Rating: 
Summary: A sumptuous Renaissance feast!
Review: Franco Zefirrelli's 1967 film was revolutionary in using teenaged actors to play the two most famous lovers of all literature. Olivia Hussey is heartbreakingly beautiful, a vulnerable and courageous Juliet, while Leonard Whiting's poetic good looks make him a sensitive and appealing Romeo. Zefirrelli's career as an opera director is put to spectacular use here--each scene is meticulously crafted to be an exact replica of the Renaissance. Stunningly beautiful clothing, jewels, furniture, food, glass, sculpture--it is an overwhelming feast for the eyes. The preserved medieval towns of Tuscany, and the lovely Borghese palace where the balcony scene is set, give the film the look of an animated Renaissance painting. Zefirrelli took some liberties with Shakespeare's original script for the sake of brevity, but unless you are a die-hard purist, this is a minor flaw. I saw this film a dozen times in the theater, and never without the sound of girls weeping by the end--I was often one of them. Leslie Howard was a better actor, and Leonardo DiCaprio/Clare Danes more modern, but if you love beauty, this is THE quintessential Romeo and Juliet on film. END
Rating:
Summary: Romeo And Juliet: Movie Review
Review: Franco Zeffirelli's Oscar winning 1968 Romeo And Juliet is a revolutionary masterpiece! This is a flamboyant and very popular adaptation of the famous Shakespearean tragedy, in which actual teenagers play the leads. Two young lovers, who come from feuding families, desperately wish to stay together. They go to a gentle friar for help, and, in hopes their wedding will end the conflict, he comes up with an ingenious plot to unite them. However, when a miscommunication destroys their plans, they make a tragic decision - a decision that brings peace, but too late to help the lovers themselves.Olivia Hussey is the heartbreakingly beautiful, vulnerable, and courageous woman, who shines as sweet Juliet. Leonard Whiting's poetic good looks, sensitivity, and cleverness, make his portrayal of young Romeo seem unparalleled. In addition, Michael York is outstanding as the feisty Tybalt, John McEnery is brilliant as lively punster Mercutio, and Milo O'Shea is absolutely wonderful as the ever so bright, Friar Lawrence. Zeffirelli's career as an opera director is put to spectacular use here. Each scene is meticulously crafted to be an exact replica of the Renaissance with stunningly beautiful clothing, jewels, furniture, food, glass, and sculpture - it is an overwhelming feast for the eyes. The preserved medieval towns of Tuscany, and the lovely Borghese palace where the balcony scene is set, give the film the look of an animated Renaissance painting. Zeffirelli took some liberties with Shakespeare's original script for the sake of brevity, but unless you are a die-hard purist, this is a minor flaw. The true shining star in this film is the delightful, Ms. Pat Heywood who steals the screen with each moment she graces it. She plays Juliet's Nurse and does so with such power, whimsy, and conviction that you simply must love her. Pat Heywood gave the commonly droll Nurse character life and vibrancy I have yet to see in a performance of this play live of filmed. In either case, the characters in this film play extraordinary parts and they do it with such poignancy!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I watched this version of Romeo and Juliet with my English class. I was looking forward to seeing how Zefirelli interpreted the play, but I was very disappointed. Both Romeo and Juliet seemed superficial and immature. My whole class cracked up when Juliet and the nurse were wailing over Tybalt's death and Romeo's banishment, and then again when Romeo was wailing to Friar Lawrence. I realize that it is a very dramatic style, but it was overdone. I could not respect a Juliet that hid behind the nurse's skirt like a two year old while Capulet yelled at her. While some people may really like this interpretation of Romeo and Juliet, I think overdid the drama to the point where you just could't take it seriously.
Rating:
Summary: A sumptuous Renaissance feast!
