Primarily, casting decisions had a huge impact on character portrayal and the success of the movie. Romeo was played by a "pretty boy" in both movies to depict sensitivity and youthful attractiveness. Both Leonardo DiCaprio and Leonard Whiting depicted emotions well, but DiCaprio seemed less refined or proper in his movements to put a modern spin on the character. Also, Leonardo DiCaprio's fame aided in the movie's success while Whiting was unheard of in the world of acting. The role of Juliet as played by Olivia Hussey was delicate and graceful. She appeared flawlessly beautiful and fit the classical role perfectly, although her frantic crying fits were played somewhat out of proportion. Claire Danes played the pa

Camera usage differed when Romeo and Juliet first saw each other in the modern version. Romeo first caught sight of her eyes through an aquarium divider. Both movies used close-ups to show their emotions and timidness at the first encounter. However, the first kiss was portrayed differently in the two films by the use of camera shots and editing. The 1968 version uses a close-up of them kiss privately. The kiss was passionate in a softer, more refined way. In the modern film, Romeo and Juliet kiss in an elevator after running around playfully. The camera whirls around the embracing couple in a circle. This was quite effective in causing the viewer to be caught up in the spontaneous romantic feeling. The viewer can almost feel the "butterflies" in their stomachs.

rt very well, and was more appropriate for the modern version, her fame aiding in the film's appeal as well. Mercutio was an interesting character in both films, but Harold Perrineau Jr. brought the character's dialogue and actions into today's world. Crazy and loud are some essential ingredients included when most people think about comedy today, and Perrineau depicted these traits to the extreme. His skin color caused the issue of race to be brought up in the movie. It enlightened people into a more modern and open state of mind because black actors were not included in the cast of medieval time films. However, John McEnery's performance in the 1968 version was appropriate for the movie and time setting. He acted like a jester would in the fourteenth or fifteenth Centuries. The Nurse's ethnicity also played a role in the characterization of the modern film. Her Spanish accent caused names to sound like "Romayo" and "Hooliet." Modern society is used to racial and ethnic diversity, but this was rarely dealt with in the gothic ages.

Finally, noticeable motifs occurred in the 1996 version that added to the thoughtfulness and creativity of the film. First, religious symbols were found all over the film. Crosses and the Virgin Mary appeared ironically on weapons of death such as guns in the opening scene. Tybalt wears a symbol of Virgin Mary on the front of his shirt and a fellow Capulet sports a cross that it is shaved into the back of his head. In the party scene, Mercutio dances below a mural of the Virgin Mary. It seems ironic that religion was stressed even when evil and unGod-like acts were going on. Secondly, water was a prominent motif. Water primarily was included in the setting. Romeo sat by the beach to think or create poetry. An underwater shot of DiCaprio's face was used in the party scene when he splashed his face to change his drugged state-of-mind. The aquarium gave the viewer an intriguing perspective on their first encounter. Also, the pool created suspense and a sense of playfulness after Romeo came to

Some common words found in the essay are:
Romeo Juliet, Visual Effects, Verona Beach, Virgin Mary, Claire Danes, Classical Hollywood, Steve Rhodes, Perrineau Jr, Hooliet Modern, Prince's Television, romeo juliet, 1968 version, modern version, 1996 version, dance floor, party scene, stylistic elements, virgin mary, 1996 film, conversations romeo juliet, sound effects, version placed story, camera shots editing, shakespeare's romeo juliet, film romeo juliet,
Approximate Word count = 1890
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)