We watched 2 versions of the Shakespearean play known as “Romeo and Juliet". We watched two different movies, one is the original version, done in 1968 by Franco Zeffirelli this version is done back then like if it were the original, then the second version which was made in 1996 by Baz Luhrmann this theme, still took place in Verona, but the concept was modern day, (meaning this Romeo and Juliet takes place in everyday theme), Both have their own differences and similarities, good and bad, but if there was a choosing, the Old Shakespearean film, by Zeffirelli will be the top choice for viewing.

This reason is because the modern Romeo and Juliet, is very unrealistic, this reason is because even though it is modern day it still uses Elizabethan Language (Shakespearean language) Also the modern day by Luhrmann has quite bad acting, the actress that played Juliet could have done much better, this movie also used different ideas altering the original, like Lady Capulet was kissing tybalt, which is definitely not in the original, this is why most of the modern day is confusing since it never really happened, also they had no change in the original script, like in the modern day they used guns instead of swords, but still they said " Draw your swords" I completely understand why this movie got bad reviews, because they never even tried changeling the scripts to modern day English(English US).

The old "Romeo and Juliet" By Zeffirelli is the better choice because it takes place back then in the actual time Romeo and Juliet is supposed to take place. Also the acting was much better in the older video other than Baz's, It was more original and since the modern day failed to translate in modern day US English, the older one felt more in place because of the acting and their slang was more in style back then.

Both videos had to do with Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” My opinion was that Franco Zeffirelli (The old Romeo and Juliet) was the best out of the 2. I found that Baz Luhrmann’s Modern version of Romeo and Juliet unrealistic, because in modern days (Present days) People do not speak in Elizabethan English, and the editing of the script, changing the characters and understanding of the movie, was confusing and didn’t make sense. This is my opinion.

Blaire Sarkar