Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet one of the most noteworthy romantic tragedies of all time. So popular that in fact it was given a film-adaptation two in fact. The first the 1968 (old-fashioned) British-Italian romance version directed Franco Zeffirelli and the 1991 (modernized) American romantic-drama version directed by Baz Luhrmann. This essay will outline the differences between the two film-adaptations. To begin with, the most evident discrepancy is the time difference which directly affects every aspect of the movie except the linguistics. The 1991 Baz Luhrmann version is a modernized version of Romeo and Juliet but retains the vernacular of the original 15-century Romeo and Juliet. For example, in the 1968 Zeffirelli version the clothing and costumes were formal and restrictive. The men wore tights and the women wore dresses. However in the 1991 version, clothing is much more casual and modernized. The men and women wear T-shirts and jeans, suits and dresses (less reserved), and pop culture themed outfits. Also, there is profound contrariety in the music Zeffirelli’s version tries to hold on to the Renaissance theme with songs like “What is Youth” by Nina Rota. While the Baz Luhrmann version doesn’t even try to hold on to the essence of the Renaissance using slightly outdated modern songs like “Kissing You” by Des’Ree. Furthermore, both versions of the movie Romeo and Juliet clash on many terms. For example, the way both families are portrayed in the movies is very divergent. Of course, they’re affluent in both renditions but the Montagues are seen as Hawaiian loving Caucasians and Capulets as Mobsters in Baz Luhrmann version. In contrast to the Zeffirelli version, which both families are just seen as aristocrats who wear oppositely colored clothes. Another difference in the filming styles of both movies Zeffirelli’s uses dull hues while Luhrmann’s uses bright colors. In addition, the way the two main protagonists meet each other is changed. In the original 1968 remake, they meet eyes at a party while singing and dancing. On the contrary in 1991 film- adaptation Romeo and Juliet meet each other while gazing at aquatic animals in a fish tank. Another striking