Romeo and Juliet (2013) parents guide

Romeo and Juliet (2013) Parent Guide

By all artistic measures, "Romeo and Juliet (2013)" is an A movie. Along with Paul Giamatti, who gives a brilliant performance, this cast includes some lesser-known but talented actors.

Overall B-

Screenwriter Julian Fellowes adapts William Shakespeare famous story about the tragic love affair between Romeo (Douglas Booth) and Juliet (Hailee Steinfeld), members of rival families. The movie has a traditional setting and is directed by Carlo Carlei.

Release date October 11, 2013

Violence C-
Sexual Content B-
Profanity B+
Substance Use C

Why is Romeo and Juliet (2013) rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Romeo and Juliet (2013) PG-13 for some violence and thematic elements.

Run Time: 119 minutes

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Parent Movie Review

I don’t know that anyone has committed suicide after reading Romeo and Juliet. Most high school freshmen just struggle to understand the Shakespearean dialogue. But if any director has made taking your own life—for the sake of love—look romantic, it is Carlo Carlei. And that for me is the problem. His 2013 adaptation of the Bard’s tragic story brings the classic tale to life in a way English Lit teachers are going to adore. Filmed in beautiful Italian locations with detailed costumes and a very capable cast, it embraces all the teenaged angst to be expected. Yet (SPOILER ALERT) when the star-crossed lovers finally kill themselves, it’s all so painless and bloodless and tender. Even when their bodies lie in the church adorned in their finery in front of their grieving families, their cold, dead, but still beautiful hands are entwined in a gesture of affection.

Shakespeare isn’t promoting suicide as much as pointing out the utter foolishness of the Capulet and Montague feud. And that message is as relevant as ever. Though the film is set in the play’s original time frame and uses the original dialogue, the portrayal of swordfights in the streets doesn’t seem al that distant from the gang rivalry today. The Prince of Verona’s (Stellan Skarsgård) issues ineffectual pleas and then threats to stem the fighting among the younger family members. It is apparent both he and the townsfolk have grown weary of the bloody and ongoing disputes. Still, only moments after the Prince berates them, Tybalt (Ed Westwick) and his friends in the Capulet clan throw down the gauntlet in front of the Montague boys. Romeo (Douglas Booth) however, is so taken with Juliet (Hailee Steinfeld) that he is willing to set aside their weapons. Unfortunately his resolve doesn’t last long when his cousin is killed.

While several deaths are depicted, some involving blades, blood and illegal poisons, none are overtly graphic. Yet the rash attitude that leads to these fatalities also afflicts the young lovers. Romeo instantly falls for the masked Juliet at a house party he shouldn’t be attending. And he’s up on her balcony kissing her face and professing his love before he even knows her identity. Romanticizing this impulsive behavior in defending honor and pursuits of the heart is a real concern—especially if parents or teachers don’t take time to discuss it.

By all artistic measures, Romeo and Juliet (2013) is an A movie. Along with Paul Giamatti who gives a brilliant performance as Friar Laurence, this cast includes some lesser-known but talented actors. That lets audiences immerse themselves in the story rather than getting distracted watching famous faces like Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role.

All the same, just because this tale is old doesn’t mean the events surrounding the couple’s fate are ones parents want reenacted. Unfolding over only a few days, the impetuous pursuit of their passion leads this pair to a tragic end—even if they are carried out in a beautiful, candle-lit setting.

Directed by Carlo Carlei. Starring Hailee Steinfeld, Ed Westwick, Damian Lewis, Douglas Booth. Running time: 119 minutes. Theatrical release October 11, 2013. Updated

Romeo and Juliet (2013)
Rating & Content Info

Why is Romeo and Juliet (2013) rated PG-13? Romeo and Juliet (2013) is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some violence and thematic elements.

Violence: Characters draw their swords and fight in the streets where a man is killed. In an act of retribution, characters fight and one is stabbed to death. Characters spit at one another as a sign of derision. Several deaths result from the ongoing family feud. A character takes a poison that makes her appear as dead. A character drinks a poison and kills himself. A girl stabs herself.

Sexual Content: A young couple kisses frequently. A married couple consummates their marriage with little detail shown.

Language: The script contains a few terms of Deity as well as some brief sexual innuendos.

Alcohol / Drug Use: Characters drink at a social event. A man derives a poison from a plant. Another character is involved in selling illegal poisons. A character uses poison to kill himself.

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Romeo and Juliet (2013) Parents' Guide

The Prince of Verona organizes a sporting competition between the Capulets and Montegues in hopes of keeping the fighting off the streets. How is the families’ feud affecting the other residents of the city? What are the reasons for their fighting?

What is the moral dilemma the apothecary faces when Romeo asks him for poison? How does he justify his decision? Can finances dictate moral decisions for some people?

Juliet’s nurse is her close confident and friend. What role did these servants play in the lives of the families they worked for? Why were they often closer to the children than their parents?

Might this story have ended differently if Romeo and Juliet had talked to their parents? Do you think their families might be willing to put aside their differences or did it have to take the death of their children to make them see their foolishness?

Learn more about Shakespeare and his play Romeo and Juliet.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Romeo and Juliet (2013) movie is February 4, 2014. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Romeo and Juliet

Release Date: 4 February 2014

Romeo and Juliet releases to home video (Blu-ray/Ultraviolet Digital Copy) with the following extras:

- 4 Featurettes

- Theatrical Trailer

Related home video titles:

Shakespeare classic play has been adapted to film many times including Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 version Romeo & Juliet. It has also inspired such movies as Gnomeo & Juliet, Letters to Juliet and West Side Story.

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