Shakespeares & Romeo and Juliet Essay Example for Free

Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet Essay The two films are very different from each other even though they are based on the same play written by William Shakespeare  From the beginning, the settings differ from each other. The Zeffirelli film, which was filmed in 1968 starts in a courtyard there is a market place, which looks like it represents Verona. The style is set between the 12th and 13th century, medieval and renaissance period. It also a lot more conventional to the Shakespeare play. The surrounding area is a walled town with narrow streets and high buildings, which creates tension. There is also a scene, which is on a beach; there is a proscenium arch. This is where Benvolio gets shot and dies; Benvolio was Romeos friend The Luhrman film, which was filmed in 1997, was set in an American Coastal city, it had a statue of Jesus Christ between two skyscrapers, a lot of traffic, hustle and bustle and skyscrapers around. One of the settings in the film was in a petrol station, which is busy and noisy; it is called Phoenix Gas. This has a symbolic meaning to it, which is Rise from the ashes. This is ironic as the station is about to be set alight. At the beginning of the films you can see that the two films contrast with each other by the opening music, sounds, and images. The Luhrmans opening is Loud, and Zeffirellis is quite and peaceful. The first we see of the two families in the Luhrman film is when the Montague Boys arrive in an open top car and the Capulets arrive in a gangster looking car. Abra Capulet has metal caps on his teeth with the word Sin engraved on them this is to create a gangster image. The market place in Zeffirellis film was much calmer than the petrol station in the Luhrman film. Luhrman used the petrol station because this is where people may encounter each other and it is part of a modern life. The Zeffirelli film was made in 1968 in a time where Hippies, love and peace, was around. You can see that this is reflected in this film because it does not seem as violent as the 1997 version. In the Luhrman film there was a lot more violence, the film was faster, louder, livelier because that was how peoples lives were at the time the film was made which is reflected in the film. Also people were used to action films and Luhrman wanted to make it relevant for a modern audience. As soon as both films begin there is immediate tension between the two different families. In the Luhrman film there is a news report, which explains what is happening between the two families. There were several different newspapers, which come up, Capulet Vs Montagues, and In Fair Verona. These headings reflect the lines from the prologue, which are being read as the news. This gives the first impression that the two families are feuding with each other. In both films religion plays a part in the films In the Luhrman film Tybalt has a picture of Jesus on his waistcoat. Throughout the film there is religious images. For example in the montage at he beginning there are religious images flashed. Also there is a scene, which in which you see two skyscrapers one which is the Montagues and the other is the Capulets in between there is a statue of Jesus Christ. This shows that they think they are bigger than God and more important than religion, however religion still plays a part in their lives. In both of the films the main characters are Romeo and Juliet. The actors give the impression that their characters are natural, young and in love. In both of the films there are also two main families that are feuding with each other, the Montagues, which is Romeos family, and the Capulets, which is Juliets family.