Romeo and Juliet






Films are made with the directors different personal opinions based

on the original screenplay. For the movie version of Romeo + Juliet (1996),

the quote above illustrates this perfectly. For this essay, I will discuss

contrasts between the original screenplay, and the film. I will be

discussing plot changes to adapt to the movie's visual capabilities,

changes to the time-frame of the script, and plot changes to different

relationships between characters.


First, I will discuss with you the plot changes to adapt to the

movie's visual capabilities. If we were just to read this book, the only

visual pictures we would see would be in our minds; but since we went to

see the movie, the director had to adapt some of the plot to have viewers

experience the screenplay visually. One such example of plot adaptations

is when, in the screenplay, Tybalt recognizes Romeo's voice at the Capulet

masque. When Tybalt hears him, he becomes enraged. This is not so for the

film. Romeo takes off his masque at the fountain and forgets it there. He

returns to the masque and that is when Tybalt recognizes his face. However,

the result is the same, Tybalt becomes enraged and vows to extract his

revenge on Romeo since Old Capulet said for him to leave Romeo alone.



Secondly, I will illustrate you some changed to the time-frame of

the plot. This is one of the easier comparisons since you can tell if

parts of the plot have been rearranged. An example of a change to the plot

is when (in the book) Romeo first meets Juliet. Romeo says about fifty

words to Juliet and kisses her. While she is being kissed, the Nurse calls

her away because her mother wishes to see her. In the movie, Juliet is

called away even before Romeo talks to her. Juliet is called away to dance

with Paris, but when the dance ends and Paris is watching the fireworks,

Juliet and Romeo talk and kiss.



Lastly, I will explain to you some of the plot changes to different

relationships between characters. This has to do partly with the visual

aspects of the film, but there has been a script modification. An example

is the apparent attraction between Lady Capulet and Tybalt. In the

screenplay, there is not even a mention of a relationship between Lady

Capulet and Tybalt other then nephew and aunt; but in the movie, during the

masque, Lady Capulet and Tybalt passionately kiss. Also whenever Tybalt is

slain by Romeo, Lady Capulet declares that she loves Tybalt. This is yet

another variance from the book to the movie.



In conclusion, one can see all the personal opinions that went into

Shakespeare's work and if one were to direct a movie, any modifications to

the plot would show up in comparison to the screenplay easily. No one

knows what the original version of Romeo + Juliet was like and no one ever

will. All that is for certain, is that no one can ever recreate what

Shakespeare has done in this extraordinary screenplay.