Updated Shakespeare is usually unsatisfactory in one way or another, but this really is a nice try.

Family gang warfare is an ongoing thing at Verona Beach and its surrounds, as the local police try to keep a lid on the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets.

Dreamy poet Romeo (Leonardo DiCaprio) is the non-violent Montague who meets Juliet (Claire Danes), seemingly the sole Capulet daughter, at a fancy dress ball.

Pretty soon the star-crossed lovers are married, a union still unconsummated when Romeo is drawn into the families' world of violence and shoots Tybalt to avenge the death of a friend.

Director Baz Luhrmann just about gets away with slapping the Bard's original dialogue into a world of lethal weapons and fast cars.

DiCaprio and Danes both have their moments as the lovers, although she should watch pushing the winsomeness.

Bravura action moments, though, just carry this one through.