Ah, I'm a huge Moulin Rouge fan. Never seen his Rome + Juliet, but I always thought Juliet was a wuss, no matter whose version you saw, inlcuding the original Shakespeare.

Strictly Ballroom is far better than either of those, mainly because it doesn't suffer from taking itself exceedingly seriously.

And Allyson's point about Paul Mercurio and the sliding is a damn good one.

Strictly Ballroom is Baz Luhrman. It is very, very good.

I would qualify that, and say that it is clearly early Baz Luhrman. Awesome, but still a little rough around the edges.

And I have an unholy loyalty towards Dirty Dancing, so I can't really compare the attractiveness of the leads. I'd say they're about the same level, really, with the less attractive girl, and the "hot" guy. But I'd subtract a little from SB, for the fact that the leads seem to have almost no chemistry with each other, to the point that it's kind of weird and forced when they kiss . In my opinion, Jennifer Gray's and Patrick Swayze's mutual hate translated much better, and comes across as the sort of intense emotion you want your characters to feel.

Federation President Barry Fife wants you to know that the future of ballroom dancing is very serious indeed, Plei.

have almost no chemistry with each other

That was a problem. I just liked the humor. That movie and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert are two of the best movies to come out of Australia that I've seen.

I always thought Juliet was a wuss, no matter whose version you saw, inlcuding the original Shakespeare.

I've seen one version of it that didn't make me want to claw my own eyes out and/or just spork the hell out of R & J, and that's the 1994 British TV version with Geraldine Somerville and Jonathan Firth, who both kicked so much ass in the roles that I was able to overcome my dislike of the actual play.

1994 British TV version with Geraldine Somerville and Jonathan Firth, who both kicked so much ass in the roles that I was able to overcome my dislike of the actual play.

Takes notes.

I'll have to check it out. I always feel a little disloyal to Bill, not liking R & J.

I always thought Juliet was a wuss, no matter whose version you saw, inlcuding the original Shakespeare.

Actually no. Having read and taught the play more than I've ever wanted to, I've had more opportunity to think about than I've ever meant.

Romeo is the character who vacillates and can't decide. It's Juliet who goes through a pretty radical transformation from very obedient daughter to the instigator and plan maker. It is she who forces action forward.

Federation President Barry Fife wants you to know that the future of ballroom dancing is very serious indeed, Plei.

Y'know, it just occurs to me as I choke on my own laughter here that Strictly Ballroom and Wonderfalls have a similar sort of tone, at least in my head.

And, R&J is my least favorite of his plays. It's so pointless and stupid and crappy.

Currently, though, there's a great adaptation (as opposed to conceptuatlization) of the play being performed at the Autry, called "Kino and Theresa." It's placed in the context of a 17th century Peublo and the Spanish.

Also, instead of looking at the idea of identity and communal obligation versus personal freedom, I'm thinking about teaching it next time as a play about responses to violence instead. A more entertaining lens at least.