Shakespeare in Love (R, 1998)
common sense media says
Lavish historical drama has explicit sex scenes.
parents & educators say
- 40% say sexual content is an issue
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie has numerous racy moments, including graphic sexual scenes and partial female nudity. Much of the dialogue carries a crass sexual undertone. However, the violence, consisting mostly of sword and dagger battles, is relatively benign for a teenage audience.
Positive role models:
While a strong female character goes after the love she wants at a time in history when it was very difficult to do so, she is still after a married man. Shakespeare goes against what's popular and follows his own creative path, even though it could lead him to ruin.
Violence:
Sword and dagger fighting. A man's boot-clad feet are burned as punishment for an unpaid debt; his torturers then threaten to cut off his ears if the sum is not soon repaid.
Sex:
Numerous sexual encounters, some with nudity.
Language:
Bawdy banter and a few expletives.
Consumerism:
Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Characters drink in a tavern and a brothel. Alcohol-induced disorder erupts.
More on Shakespeare in Love
Review It
Most useful reviews by all members
Yossarian
adult
adult
Better than expected
This movie was much different than I expected, but in a good way. I liked it, as it had just the right mix of comedy, drama, and romance. The story is supposed to follow William Shakespeare as he writes and prepares for the performance of Romeo and Juliet. When a well born admirer of his work tries out for a part Will is intrigued. He discovers her true identity and they fall in love, then proceed to have sex every night. She ends up being his prime inspiration for the play. There is some other sex in the movie at various times, and the biggest controversy is probably the admittance of women on the stage in Elizabethan London. As long as your kid is mature enough not to laugh at the sight of breasts, it is a decent choice for a family rent, though it is totally worth owning.
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davideskimo
adult
adult
This Movie is quite good but it is NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PERSONS UNDER 15. This movie is quite clean in just about every aspect except sex. There are frequent
sex scenes, a couple a bit explicit. There is also a small amount of moaning and "oh yes's" and "coarse language me" oh wait that was the exorcist...oh well anyway it has lots of sex scenes and requires a lot of maturity for viewers. WORLDWIDE RATINGS:
America: R - Strong Sexuality
UK: - 15 - Sex
Australia: M - Frequent Moderate Sex Scenes including a scene of implied bestiality,
and a Drug Reference, Mild Battle Violence
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elenmadil
adult
adult
Great movie! We watched in in school on history of literature and it was the first movie everyone in class liked. Really shows how the world looked in Shakespeare's time.
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bubbleboy
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Is It Possible NOT To Love This Movie?
This is just one of those films that you simply can't hate. It's witty, it's sexy, it's dramatic, it's BRILLIANT! As a Shakespeare addict, I loved the little "wink-wink" references to his other works (the scene where he asks about money for "One Gentlemen of Verona," for instance), as well as the idea of showing the events that inspired "Romeo and Juliet," the greatest love story ever told. Not only is the story brilliant, but the acting is superb. Gwenyth Paltrow is adorable and surprisingly powerful as Viola (yes, she inspires "Twelfth Night"), and Joseph Fiennes hits the right mixture of brooding and charisma as Shakespeare himself. Other notable performances include Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth and the usually terrible Ben Affleck doing a ver good job here. I would also like to give the writers their props for playing with the gender-reversal thing that goes on in "Twelfth Night" while Viola (the real-life one) pretends to be a man so she can be in "Romeo and Juliet," that's clever stuff. As far as the age-appropriateness, there are a few steamy scenes, one or two of them providing a glimpse of Ms. Paltrow's breasts. There's also a smidge of language, but not much.
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dark rose
adult
adult
hilarious
I saw this school for english class. very funny...
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ShakespaereLover
parent of 15 , and 17 , 17 , 17 year old
parent of 15 , and 17 , 17 , 17 year old
Shakespeare in love is a great film
this history of William Shakespear while he writes the Romeo and Juliet story shows a woman being strong and acting mature and favorable by the audience
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