1:19–20 · Romans 12:19–21The story shows that hasty decisions can have disastrous consequences. How can prayer and patience help us make wiser choices?
Proverbs 3:5–6 · James 1:5The Final Word
This is a beautiful, wonderfully performed adaptation of Shakespeare, enriched by remarkable sets and costumes. Its passionate romance, revenge, tragic violence, and suicide call for discernment, especially with younger children. For teenagers and adults, WORTH THE TRIP — TEENS AND ADULTS.
