1968 Version Of Romeo And Juliet example essay topic

Romeo and Juliet throughout time: Similarities and Difference Shakespeare wrote the unforgettable love story of Romeo of Juliet many years ago. This story has been re-told many times and in many different ways. The 1996 updated movie version and 1968 original movie version of Romeo and Juliet is a story about the love of two people who could not be together because of their feuding families. The similarities of the movie have an important role on the force of the movie. When Romeo Montag o and Juliet Capulet, first met they fell in love. It was not until later in the story when they figured out that they were each other's rivals.

After watching both version of the movie, I found that there were a lot of differences in the movies. There were also was a lot of similarity but the similarities were superficial. Some of the differences were so minor but they made a big impact in the plot of the movie. In the beginning of both of the movie they give a dialogue explaining the feud between the families. Both movies also show strong sexual desire between Romeo and Juliet. The introduction discusses the fate of the two star crossed lovers and they also use the same words of speech.

In both movies, a barrier that kept the two lovers together was their last name and families. In both movies there is a lot of music in the scenes to help give the viewer a sense of what is going on. The music also helps you spot the most important parts of the movie. To my surprise, I discovered that a major difference was that the 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet was more violent. In the 1996 version of the movie the characters used guns when they would fight each other. The guns were used as a symbol of power rather than then for protection.

In the 1968 version they used swords and knifes and they would kill the person that they were fighting gruesomely. The person they were killing would be dead, but the killer kept repeatedly stabbing the victim. No one would stop the fighting in the 1968 version. They would just fight on the street. In the 1996 version, the police would try to stop them and keep the peace. A big difference between the two movies is the race of the characters.

In the 1968 version all of the characters are white. In the 1996 version all of the characters are from different races. There are black, white, and Hispanic people. This is a very significant part of both movies.

By using a variety of people it is symbolizing how much the world has changed over a period of time. I also felt that in the 1996 it seemed to concentrate more on the hatred and war and less on the main point, the love story. The clothes that were worn by the characters in the 1968 version represent the actual time period that the story was written in. On the other hand, the clothes worn by the characters in the 1996 version were very bright and bold. The bright and bold clothing made each character stand out. Tybalt, who is the capulets cousin, wears black boots with the capulets emblems on them.

This is symbolizing the pride in his family. In the new Romeo and Juliet movie the director uses the catholic religion to make a point more so than in the first version. Throughout the movie there are crosses and pictures of the Virgin Mary. Religious inferences are also made throughout the movie.

This symbolizes both of the families' devotion to the religion and how they use it to justify their actions. There were also differences in the party scene. In the older version, the only ones wearing any form of a costume are Romeo and his friends; they use masks to hide their identities. In the newer version the characters are all wearing costumes. The party seems more of a costume party then a celebration like in the older version. When Romeo and Juliet first see each other in the new version they see each other through the fish tank in the bathroom and in the older version Romeo first sees Juliet when she is dancing between two men; she then slightly notices Romeo.

Their eyes truly meet each other when they are across the circle while a man starts to sing. Their first kiss, in the 1968 version, is behind the curtain with candles. In the 1996 version there first kiss was in the elevator. Mercutio has does not have a dance scene and is hardly seen in the 1968 version but in the 1996 version he has a big dance scene.

At the end off the party, Juliet's mother drags Juliet off. In the 1996 version Juliet's mother summons Juliet away. In the first confrontation between Tybalt and Romeo, Tybalt shoves and fights Romeo first. In the 1996 version, Tybalt first gets in a fight with Mercutio. As Mercutio Dies, the line, "help me in some houses", is only used in the 1968 version.

Mercutio dies at the beach in Romeo's arms and in the older version Mercutio asks Benvolio to help him. When Juliet is sleeping she slightly moves her fingers before she fully awakens and then touches Romeo's Cheek. At the same time Romeo drinks the poison. In the 1968 movie, Juliet does not move, but in the end.

I think it is important, that while Juliet doses not move, it is apparent to everyone but Romeo that Juliet is still alive. He goes so far as to comment upon the redness of her cheeks and lips. In the 1996 version Juliet awakens just as Romeo drinks poison and kills her self with a gun to her head. In the 1968 version, Juliet awakens when the friar arrives and a few minutes after Romeo drinks the poison. Juliet then kills her self with a dagger to the side of her chest. The two versions reflect the time period that each was made in.

This is shown by the differences in each movie. The differences are a way for the viewer to relate to the movie. The slight changes and the more obvious changes are done so that the viewer of each time connects to the movie. The similarities also reflect that no matter what time period there will always be things that are unchangeable. The mere fact that Romeo and Juliet, the story itself, has survived centuries shows that no matter what, everyone loves a love story, whether it has a happy ending or a tragic one..