Romeo and Juliet discussion

I recently read Romeo and Juliet and I wanted to watch the movie but I can't decide on which version I should watch. I know there are quiet a few but does anyone know which one is the most accurate?

I think the 1967, Franco Zefferelli directed one is good, with Olivia Hussey, and Leonard Whiting as the two lead characters. As far as accuracy this is pretty accurate.

I agree, the Zeferelli is the one my high school English teacher used as the most accurate... then we would watch the Leonardo DiCaprio one just for funs :)

ditto!!:]

i like the Leonardo DiCaprio one better

there's no harm in watching all of them. i've seen most every version of Hamlet and enjoyed them all for one aspect or another - which reminds me i must get around to seeing the Ethan Hawke / Bill Murray version).

the zeffereli one is good but it is a little classic and stuffy in feel, the di Caprio one is daft but it's slick and musical

oh and Gnomeo and Juliet is surprisingly good fun

lol

The Leonardo DiCaprio one was pretty accurate.
The setting was modernized, but it was set in the same city.

Just watch both movies Sarah. You will be glad you did. I suggest Zefferelli first and DiCaprio next.
DiCaprio's captures more of the action but Zef. captures the romance. To watch by myself I would watch DiCap., but with a date Zef.

I don't know about most accurate, but my favorite version is Romeo + Juliet (the Baz Lerman version). Fantastic.

I think I will watch them all :)

i have only watched one and then read the book and found the movie very accurate. it was the one with Leanardo De Caprico!

^ Same only I read the book first.

I remember watching an older version after we finished the book in high school; I'm guessing it's the 1967 version people are referring to here. I just know that the story really didn't come alive for me until I saw the 1996(?) Leonardo version. John Leguizamo as Tybalt and Harold Perrineau as Mercutio were awesome. The fish tank scene with "Kissing You" in the background is still like one of my favorite movie scenes ever! I would recommend this one.

so there's no more love for Gnomeo & Juliet then? my kids love it and it made me smile more than a few times as a sweet little Shakespeare tribute

Sandyboy - I haven't seen Gnomeo and Juliet just yet but I really want to!

The 1968 version directed by Franco Zeffirelli, for sure. It also has one of the most beautiful theme songs ever created.

Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG4gNg...

I was surprised that I liked the Baz Lurhman - but I did. BUT - nothing matches the Zefferelli version, in the '70's - I remember being forced to go and see this at school (none of the class wanted to go - it was Shakespeare) but we all came out in tears (no boys - girls school!) even the 'hard' girls. I went back to see it 3 times that week! Bought the soundtrack, now have the DVD! I reckon its the most accurate.

Robin wrote: "I think the 1967, Franco Zefferelli directed one is good, with Olivia Hussey, and Leonard Whiting as the two lead characters. As far as accuracy this is pretty accurate."

I agree! It is the best version ever. Here in Italy teachers show Zeffirelli's "Romeo and Juliet" at school. And I loved it! :)

I've only seen two versions (not counting Gnomeo and Juliet), I think the Romeo and Juliet death scene at the end was better in the Leonardo Caprio rather than the one with Franco Zefferelli. We just finished that movie today, and our whole class couldn't help laughing slightly when Juliet tried to kill herself. But yes, I enjoyed both, I think I prefer the older one slightly more as it is quite similar to the actual play.

I like the DiCaprio version better because it is modernized but with the original dialogue. Best of both worlds.

I hated the Leonardo DiCaprio version. I couldn't watch the whole thing.

Definitely not the Leonardo DiCaprio version.

I got sooo confused with that movie!

True, but my subjective reaction to Baz Lurhmann's version was not that it was entertaining, just frenetic, self-conscious, and annoying. Loud, fast and irreverent yes, but to me not in a clever way. I just didn't enjoy it. I am not reverent towards my Shakespeare. I love experimentation and I'm always interested in how a director might put it in a modern setting. I just really HATED this film.

The 2000 version of Hamlet that starred Ethan Hawke had some interesting moments and I liked the settings. I didn't like how the director or screenwriter edited out all of the humor of Hamlet leaving only the melancholy.

