Romeo And Juliet Vs Zeffirelli's

Romeo and Juliet is the most iconic Shakespearean tragedy and love story, and there has been countless adaptations and productions. Romeo and Juliet is about two feuding noble families in which their children fall in forbidden love. This leads to many consequences and series of events. Two of the most famous movie adaptations, Franco Zeffirelli's (1968) and Baz Luhrmann’s (1996), have their own take on Romeo and Juliet’s story, they are very different but the same. Both films focus on the true love between Romeo and Juliet and the tragedies that come after. The fray in the beginning of the movies are portrayed and used in different ways to introduce the story. Zeffirelli's version is more accurate to the play with the appropriate props and …show more content…
Since the 1996 version uses a modern twist, instead of swords the characters use guns. The beginning fray shows no face-to-face combat, in contrast it uses a shoot-out between tybalt and the Montagues. The guns do reference the original time period of Romeo and Juliet by naming them “dagger” or “sword”. Both versions of Romeo and Juliet are decades apart so the props and effects are very different. The 1996 version uses a helicopter instead of horses to stop the fray and some scenes contain fire. Zeffirelli's version mostly has medieval props with little to no effects used.Even though both movies contrast greatly, they both do a great job in retelling the …show more content…
The opening scene shows the group of Montagues with Tybalt across from them, but the 1968 version shows a couple of Capulets provoking a Montague resulting in Tybalt’s appearance in the scene. Luhrmann changed the characters because the beginning of the film focused more on Romeo and the Montagues, so it would transition nicely to Romeo’s emotional walk. Luhrmann also showed Tybalt in the beginning because Tybalt represents the Capulet’s hatred for the Montagues, and he seems to be the main kinsman. The balcony scene, which is the most iconic scene, is also altered in Luhrmann’s version. Romeo and Juliet once again meet through water by falling in the swimming pool. Contrary to Romeo lusting for Juliet by climbing obstacles, Romeo talks to her face to face. These particular scenes also show a theme of color by using setting and filters.
Both films did a good job in conveying the story of Romeo and Juliet with different portrayal and construction. Luhrmann uses certain cinema techniques to convey a modern love story that creates an atmosphere of connection. Zeffirelli does stay true to the 16th century setting, but the interactions can be a bit bland. The change of plot, props, setting, and effects are huge key factors into such an iconic timeless play. luhrmann’s modern take translates the story to be more effective on the younger audiences by appealing to the demographic using the young characteristics