Rating: 
Summary: The best film version of the play.
Review: This still stands as the best and most accessible film version of "Romeo and Juliet" available, despite Baz Luhrmann's attempts at a youth-culture update in 1996.Director Zeffirelli's big idea was to cast real teenagers in the lead roles, something that nobody had had the courage to do previously - and it's an idea that pays off great dividends. True, the lead actors do not give the most technically perfect performances you will ever see on screen but they have an honesty and a vibrancy about them lacking in previous attempts at bringing this play to the screen, with older actors. And if they occasionally garble the verse, they do not to do so to the same extent as Leonardo di Caprio and Clare Danes do in Baz Lurhmann's film. Thanks to Lurhmann's MTV-crazed assault on the senses, Zeffirelli's version of "Romeo and Juliet" looks somewhat sedate by comparison. This is no bad thing. It can happily be argued that this 1968 version is more "faithful" to the bard, more "authentic." It's also simply the better, more cinematic film, as it moves at a more measured pace and is more thoughtful. It's beautifully staged, sumptuously designed, has a popular and famous score, it's gorgeous to look at and concentrates more firmly on the text and story of "star-crossed lovers", instead of being clever, and ironic and focussing on the violence, as does Lurhmann's film. Younger viewers will scoff at the romance. I know I did when I saw it at school many years ago, when sitting through it can feel nearly as much of a chore as reading the text. The sight of these two teenagers professing their undying love is perhaps hard to take in such cynical times, but it is as it was written, and it was rather well written by some guy called Shakespeare, who apparently wrote quite a few good films. Zeffirelli is only really interested in cinema as a way of popularising "the classics", and previously (and indeed subsequently) worked in the theatre and the opera house, so his film vocabulary is not, say, Orson Welles's. I wouldn't quite go so far as to say he has stuck a camera in front of a stage play; he hasn't; but there are no breath-taking camera tricks on display - which means that the quality of the writing and much of the acting is allowed to shine through without distraction. It is the best version available on film, and is likely to remain so.
Rating:
Summary: A Tragic Love Story
Review: This version of Romeo and Juliet is the BEST I've ever seen. I've seen it a hundred times and I never tire of it. I always cry before it ends because I always wish I could change the outcome. If you're looking for a real tear jerker, this is it!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie...Great actors
Review: Watching this as part of a highschool assignment, the teacher only allowed us to watch about 15 minutes of it. When I saw it playing on cable, I sat down to finish it. This, I must say, is the best version of Romeo and Juliet. In the '68 version The actors are young and even though it was made in '68, you can relate to them in this day. The acting is superb, no one better could have been picked for the parts. It was a real tearjerker. Not to mention the soundtrack...the songs were just amazing to hear. Just watch the movie once, you'll fall in love with it.
Rating:
Summary: Who said Shakespeare was boring?
Review: We are currently reading R+J in my English Lit class. We were given the chance to view two films: Zeffirelli's classic and Luhrmans version. Zeffirelli's blew me away. I love the fact that finally the two characters are played by people of the correct age, people who would actually understand how Romeo and Juliet were feeling, how they would react. The various productions with twenty-somethings in the lead role just do not seem to have the same naivity, innocence and "first-love" that is essential. Olivia Hussy and Leonard Whiting capture it perfectly.
A must see
Rating:
Summary: SPLENDID!!!!!!
Review: WHAT A WONDERFUL MASTERPIECE. I LOVE THIS VERSION OF ROMEO AND JULIET THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN. I RECOMMEND THIS VIDEO TO ANYONE WHO LIKES W. SHAKESPEARE AND ROMEO AND JULIET. THIS IS A GREAT AND A MUST HAVE. THIS VIDEO HAS SUPERB ACTING AND GREAT DRAMA . THE ACTING IS WONDERFUL. I LIKE THIS VIDEO THE ACTING THE SETTING IS JUST WONDERFUL!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: The Classic Movie to own, Romeo and Juliet
Review: While this movie has been around a long time, it also has a timeless theme that will never be outdated. New versions of attempts at making this movie have failed as this version was so well thought out, amazing mixture of photography and wonderful music and then of course there always is Olivia Hussey. She made the movie the classic it is, with her stunning beauty and innocent looks and actions, yet she put all her feelings into the movie and is totally beleivable in all scenes. I well remember the chill that went down my spine when I first saw her and her superb acting and one of the two climaxs of the movie when she and Romeo first meet at the dance and of course the famous balcony scene which is one scene I can replay in my head at any time and remember the magic of it. I cannot think how many times I have seen this DVD, but it is one that I will never grow tired of. I wish I had the proper words to explain the impact of this great movie, but it is one that you must experience on your own.
Tedd Riggs
Rating:
Summary: The best movie ever made.
Review: You should do yourself a favor and see the greatest film ever made in the history of the world. If you would like to see an actor perform at his/her very best, see this film. Simply breathtaking. Michael York is brilliant, defying all predeterminded boundaries of great acting. His ungodly acting skills make my bones quiver in anticipation of my next viewing of this terrific film. If I had a penny, I would give it to Michael York. thank you Michael York, you have honestly changed my life for the better in every way, I've had an epiphany.......... "Simply Orgasmic"
-New York Tiempos...
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