Here's a list of Romeo and Juliet movies I intend to hunt down and watch as part of my analysis of how Romeo and Juliet has evolved since it's original production. Some of these might seem like a stretch, but I think that's indicative of how people view Romeo and Juliet.
Anyway, here's the list (not in chronological order or necessarily the order I'll be watching them):
Anyway, here's the list (not in chronological order or necessarily the order I'll be watching them):
- Gnomeo and Juliet (2011)
- Romeo and Juliet - BBC (1978)
- Love Story - song by Taylor Swift (2008)
- Pizza My Heart - ABC Family film (2005)
- Romeo + Juliet - Baz Luhrmann production (1996)
- Romeo and Juliet - Frank Zeffirelli production (1968)
- Rosie, Oh! Rosie, Oh! - Wishbone Classics (1995)
- Romeo and Juliet: A Monkey's Tale -Animal Planet Documentary (2008)
- Lion King 2: Simba's Pride - Disney Film (1998)
- West Side Story - Musical version (1961)
I'll be starting with the BBC production first and then branch off to the other versions of the story. I'll start with this one because I figure it will be the 'truest' version (obviously it's the truest because it's British). I'll then use that version as a sort of benchmark to to critique the others. As far as what I'll be critiquing the films on...well, just wait a few more days and I'll finish up the play and my standards.
Final note: Any other suggestions for films, any thoughts about my plan, any standards you'd like me to critique with, any films you think I shouldn't watch?
I think it would be interesting to look at how true they stay to the plot and even to minor character names. Another interesting thing to look at would be how they decide to portray the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets. Do they say why the two "families" hate each other so much?
ReplyDeleteIs the movie more of a spoof or is it 'true' to the plot?
ReplyDeleteI am really interested to see what you think about how the story plays out in each of these films. I was thinking about what we talked about in class, how mainstream film has taken this great work and remade it over and over, and a lot of times I feel like they've missed the point.
ReplyDeleteRomeo and Juliet was not a happy feel-good story. There were a lot of social issues and murders and of course the catastrophic double suicide of the two lovers (who's entire barely pubescent, over-dramatic "love" story took place in a matter of a few days)...
But people seem content to ignore most of those facts and to turn it into some happy-go-lucky, love conquers all story. I mostly want to know if Taylor Swift and all of her little fans singing along to her love song know these facts and what the case of her famous song would have been if she hadn't left all the important ones out...
I wonder what the cause is for the tendency of our society to block out tragedy?
ReplyDeleteDo we want something for nothing? It that a theme of Romeo and Juliet? We want a happy ending period because we want to live in the play, we refuse the idea that our lives suck and therefore the play must have a happy ending!