Romeo & Juliet

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and amazing.
Review: There are few things on this planet that bring me joy and at the same time sadness. Romeo and Juliet is one of them. No other movie besides this have I felt so much over fictinous characters in my entire life. I have been told and learned that love is beautiful and when you see your soulmate it is magical, but I learned myself what true love is. I wa so tied into this epic of a movie that I told myself it was real, this wasn't a movie. It felt real, as if I was watching it in live action not just on a screen. Everything was perfect in this movie. The clothing made it more realistic, the actors were selected as if by God for these parts, the music and the scenery. the scenery was just breath taking and made everything imaginable. If shakespeare as alive today, I think he would be very, very fond of this movie. In fact, I think he would love it and be very proud. Romeo and Juliet is a play which can be extorted in different ways to suit the directors need, Zeffirelli took this play and created a in-living-colour masterpeice. I am so jelous that my father, who was a freshman in high school when this came out, was able to on a field trip go to hollywood to see this in theaters. This is my favourite movie for many reasons, one of them being it makes me bawl so hard I practically melt away my face, it makes me understand love in a different view (i'm fifteen.) and I have fallen in love with Shakespeare's work. I think of Shakespeare is a shear genuis. How could someone think of a story like this? I know I couldn't, could you? I think the direct quite,"For never was a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo." sums up everything perfectly.

Rating:
Summary: I had the entire script memorized by age 12!
Review: I fell in love w/the Bard, probably, directly from this movie! I was 11 (just the age to dream of being Juliet and "dying for love")! I was a fair-skinned, blue-eyed, blonde then (as Juliet was USUALLY cast--she WAS Italian, of course--but, then Verona is "mid-Italy"--alot of "blondes" there--but I didn't know that until 1976.) I thought they were both perfect! I learned to play the soundtrack on the piano, and bought the soundtrack (vinyl) and memorized all the parts. I thought someday, I might act in a Shakespeare play--I wanted to be an actress at the time. Alas, it was not to be...and, then, Zeferelli was accused of "statutory rape"--was it true? Who knows. "Alas, my only love sprung from my only hate. Hell, I forget the lines! Blah, blah...and known too late!" I'm 48 now, give me a break. I like that he kept MOST of the original language {the newer one w/DiCaprio and Danes, while I liked it, played loose with the original. Romeo is still alive when Juliet wakes up. They skip alot of lines. They ADD some lines. And,when asked, Claire Danes--"What was it like to play Juliet? And what do you think the message Shakespeare was trying to send?" answered "Juliet was just a chick who had alot happen to her in a short period of time" WHAT?? (lol)} The updated concepts of "gangs", Juliet as "extremely sheltered", the take on Mercutio, all were "right on target". The "tomb" scene is "pretty", but just plain "wierd"...who is "laid out" like that? And, did Romeo really scream, "Juliet!" from exile, when he thought she was dead? I love the 1967 version. It's fun, beautiful to look at, and more realistic to the time period. I like updated versions, so younger people can at least relate to it. But, us "baby boomers" related to all the "period costume" and language just fine. It also emphasizes the "point" more--the pain that ultimately arises from irrational hate. See 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: The Best Movie Version of Romeo and Juliet Yet
Review: Romeo and Juliet has been remade over and over on film, but this version with Olivia Hussey as Juliet is the one that embodies the play as classically as possible. The sets appear authentic, filmed in Europe, and the actors close to the age and description as the play. Olivia Hussey as Juliet is lovely and sweet, just as we imagine Juliet to be.

Rating:
Summary: No ordinary love story...
Review: Italian director Franco Zeffirelli ('Hamlet') stunned the world when he cast two young unknowns (Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey) to portray the star crossed lovers in 'Romeo and Juliet', but it was a gamble that resulted in one of the most popular motion pictures of our time, winning international acclaim and two Academy Awards. Shakespeare's classic romance comes to stunning visual life in a modern, young person's interpretation, bringing new vitality and a fresh insight to the most durable love story ever written.

And it is far better than the 1996 R & J remake (starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Claire Danes).

Rating:
Summary: wonderfully beautiful
Review: I love all genres of movies and music. This film brings out the inner love of life from within me. Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey do an amazing job for their age. Can one imagine how challenging it must have been for a fifteen and seventeen year old to master these roles. I believe they did a wonderful job. The movie moved me and made me appreciate the little suttle things in life like falling leaves in the fall and a crisp breeze blowing through your hair in the winter. The music, acting, direction as well as the actors bring the movie to life and makes all of us want to relive Romeo and Juliet in our worlds over and over again.

Rating:
Summary: LOVE IT, LOVE IT!
Review: I was so excited when I did a search for this movie and found it on DVD. This is a must see for all ages. Any true fan of Shakespear knows this is the best movie version of R&J, DeCaprio just doesn't cut it as Romeo. So glad to see it on DVD and now to own it.

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: Vibrant Rendering of Shakespeare Play
Review: Franco Zeffirelli's adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet" is a rare thing. It is vibrant and full of life even if the story does concern two star-crossed lovers. He made all the correct choices here. By casting actual teenagers in the title roles Zeffirelli brought energy to the Bard's words. The art direction, the costumes, cinematography, and Nino Rota's classic score are other elements that enhance this work. As stated previously, Olivia Hussey, Leonard Whiting, and Michael York as Tybalt give energetic and effervescent work. It's a shame that Whiting and Hussey didn't have more substantial careers after this film. When you mention Shakespeare to most people it's usually greeted with a hesitancy because the language is considered a chore to get through. This may not be the greatest screen adaptation of a Shakespeare work, however, for a neophyte this is an excellent starting point.

Rating:
Summary: Probably The BEST Version Of The Bard's Timeless Tragedy!!
Review: Franco Zefferelli (who made his directorial debut with "The Taming Of The Shrew" and would go on to direct "Jesus Of Nazareth", a mammoth six hour TV miniseries and "Hamlet" starring Mel Gibson, director, producer and co-screenwriter of "The Passion Of The Christ") does an excellent job directing "Romeo And Juliet." This version (and "West Side Story", which is the closest to modern as you should get to Shakespeare) is better than the sh---- modern one directed by Baz Luhrman and starring Leonardo DiCaprio ("TITANIC", a movie which could've been better, but that's another story) and Claire Danes ("Little Women," "Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines," etc.) Take my word for it, Leonard Whiting and the lovely Olivia Hussey are very believable as the doomed lovers in 15th century Verona, not only given their ages, which made them entirely suitable for the role, but also their acting in this movie. Michael York (who made his acting debut in Zefferell's "The Taming Of The Shrew") plays Tybalt, exuding pure malice, though John Leguizamo didn't do such a bad job, but THAT version was "Fart." 'Twas that bad. Sir Laurence Olivier, considered the greatest Shakespearean actor of his day (watch his 1948 Oscar-winning version of "Hamlet" and you'll know why I agree 100% with that), has an uncredited role as the offscreen Narrator. This version is well-done. Should've won Best Picture. My favorite part is when Juliet says, "It is, it is, high hence begone; away." Olivia Hussey has a great body in this film. Rated PG for brief nudity.