The whole thing really is just one big English class lesson.
You could make the same bland, sweeping generalization about all adaptions of Shakespeare's work and there are plenty around.
May be you just didn't like Shakespeare at school.

I am watching this for the first time. It is up and down. Parts adapt so well, like the balcony scene. Parts are pretty tough to follow.

No worries, I've done the same thing at times too.

(facepalm)sorry, stupid mistake on my part. Must have been typing too fast (no sarcasm).
I'll trade you my t-shirt for a grilled cheese!

Have to correct you on something Romeo and Juliet is not "from Victorian England."
It was written in 1594, the Tudor period, three hundred years before the Victorian era.

Well, Romeo and Juliet is read is most American high schools. Baz Lurhmann probably knew that. It was a way to get teenagers interested in Shakespeare. Add eye candy Leonardo diCaprio and this movie made millions. The contemporary look and feel added to the appeal. Millions of American teens saw this because they remember reading it in English class.