Romeo and Juliet - Lurhman and Zeffreli Comparison Essay Example for Free

Romeo and Juliet Lurhman and Zeffreli Comparison Essay Romeo and Juliet. Over the past 500 years there have been numerous adaptations for stage, musicals and films based and interpreted from the original tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet. Written by Shakespeare in 1500’s and Juliet is undeniably Shakespeare’s most successful and well known play. The tragic story line filled with unfortunate events and heartbreaks are something that appealed to the Elizabethan era audience. The two most well known movie interpretations would have to be the version done by Baz Luherman and Zeherelli. Zeffireli’s version of Romeo and Juliet was a very traditional one and was set in Verona where the original play was located. It was written and directed by Franco Zeffireli and starred Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting. Released in 1968 the film was the most financially successful film made up to that time because of the young teenage audience it had attracted. Although it may not be appealing to the teenagers in this century. It followed the Original storyline very clearly and the costumes were very much like those it the time it was made. Baz Luherman;s version of Romeo + Juliet and starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Claire Danes was a modernization of William Shakespeare’s play. It still had the original Shakespearean dialogue but the Montague’s and Capulet’s were represented as opposing business empires. Very much unlike the original storyline there were guns, cars, and very modern sense of clothing. Filmed in Mexico and Miami It was set in the fictional Verona Beach. This was a very successful version of the story and many viewers around the world loved the great difference in the interpretation. This film was released in 1996 and grossed $11. 1 million in its opening week, ranking #1 at the box office. Act 1 Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet is a very essential part in understanding the tragedy of the story. It is where they first meet and fall in love at the Capulet’s masquerade ball. Towards to the end of the scene they realize their love would not be allowed because of the history of their feuding families. Juliet being a Capulet and Romeo being a Montague creates confusion and disbelief for the audience. In my opinion the film that portrays this in a better way is Luhermans version. Compared to Zeferellhis traditional movie it keeps the audience interested in what is happening. Some things that contribute to this is the mi –sen –scene music, lighting, camera angles and costumes. The music in Zeherellis movie is very traditional, when Romeo and Juliet meet eyes for the first time in the movie the music becomes soft and sweet, the typical love-song music of Shakespeares time. The setting is at Capulets masquarde ball and in an old castle made from stone and has candle lit lighting. Just like the music, lighting and location the costumes stay very true to the Elizabethan era. There is not much of a variety in the camera angles and it usually focuses on the actors facial expression. This movie would have been more of what Shakespeare intended. Luhermans version on the other hand has a very different atmosphere. This modernized adaptation has much more up tempo and disco music. Although when Romeo and Juliet first meet the slow song ‘Kissing you’ is playing in the background adding an addition of romance to the scene. The lyrics reflect their relationship and is ended with the kissing. The setting is very modern and instead of a masquerade ball there is a costume party. The start of this scene is very upbeat and lively. The lighting is much brighter than Zeherelli’s version and at the beginning there is flashing lights. Luherman was more experimental with his camera angles using medium shots, long shots, tilted angles, and spinning effects making the audience feel more involved in the scene. These two movies have given more of a great depth to the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet without taking away the beauty of the language. In my opinion Baz Luherman was more successful in appealing his movie to the audience of Australia. It’s was easily more relatable than the older 1968 Franco Zeherelli movie. However he did a great job creating a movie just the wal William Shaksepare would have intende however along with most people of my age I enjoyed and found the Luherman version more enetertainging.