Compare the style and effects in the opening scenes of the Zeffirelli and Luhrman film version of 'Romeo And Juliet.'

‘Romeo And Juliet’

Name: Minisha Patel

Media: ‘Romeo And Juliet’

Task: Compare the style and effects in the opening scenes of the Zeffirelli and Luhrman film version of ‘Romeo And Juliet.’

The film that was made by Franco Zeffirelli was made in 1968 and the Baz Luhrman version was made in 1997, both films made nearly thirty years apart. Many changes have taken place in the society and during time the film industry has developed. The Zeffirelli film uses a lot of straight cuts whereas the Luhrman version feels like a clip for an action film which it to be modern. These changes have has a large impact on how the two stories are different from each other and the style and technique that the two directors have used.

Zeffirelli chose to put his setting as the 16th century in Italy, most of Shakespeare’s play were based there on the other hand Luhrman decided to do a modern version on it and set his story in America. Where Zeffirelli set the story was in a market place whereas Luhrman story was in the city. Zeffirelli showed that in a small market place it can b chaos in a matter of seconds. Luhrman out it in a busy city that is very large and also shows that it can cause a lot of chaos even thought the area is much larger. The Luhrman version would keep more of the modern day people to continue watching it throughout whereas as if you gave them the Zeffirelli version they may not understand it as well as the Luhrman version. The Zeffirelli version would catch the older people more because of mainly how it is set. In both the films you can notice the two gangs different from each other. The Zeffirelli version the clothes is very clears to which gang is which. The Capulets in the orange and yellow tights and the Montague’s in blue and grey tights. While in the Luhrman version the capulets are western style dress very posh and have their attitude based on that. Where as the Montague’s are in casual clothes they would blend in with the public. In the Zeffirelli version instead of cars being used it is horses, when the prince come to have a word with the two houses his on a horse with other guards around him. In the Luhrman version the Montague’s use a car that every one in the city would have in the time but the Capulets have a more posh car. The gun badges are in the Luhrman version of the film. They have the name of which house they are in and the logo according to their house. The Shakespeare language had been kept in both the films Zeffirelli and Luhrman version. In the Zeffirelli version the Capulets trigger the fight off by picking on an old man following the Montague’s. On the other hand in the Luhrman version the Montague’s trigger off by pulling a face back at the Capulet so it would be the Capulets fault.

The Zeffirelli version is more realistic and naturalistic as it develops gradually into it scenes by the straight cut. Whereas the Luhrman version is more like a western theme and has flash forward but it also has times when it seems as if time has stopped and it’s concentrating on one thing. The Zeffirelli version sets a peaceful scene but soon disturbed but the two houses and their fighting. There is also a voice over the story saying what happens as an introduction it is a straightforward narrative. The Luhrman version has very lively music to and it is set ...

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In the Zeffirelli film the fighting is more realistic than the Luhrman version. One real type effect that the Zeffirelli has was a man got hit in the eye with a sword and it started bleeding everyone started to make a big deal about it. On the other hand the Luhrman version has guns which didn’t seem much effect because it would look like the bullet gone through the person but not hurt them. Even though one of the Montague’s got hurt no one really paid much attention him being hurt. Luhrman got round to saying the word sword by the head Montague but he only zoomed in to show how long it was we didn’t see it being used. Luhrman also decided to add humour to his version even thought I think it doesn’t make it realistic. It makes people want to watch it more and get more humour into it. He added the humour by the one of the Montague being hit with a women’s bag in the petrol station even thought it wasn’t realistic it was really effective. Luhrman version gives it a western feel to the beginning and ending of the fighting scene. In the beginning he makes it look like time is standing still it gives you a suspense feeling and you want to know what happens next. The near to the end part is when a sign hanging from a long pole saying something about fire burning, he has the camera set on it and the sign swings back wards and forwards giving it a very western feel.

In the Zeffirelli version the music is very happy and peaceful song to listen to it follow through until the people start talking but in the Luhrman version is has a rock type of music giving it a modern feel. Luhrman uses much more music than Zeffirelli because he has set it as a modern version and people listen to a lot more music than then. It also gives it more tension making you think and gives it a lot of feel. Luhrman version of music has a very loud and high pitch to it. It like a music channel you would listen to nowadays whereas the Zeffirelli version on plays music in the beginning that is quite. Zeffirelli creates the atmosphere without music using the church bell because during the fight the bell is going on. It like an alert signals to everyone especially the houses. The Zeffirelli version is more easier to understand because it showing how it would have been like at them time and the language being said slowly rather than faster like the Luhrman version you can pick up what they are saying and try to understand it at the same time. The Zeffirelli version is more realistic because of how it is set it gives you the feel and look of how it would have been back then.

Both directors used a low angle shot on Tybalts feet. It’s really effective because it goes from a medium or high level shot to a low angle and it his lows. A Tybalts foot in the Luhrman version has cowboy type shoes because there is a really sharp circular disk attached to it. In the Zeffirelli version they have the shoes that would have been wore at the time. Both directors have also used a high angle shot in bird’s eye view in the fighting scenes. It is really effective in both the versions because it shows how much chaos it has caused and that little things turn out to be very big. It also shows how it has affected the local people in both and how they are both scared. In the Zeffirelli version the prince stops the fight and in the Luhrman version the police, police taken the place of the prince, stops it. Both directors have a point of view made too. It is also really effective because it also shows that how the people feel and what they think of it even a reason for it to be stopped permanently.

Both the films have been set in different time and this has changed the way the films have become. In the Zeffirelli version the Capulets trigger the fight and in the Luhrman version the Montague’s trigger it off. The Zeffirelli version only has music and the beginning and then when they are fighting the church bell is continuously ringed. Luhrman version there is music thorough out the introduction. Zeffirelli has kept with the play more than Luhrman because he based it back in time and Luhrman did a modern version but kept the language the same. Zeffirelli version was very clear in what was being said and when. The Luhrman version would go for the younger audience more because it set in modern time, the music and humour is included so it would keep them more entertained. The Luhrman version appeals to me more because it having a lot of humour makes it more interesting and understandable even thought everything is being said very fast. The music helps to understand it mote because for every little bit there is a new piece of music contrasting with what is going on in a certain part of it. It being set in the modern helps to create the scene and helps me give a full understanding of a Shakespeare play altered into.

By Minisha Patel 10L