“O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?” We have all heard that line at least once in our lifetimes. It is from one of Shakespeare´s most famous plays, Romeo and Juliet. It is a tragedy about two star-crossed lovers whose families have an ancient feud. It was written around 1594 and it has been adapted several times for stage, film, musical, and opera. However, I didn't really like the 1996 movie version since it is very different from the original play.
In 1996, it was adapted into a movie by Baz Luhrmann, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo, Claire Danes as Juliet, John Leguizamo as Tybalt, and Harold Perrineau as Mercutio. What I enjoy about the movie is Leonardo´s and Claire´s performance. I believe they represent their characters well, they transmitt the emotions and they look very similar to what I pictured based on the play. However, I didn´t like as much the performance done by John and Harold, since they were totally different from what I pictured and it changes the way I watch the movie. Nonetheless, there are still some similarities between the two versions.
The main similarity between the book and this particular movie is the relationships between the characters, which are almost the same. For example, the Nurse and Juliet are really close and they trust each other completely while Juliet and her mother, Lady Capulet, are very cold and distant. Romeo and his best friends, Mercutio and Balthasar, are very close and loyal, they are willing to fight and die for each other. These relationships bring the movie closer to the book. However, there are many differences between the two.
First of all, in the movie the story takes place in the actual world and not in the original time set portrayed in the book. In the movie they use modern things such as cars and helicopters, which didn´t exist at the time, and instead of fighting with swords, the actors use their fists and guns. Second, the movie either changes or cuts off very important scenes. One of them is the ending scene, where Romeo sees Juliet, which is something that never happens in the book and shouldn´t happen in the movie either. Another example is that the movie doesn´t show when Juliet accepts her marriage with Paris, which is a very important moment that influences the rest of the story. Even more, the movie changes the scene where Romeo and Paris fight, for Romeo fighting the police in order to enter the Capulet's monument.
Based on all of these things, especially in the differences between the book and the movie and all the things that seem out of place for me, I wouldn´t recommend to watch this movie. I think that if you really want to know the story about Romeo and Juliet, you should read the play even though it would take longer, because that way you would really get to know what Shakespeare wants to convey and what the original story is. If you really want to know how the famous phrase fits into the story and it's true meaning, you shouldn't watch this movie, because you will get a renewed version that will make little sense and you won´t get to experience the true magic of this romantic yet tragic play.
In 1996, it was adapted into a movie by Baz Luhrmann, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo, Claire Danes as Juliet, John Leguizamo as Tybalt, and Harold Perrineau as Mercutio. What I enjoy about the movie is Leonardo´s and Claire´s performance. I believe they represent their characters well, they transmitt the emotions and they look very similar to what I pictured based on the play. However, I didn´t like as much the performance done by John and Harold, since they were totally different from what I pictured and it changes the way I watch the movie. Nonetheless, there are still some similarities between the two versions.
The main similarity between the book and this particular movie is the relationships between the characters, which are almost the same. For example, the Nurse and Juliet are really close and they trust each other completely while Juliet and her mother, Lady Capulet, are very cold and distant. Romeo and his best friends, Mercutio and Balthasar, are very close and loyal, they are willing to fight and die for each other. These relationships bring the movie closer to the book. However, there are many differences between the two.
First of all, in the movie the story takes place in the actual world and not in the original time set portrayed in the book. In the movie they use modern things such as cars and helicopters, which didn´t exist at the time, and instead of fighting with swords, the actors use their fists and guns. Second, the movie either changes or cuts off very important scenes. One of them is the ending scene, where Romeo sees Juliet, which is something that never happens in the book and shouldn´t happen in the movie either. Another example is that the movie doesn´t show when Juliet accepts her marriage with Paris, which is a very important moment that influences the rest of the story. Even more, the movie changes the scene where Romeo and Paris fight, for Romeo fighting the police in order to enter the Capulet's monument.
Based on all of these things, especially in the differences between the book and the movie and all the things that seem out of place for me, I wouldn´t recommend to watch this movie. I think that if you really want to know the story about Romeo and Juliet, you should read the play even though it would take longer, because that way you would really get to know what Shakespeare wants to convey and what the original story is. If you really want to know how the famous phrase fits into the story and it's true meaning, you shouldn't watch this movie, because you will get a renewed version that will make little sense and you won´t get to experience the true magic of this romantic yet tragic play.