Comparison of the Opening Sequences of Two Different Versions of Romeo and Juilet

Comparison of the Opening Sequences of Two Different Versions of Romeo and Juilet

The objective of this essay is to compare two different film

adaptations of William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juilet. Franco Zefferelli

directed the first rendition of this play in 1968. This was the more

conventional, traditional version of the play. It was slow, peaceful,

and in my opinion, how Shakespeare would've wanted it. Despite it

being old, it was a beautiful interpretation of Shakespeare's tragic

love story. Here, Leonard Whiting played Romeo and Olivia Hussey

played Juilet. The whole cast were kitted out in lifelike, accurate

costumes, the settings and props were extremely realistic and in

general, the film was a great success. The second interpretation of

this play caused a lot of controversy. Directed by the very courageous

and daring Baz Luhrmann in 1996, it was a first. Luhrmann bought

Shakespeare's classic play about star-crossed lovers into the modern

day. It was fast, action-packed and in-your-face. This film was an

immediate hit with the audience. It made everyone excited and full of

adrenaline - guns, loud music, fast cars and Romeo played by Leonardo

DiCaprio. Those who wouldn't read a Shakespeare play would think again

after seeing this! This film bought Shakespeare to life again with

great effect - it's something everyone today can relate to. I consider

the opening sequence an essential part of any film, as it sets the

scene and gives the audience an idea of what to anticipate in the rest

of the movie.

Expectedly, the two films have entirely dissimilar openings. The

Zefferelli version commences with two scenes - one of Romeo, and one...

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...extremely

dissimilar because they are both aimed at different audiences, and

different audiences expect and enjoy different things.

To conclude this essay, I would like to say that I thought the

Luhrmann version had the more effective opening. It was quick,

action-packed and in your face and contained props and landscape from

my generation. This was the decisive factor, as I could identify with

them. It held my attention, and was more gripping than the Zefferelli

version, which, in my opinion, was aimed at an older audience. It was

slower, had less drama, and old, Shakespearian props were used. True,

it was a beautifully realistic adaptation of Shakespeare's tragic

tragedy: Romeo and Juilet, but it just wasn't for me. I like films

that are fast and full of action, but this was, as I've previously

mentioned, slow.