Comparing And Contrasting The Two Videos Of Romeo and Juliet

We have watched two versions of ?Romeo and Juliet?. One was made in 1968 by a man called Franco Zeffirelli and was set in Verona, in the Middle Ages. A man named Baz Luhrmann made the other movie in 1996. This version was set in America and is very modern. The stars in the Zeffirelli version were Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting. The Luhrmann version starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.

One of the main differences between the two versions of ?Romeo and Juliet?, was the opening. The Zeffirelli movie had quite a slow opening, in contrast to fast and furious opening of Luhrmann?s version. Both films used Shakespeare?s play properly, but their outcomes were very, very different. Zeffirelli?s version of the opening was set in a market square, whereas Luhrmann?s opening was in a petrol station. When the Montagues and Capulets have a confrontation in Zeffirelli?s film, the argument is quite courteous, in a mocking way.

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But in Luhrmann?s version, everyone is frantic, especially the ?Montague Boys, but they still manage to put a shouted ?Sir!? at the end of each sentence. Also, before the ?Montague Boys? were shown at a petrol station, a newsreader is saying the prologue of ?Romeo and Juliet?. The newsreader then fades out and the viewer is shown empires, belonging to the Capulets and Montagues. This is meant to show you that the reason for the Montagues and Capulets rivalry is down to the business empires, belonging to the two families. In Zeffirelli?s film, there was no reason for the bitter, prehistoric feud.

Both films used suitable techniques and props for the film. By that, I mean the Zeffirelli version couldn?t have a newsreader and in Luhrmann?s film the people had to wear normal clothes, for this time and age. In Zeffirelli?s film, the...