Luhrmann’s version is much realistic in a modern day world. Unlike Zeffirelli, Luhrmann introduces the main characters to the audience. Luhrmann shows how the gunfight was risking other people’s life as well. The news bulletin also shows how the consequences were affecting people around them. It shows how massive the fight was and it gives it a feeling of immediacy-the urgency of an on the spot news report.
The traditional version is set in an early morning market place. People are using baskets to carry vegetable, shows that it is set in olden days. On the other hand, the modern version is set at a petrol station, which you will only find in a modern day world. The method of transport also differs in the two versions. In the Zeffirelli version, people are mostly walking and the main method of transport is riding on horses as the prince arrives on it. In the Luhrmann’s version everyone is driving a car including the Montagues and the Capulets. Another form of transport in the modern version is the helicopter in which the police chief arrives. These give the film a very passionate feeling to it because the fight is so enormous that the police have to come by air to stop it immediately. The traditional versions show small houses, which are not properly built except the houses of the two families. These days the audience does not like to see an old-fashioned film. They would prefer to see a film, which set in a time they live in. In addition, the method of weapons changes as well. The modern version uses guns whereas the traditional version has swords. Having guns instead of swords makes it much more practical to the current world. Audience today would not prefer to see a sword fight.
In both the versions, the actors are speaking in Shakespearean English. In the Zeffirelli version, people are wearing very old-fashioned clothes and men are wearing tight in which they look like clowns. In the Luhrmann’s version the clothes are very different between the two families. The Capulet has a mafia style of clothing and the Montagues are dressed in the style of punks and the type of clothes, which people wear to the beach. In the traditional version, the Capulets seems to be very snobbish compared to the Montagues who seems much calmer. They are young actors and have a high-pitched voice. The actors are also talking in high-class English, which does not match because the film is actually set in fair Verona in Italy. In the traditional version the actors does not show the emotions and feelings in their voices. This does not make the audience involved with the film. Zeffirelli has made strong use of colour to differ the two families, but during the fight, it still gets confusing for the audience to recognise the two families. In the Luhrmann’s version, the actors show the tension and aggressiveness in their voices. This makes it very motivating for the audience because they can feel the worry as well which makes them drawn in the film. Luhrmann has also used strong use of colour. The Montagues are wearing colourful clothes and the Capulets are wearing only black clothes. Luhrmann’s colour difference also shows the audience how the two families are. The Montagues seem to be chilled out and relaxed and the Capulets look much tensed and belligerent. The difference really gets the audience drawn to the film because it shows how the two families are completely opposite to each other.
The traditional version does not have a range of camera shots in it. The camera shots do not change their angle so often. In the Zeffirelli version there is high angled shots, point of vies shots, close ups, low angle shots and long angle shots. The high angle shots are used when everyone is running around in the chaos. It shows the walls and the people seemed to be boxed inside. The point of view shot is used when the Capulets sees the Montagues. It shot shows the sign of danger to the audience. Close up shot is used for Tybalt when he is first introduced in the film. It brings out the mean and evilness on his face. Low angle shot is used when they ring the bell. Using a low angle shot shows how high the bell is and can be heard by the whole town. In the traditional version there are lots of long and medium shots that show the crowd and people, which will make the audience feel involved.
The modern version has a much wider choice of camera shots than the traditional version. This can be because the modern version was made twenty years later and by that time the camera shots and the technology was greatly enhanced. The film starts with a point of view shot where the Montagues shout at the camera. Medium shots are used when the Montagues are talking to each other. Extreme close up shots are used for the footsteps. There is again a point of view shot on Abra and is used for Benvolio and Tybalt. When Benvolio and Tybalt have their guns pointed at each other Luhrmann uses extreme close up on their eyes. There are also high angled shots which are used when the helicopter arrives and the tensed crowd on the road are running everywhere. Luhrmann has used point of view shot which clearly shows the emotions on their face to the audience. The extreme close up shots gives the audience to focus on a particular object which makes them feel involved and going with the film.
In the Zeffirelli version the soundtrack is very plain and simple. Most of the soundtrack is natural like people talking to each other and this doesn’t give and interest to the audience. When the soundtrack is really dull, the audience get bored right in the beginning and will not wish to continue watching the film.
There is very little SFX in the Zeffirelli version. There is the crowd noise which brings out the riot going on. It gives understanding of the huge fight. Zeffirelli has used sounds of horses and bell which gives attention to the audience that it is set in the olden days.
The Luhrmann’s version has a huge use of soundtrack and SFX. There is the opera theme in the beginning. Luhrmann’s soundtrack relates to the dramatic effects of the film. This builds up the tension to the audience right at the start, which is superior to attract audience towards the film. The fast track music matches with the rapid speed of the events. This makes the audience very curious as to what will happen next. There is also a lot of SFX in the modern version, like the sound of the cars speedily passing on the motorway. There is also the sound of the smallest thing like the click of the matchstick. Finally, there is the helicopter sound when the police chief arrives.
In the Zeffirelli version there are emotions like anger, fear and evilness. The Montagues get very angry when the Capulets trip over the priest and the fight starts off. The people in the vegetable market get very scared when the fight gets very huge. Zeffirelli shows one particular women carrying a child, trying to escape. He shows the fear of her face. Zeffirelli also shows the evilness on Tybalt’s face when he’s talking to Benvolio. The emotions are very unexciting in the traditional version which doesn’t make it enjoyable for the audience.
In the Luhrmann’s version there is a variety of emotions compared to the Zeffirelli version. There are emotions like humour, fear, stupidity, anger, aggression, passion and horny. The emotion in the modern version in a way shows the storyline of the film. In the modern version each and every character shows its own emotions, such as Benvolio shows emotions like wariness, courage, agitation and anxiety. Abra shows aggressions, rage and someone who is pitiless. Tybalt shows his pride and his confidence to do something.
The opening scenes in the two versions of Romeo & Juliet are completely opposite. In my opinion the modern version was much more pleasant and entertaining to watch for the audience. This is because it is much exciting to watch than the traditional version. The modern version has a huge opening scene and the events are happening fast. The setting is also better because it is set in Los Angeles which is very popular these days compared to the fair Verona in Italy. The actors are also acting very well in the modern version and showing their emotions clearly to the audience. In the traditional version the actors doesn’t show enough emotions to entertain the audience. So overall I would prefer to watch the modern version.
In my essay, I am going to compare the opening scenes of romantic play, Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. The opening scenes of the play are vital for the movie. They have to be eye catching and entertaining in order to get the maximum attention of the audience towards the film. It should illustrate the basic storyline of the story in a very absorbing way to make the audience attracted to the film in the very beginning.
Franco Zeffirelli made the traditional version of the play in 1970s. It starred Leonardo Whiting as Romeo and Olivia Hussey as Juliet. The version was traditional and authentic showing that it was similar to the way Shakespeare might have originally illusory it. The film is set in Italy in fair Verona where Shakespeare had originally set the play.
