I will start by giving an introduction of both stories. First of all, the Zefferelli version. His version of the Shakespear play is set around the time that the play was written by Shakespear around 1599a.d. Secondly, Baz Luhrman´ s version made in the 1990´s and set in the 1990´s.

The key scenes I will be studying are:

The opening scene in the Luhrman version is set in a typical U.S gas station. It is a busy and open area, much like the market setting portrayed in the original script, which is also busy. This is very clever of Luhrman because he is trying to modernise the original setting without losing the feeling of an open and busy area. A market square in modern America would be very strange. In the Zefferelli version, the director has tried to replicate the setting and atmosphere of the original, using a typical market square from the time that the play

Tybalt then proceeds to where Romeo and Benvolio are standing, another fight and Romeo delivers a fatal wound to Tybalt. This is carried out differently in the two versions, In the Luhrman version, after Mercutio is slain, Tybalt tries to escape in a car. And Romeo follows him. The action is fast and furious with a lot of camera work on the two men´s eyes again, the music is very up-tempo as well. Romeo crashes his car into Tybalt´ s car. The two make their way out of the wreckage and Tybalt pulls out his gun. The rain starts pouring down and this is another sign that something bad is about to happen. The two men fight until Tybalt drops his gun. Out of pure hatred for killing his best friend, Romeo executes Tybalt with his own gun. Benvolio asks why Romeo is staying, as he fears for his brother´s life, the two men then speed away. In the Zefferelli version however, the swordfight doesn´t seem as serious as the modern version, but still ends on the same note. We see Romeo and Tybalt engage in a sword fight, until Romeo, it seems, accidentally kills Tybalt, and Romeo speeds away. Zefferelli doesn´t use any change of scene in his version of the fight, which dampens the effect and seriousness of Tybalt´s death. Shakespear would have greatly preferred the Luhrman version of this scene I think because it has much more impact on the audience, and is more exiting than the Zefferelli version.

Some topics in this essay:
Romeo Juliet, Paris Juliet, Sampson Montague, Romeo´ Romeo, Fight Act, Romeo Romeo, Juliet Romeo, Romeo´s Romeo, Romeo Mercutio, Juliet Juliet, zefferelli version, luhrman version, original script, romeo juliet, fish tank, modern version, version romeo, modern day, swimming pool, luhrman´s version, act 1 scene, speaks love romeo, balcony speaks love, scene luhrman version, 2 scene 2,