I strongly disliked the Leonardo version. I have not seen any others yet but I'm sure I can safely say they will be better

No one has mentioned the 1936 version with Leslie Howard as Romeo and Norma Shearer as Juliet. Also in the great cast are John Barrymore (Mercutio) and Basil Rathbone (Tybalt). Barrymore plays Mercutio as the cut-up he was written to be; I don't recall anyone else doing that, but it has been a while since I've watched the later versions. The scenery and costumes are gorgeous, and the beauty of Shakespeare's words really shines through the performances, with one exception: Andy Devine. He was a wonderful actor in so many other films, but (imo) was not suited for Shakespeare's works. Even so, this will always be my favorite film version of Romeo & Juliet.

I'll be keeping a look out for this 1936 version.

Robin wrote: "I think the 1967, Franco Zefferelli directed one is good, with Olivia Hussey, and Leonard Whiting as the two lead characters. As far as accuracy this is pretty accurate."

I agree - this was a fantastic movie and really seemed to capture the work.

*1968

Yes, I liked this one tremendously. I never cared to watch the DiCaprio one. Too modernistic for me.

This discussion makes me want to watch both versions again; I wonder, would I like the version we had to watch in school more for its nostalgic value? I agree that the later version made the characters more "real" to me, but again I wonder is that simply because Im older now, and can enjoy a good love story without the jr.high school giggles?

None of them. Read the play, or watch a stage production.

I'd like to add that Ive also listened to this and a few others (okay alot of others I confess) on CD and that is my favorite way to soak up a story. Having it read to you just cant be beat.

Rachel, well said.

I really liked the theme song in the Zefferelli version,and I enjoyed the soundtrack of the DiCaprio film.

I LOVED Gnomeo and Juliet! All the references to Shakespeares other works were great. Plus it was just a super cute movie.

I thought Baz Lurhmann's version was decent, very dazzling visually, but I prefer Zeffernelli's version. It was the first one I saw and I fell in love with it.

i think Zeffernelli's version was authentic in terms of the feel of the romance, the youth and the innocence, while the DiCaprio version is modern in its presentation - it does display the grit and violence which 'Romeo and Juliet' is abundant with.

n- Gnomeo and Juliet! what an adorable version, i think for pre-high school kids this version is better, while high school and college students should see and analyse all three to understand the play better.

i can say so for i did the same last year when i was in college - this play, i believe, was the one that finally made me appreciate the Bard better.

Jaykumar wrote: "i think Zeffernelli's version was authentic in terms of the feel of the romance, the youth and the innocence, while the DiCaprio version is modern in its presentation - it does display the grit and..."

Very well said. I have all 3 copies (2dvd 1vhs) so I have to hunt down a VCR

THE 1967 VERSION IS THE BEST. THE PLAYERS WERE THE RIGHT AGE, THEY WERE PERFECT FOR THE PARTS. THE STORY SEEMED TO BRING THE VIEWER INTO THE MOVIE. I HAVE THE MOVIE AND ENJOY WATCHING IT OVER AND OVER

Can we please stop calling Zeffernelli's version the 1967 version? It came out in 1968, I've tried correcting this a couple of times now.

The Zeffirelli version retains more of the original spirit of the play. The scenes are mostly in correct order however, as with the Baz Luhrmann version, there are some mixed up scenes. The Luhrmann version changes some pretty obvious and HUGE things like the final scene where Juliet actually wakes up before Romeo is dead. That definitely brings the accuracy into question.

Old version

I think I should see the 1936 version. Sounds interesting. Point well taken, Will, I stand corrected on the 1968 version. So I was one year off. Oops.

The 1968 version !!!

Yes, this version is the hands down favorite. I finished reading the play a while back and was swept away by Shakespeare's witty use of words. For a wordsmith he is a genius in this respect.

The version from the 60's is probably the most accurate, but I think the modern one with Leonardo Dicaprio and Claire Danes is worth watching. That's the one that I found the most enjoyable. Gnomeo and Juliet was pretty good too.

There's a Romeo and Juliet movie coming out next year starring Douglas Booth and Hailee Steinfeld . . . AHHH! I'm so excited. I think it's going to be really good . . . I hope so, anyway.

I just saw the 1968 Romeo and Juliet (the Zeffirelli version).

*tears*

I can't wait for the 2012 version. I think that's going to be really awesome!