Product: Romeo and Juliet [Region 2] (1968)
Rating: 4.0
romeo and juliet review
Franco Zeferelli's 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet is probably considered the classic in comparison to the other versions, such as Baz Luhrmann's modernized version starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. Zeferelli brought the most famous love story to life, and he did a fairly good job doing so. The most significant thing about Zeferelli's version is the fact that he used such young actors to portray Romeo and Juliet, which gives the film a more realistic touch to Shakespeare's original play because he created them as young characters to match the time he lived in. I personally love the original story of Romeo and Juliet, as most people do. The story has something for everyone. It has romance, action, drama, and even a little comedy, mostly provided by the character Mercutio. Zeferelli made his film set in the original time period and used the original language which made it a little difficult to understand, and it was at some points kind of boring. It is hard for people who aren't really into older movies to actually get into the film want to keep watching. This would be where Luhrmann's version comes into play. The comparison of the two is a very controversial topic. I personally think they are both great films and I think it depends on the type of viewer to determine which is better. If you are into more modern films, the you'd probably like the modern version, and vice versa.I think the drama of the story was excellently played out with the use of close-ups, zooming, and even just the basic camera work at the perfect points throughout the film. The scene when Romeo and Juliet first meet is a good example fo this. You can tell the characters are feeling such a strong attraction for each other, even though they have not spoken a word, and it is all in the camera work. The music also fits perfectly into the puzzle by contributing to the display of emotions. The soundtrack includes some pieces that are played several times, but are altered to fit the scene and match the moods of the characters. In a way, these two elements help you to feel the love, anger, hatred, and other emotions that the characters are feeling. The actors gave a splendid performance throughout, including the very young Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey, who plated Romeo and Juliet. Personally, I feel they did as well if not better that Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in the 1996 version who are considerably older. They had a connection between themselves from the moment the characters met that truly lived up the story of Romeo and Juliet. Overall I liked the film, but would prefer to watch the 1996 version. It's not that Zeferelli did a bad job, but the modern version captures my attention more than the older one.