Review: I saw this film approximately 20 times during my college years. Franco Zeffirelli's production was revolutionary for 1967, in using teenage actors for the tragic Romeo and Juliet, and his choices were perfection: the young Olivia Hussey is a heartbreakingly beautiful, vulnerable and courageous Juliet, while Leonard Whiting is a sensitive, poetically handsome and appealing Romeo. Zeffirelli's career as a director of opera is put to spectacular use here--each scene is meticulously crafted to be an accurate representation of an actual Renaissance scene. Stunningly beautiful clothing, furniture, food, glass, sculpture--it is an overwhelming feast for the eyes. The backgrounds are the preserved medieval towns of Northern Italy, and the gorgeous settings, such as the Borghese palace for the balcony scene, give the entire film the appearance of an animated Renaissance painting. Zeffirelli took some liberties with Shakespeare's original script,excising some of it for the sake of brevity, but unless you are a die-hard Shakespeare purist, it is a minor flaw in this unforgettable film. The other key roles are acted to perfection by classically-trained performers like Robert Stephens, Michael York and John McEnery (a fiery and very exciting Tybalt and Mercutio). I never saw it in a theater without the sound of many girls weeping aloud by the end of the film--I was often one of them. Leslie Howard was a better actor, and Leonardo DiCaprio/Clare Danes are more contemporary, but if you love beauty, this is THE quintessential Romeo and Juliet on film. END
Rating: 
Summary: Over Exposed
Review: Romeo shows his buttocks. Juliete shows her breasts. Talk about over exposed! Was there a need for Leonard Whiting to moon the camera? Was there a need for Olivia Hussey to show her baby bottles? Olivia Hussey should have played Mary Magdalene and not Mary - the Mother Of Jesus in Jesus Of Nazareth! I can't watch that movie anymore without thinking how the actress exposed herself in Romeo and Juliete! The movie is at best mediocre with as expected sound effects, scenery it cetera. It is also totally ruined for me because of the foul nudity!
Rating: 
Summary: Haunting.
Review: This version of Romeo and Juliet is probably the best one I've seen. It is mainly because a talented director did the movie. This version is haunting and dream-like, and something a mature viewer will not likely forget.
Rating:
Summary: the best play
Review: This is the best version of romeo and juliet I ever saw. You really believed them as R and J. The movie was quite funny too. The whole cast is outstanding. Great work done by all.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful,pure adaptation
Review: I first saw this film as a jr high school assignment, and I was hooked. The scenery is the first thing that draws you in, beautiful scenery that takes your breath away. Olivia Hussey is by far the most believable actress to have played this role. Its hard to believe she was just 15 at the time. Leonard Whiting is also wonderfuL and passionate as only a teenager can be. As far as casting goes, every one, down to the least player is wonderful here. The scene at the banquet when Romeo and Juliet first meet and kiss is so romantic, I actually hold my breath as I watch it. Shakespeare was a true master, and this is a true masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Romeo and Juliet(1968)
Review: I have watch a lot of Romeo and Juliet movies and this one is the best and even my English teacher said that. I though that it was going to be boring, but it wasn't it was great. At my school, we watch this movie and we always get the same movie when it gets worn out. It is that good. Everyone sould get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: A great film adaptation
Review: The classic Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is the most accessible of Shakespeare's plays, also, perhaps, the most popular and well-known. Not surprisingly, then, it has been made into many films and has had many successful and not-so-successful spin-offs -- such as the better-left-unmentioned 1996 Leonardo Dicaprio/Claire Daines disaster. This film, however, is a great adaptation and a deserved classic. Director Franco Zeffirelli is legendary for making this transition from play to film so strikingly good, and the movie is a touchstone in the history of Shakesperian cinema, and rightfully so. This 1968 film was revolutionary in several ways. It breathed new life into this classic story, which had almost been done to death in poor and lifeless interpretations. One of the main reasons for this success was Zeffirelli's decision to use actual teenage actors to portray the two lovers (which seems like an obvious idea, but which had not really been done before, middle-aged actors being previous preferred: Leonard Whiting as Romeo and Olivia Hussey as Juliet. Another stength the movie had was its painstakingly accurate representation of the Rennaisance. Other successful Shakesperian film adaptations have adapted the work of the bard into the modern world, putting the work in a modern setting with modern clothing, atmosphere, etc. This is all admirable, and well and good; however, this film goes for the opposite technique, portraying, as accurately as possible, the situations in the work as they would have been presented in Shakespeare's own time, and it does it very well. The Italian villa in which the film is set is quite striking; costumes and decorations are accurate down to the small details. One gets the feeling while watching this that it was, indeed, a long time ago -- which only serves to reinforce how timeless and perpetually applicable the story still is and always will be. The acting throughout the film is consistently well-done, not over-the-top and not listless. It contains just the right combination of atmosphere, drama, tragedy, and sexiness. An exemplary adaptation of Shakespeare and an acknowledged classic that is one of the true landmarks in the history of Shakesperian film.
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