The Audio
Featuring a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround mix Romeo + Juliet sounds as great as it looks. The mix is very well represented and crystal clear in its presentation.
Dialogue is easily separated from the music and effects and channelized nearly perfectly. Ambient sound is abundant and effective in immersing you into the world of these warring families. There is also effective use of the subwoofer giving key moments the deep sounds that push along the feel of the scene. The music in the movie is top notch and thanks to the great mix, a joy to listen to. This is an excellent audio transfer that brings much to the overall experience.
The Extras
Along with the carefully handled transfer this Blu-ray comes with a number of quality supplements. The extras in this release, while not groundbreaking, are generally very good and well worth digging into.
"Shaking Up Shakespeare" Picture-in-Picture Commentary - Director Baz Luhrmann, production designer Catherine Martin, director of photography Donald M. McAlpine, and co-writer Craig Pearce
This is one of the better commentary tracks I have listened to in a long while. The varied group of passionate creators digs into nearly every aspect of the film and break down the decisions made and effectiveness of the scenes. The commentary can be solely listened to or viewed as a picture in pcture format with artwork, storyboards and behind the scenes footage appearing during the filming. I have not had as enjoyable a second viewing of a film as this in a long while, a great supplement.
Romeo+Juliet: The Music
A lengthy and excellent documentary is the highlight of this section in the extra features. The documentary is nearly an hour long and looks at the creation of the films excellent soundtrack. There are also additional featurettes such as "Everybody's Free: The Journey of the Song" – A look at the young boy who sings in the choir scenes, "The London Music Mix" – Examining the sound design and process and "Temp Music: The Journey of the Song" – Baz Luhrmann describes how he decided which songs to use.
From the Bazmark Vault
A number of behind the scenes footage presented in faux 1080p. They are framed in an ornate border but use SD footage. The scenes are "First Kiss," "Beach Scene," "Uncut Rehearsal," and "Outside the Church." I am a big fan of scenes like this as it shows the lead up and preparation to important moments in the movie.
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