Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3569 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-02-02
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English, German
• Subtitled in: Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 119 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
One of the most endearing and intelligent romantic comedies of the 1990s, the Oscar-winning Shakespeare in Love is filled with such good will, sunny romance, snappy one-liners and devilish cleverness that it's absolutely irresistible. With tongue placed firmly in cheek, at its outset the film tracks young Will Shakespeare's overwrought battle with writer's block and the efforts of theatre owner Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush, in rare form) to stage Will's latest comedy, Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter. Jokey comedy, though, soon takes a backseat to ravishing romance when the beautiful Viola De Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow) disguises herself as a young man to wangle herself an audition in the all-male cast and wins both the part of Romeo and, after much misunderstanding, the playwright's heart. Soon enough, Will's pirate comedy becomes the beautiful, tragic Romeo and Juliet, reflecting the agony and ecstasy of Will and Viola's romance--he's married and she's set to marry the slimy Lord Wessex (Colin Firth).

The way that Oscar-winning screenwriters Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard enfold their story within the parameters of Romeo and Juliet (and even Twelfth Night) is nothing short of brilliant--it would take a Shakespearean scholar to dissect the innumerable parallels, oft-quoted lines, plot developments, and thematic borrowings. And most amazingly, Norman and Stoppard haven't forgotten to entertain their audience in addition to riding a Shakespearean roller coaster, with director John Madden (Mrs. Brown) reigning in his huge ensemble with rollicking energy. Along the way there are small gems to be found, including Judi Dench's eight-minute, Oscar-winning turn as a truly regal Queen Elizabeth, but the key element of Shakespeare in Love's success rests on the milky-white shoulders of its two stars. Fiennes, inexplicably overlooked at Oscar time, is a dashing, heartfelt Will and as for Best Actress winner Paltrow, well, nothing she'd done before could have prepared viewers for how amazing she is here. Breathtakingly beautiful, fiercely intelligent, strong-willed and lovestruck--it's a performance worthy of Shakespeare in more ways than one. By the film's end, you'll be thoroughly won over--and brushing up your Shakespeare with newfound ardour. --Mark Englehart

Video Description
DVD Special Features

"making Of" Documentary
John Madden Commentary
Cast and Crew Commentary
Theatrical Trailer
21 TV Spots
Academy Awary Winning Costumes
Deleted Scenes
Language:English, Dolby Digital 5.1/German, Dolby surround
Subtitles: English/Dutch/German/Danish/Finnish/Swedish/Norweigan/Hebrew/Polish/Czech

Synopsis
The reign of Elizabeth I finds Will Shakespeare, a writer, broke and envious of a rival. Then, he meets with a woman who wants to be an actor and who disguises herself as a man...

Customer Reviews

Outstanding class
This film will change your whole perspective on love. It has the ability to move you to both laughter and tears, and that reason alone places it in my top five of all time.

The acting is superb, as is the set design, choreography, script and costume. This film is packed with talent in the actors; Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow are brilliant throughout. But I love it when a film has not so big characters, yet the actors who play them make them their own and really make the most of it. Examples in this film would include Martin Clunes, Simon Callow, Geoffrey Rush, Ben Affleck, Colin Firth and above all Judi Dench.

I could rant on all day about the beauty of the script and the way in which Shakespeare is so characterised.

A film to see much sooner than your dying day.

Never mind Shakespeare, I'm in love!
I've no idea why it's taken me so long to get round to watching this 1990s rom-com which I believe won several Oscars. But all that matters is I did finally give Shakespeare in Love a spin, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's definitely my kind of thing; jam-packed with humorous characters, illicit sex, witty one-liners and a really clever plot.

The film follows a young Will Shakespeare as he is trying to earn a living from writing plays for two major theatres in his town, and yet he is struggling with writer's block. He is expected to produce a comedy, Romeo and Ethel - The Pirate's Daughter and yet he is struggling. The words simply will not flow. Producing the play painfully slowly, characters are cast and rehearse the play whilst awaiting the next installment from Will.

Soon though, the comedy in Will's play disappears into thin air as he is distracted in real life by the beautiful Viola De Lesseps. Soon his comedy becomes a deep and tragic romance - renamed Romeo and Juliet. A newcomer to acting is playing the role of Romeo, rather well. Little does everyone know that 'Thomas' is in fact Viola in disguise. Her passion for acting forces her to dress as a man so that she may be cast in plays, because in that day and age, women were banned from the stage.

After some time, our lovestruck playwright realises that his actor friend Thomas is in fact the beautiful Viola, and she confesses she reciprocates his feelings. They embark on a risky but very romantic affair, and the tale of Romeo and Juliet is interwoven with their own affair. Sadly, they both know it can never be - as Will is married, and Viola is betrothed to the beastly Lord Wessex, played by a stern-faced Colin Firth.

They continue their affair as Will's words are in full flow and the play is completed. After much ado, the secret couple are forced to act out these scenes together - but little does the audience know how true their stage kisses are. As with Romeo and Juliet, Will and Viola's romance must end - their circumstances keep them apart, but they are both changed profoundly by the experience.

This was a fantastic film! It was beautifully romantic, but not too soppy, and there was plenty of humour in there too. I think guys would enjoy this film too as it's not too much of a chick-flick. Literature buffs and fans of Shakespeare would love this, purely to see some of the most famous quotes in the world spoken by the all-star cast.

Overall, despite it's downcast ending, this is a feel-good film with a great plot and excellent cast, and high re-watch value. Loved it.

Smug self satisfied whimsy
Didn't like the general air of smugness the film had, I found that really offputting, wasn't too keen on Paltrow's over controlled performance either. I suppose in a way it was one of those films waiting to be made, as there seemed to be a little unfilled niche for it, but apart from introducing us to other players in the Shakespeare story, which I am sure many people did not know of, I don't see a lot to recommend this self satisfied film. With such an idealised comedy, the subject of course can never be accurately portrayed, but then neither can the tone of the period the film is set in. Wouldn't it be better if someone decided to attempt a straight film portrayal of the great man's life, following the populist history of his life and career, instead of just a well marketed, titilating fantasy designed to do well at the awards?