Plot:
Shakespeare's famous play is updated to the hip modern suburb of Verona still retaining its original dialogue. The gun-toting members of the families wage a vicious war on the streets as the star-crossed lovers, their tragic destiny. - Alexander Lum

Comment:
I wonder what Shakespeare would think of this weird 'remake' of one of his most famous tragedies, set in Verona Beach (!), with guns and cars rather than swords and horses...

It is rather hard to judge this movie, at first it seems incredibly kitsch, excessive, sometimes vulgar, supported by loud music, full of religious items (crosses, statues, candles, etc.). The mixing of 'ancient' speech with a post-modern setting gives the final touch of extravagance!

As the movies goes on you get used to that atmosphere so that everything seems less strong and you no longer care about the strange way of speaking.

Incidentally I preferred the 'shocking' beginning which is probably the main point of the whole movie. The ending is obviously dramatic but is not touching as it could have been, maybe it's just because Juliet killing herself with a gun is far from romantic (but it is absolutely in line with the rest of the movie!)...