Watching Romeo and Juliet (1968) gave me mixed feelings, and it was very different from what I expected. One thing that really stood out to me is the actors they used. For example, Juliet. In modern movies actors usually look older than the original age of the character. However in this version they actually look like teenagers. At first I really appreciated it because it represents the characters more realistically, highlighting their impulsive (immature) decisions, which reminded me that they are basically children.
At the same time, that realism also made parts of the movie a little bit uncomfortable to watch. Juliet is only 13 and “A fortnight and odd days” until she is 14, and seeing someone that young getting married and having a very intimate relationship felt strange. Although, I think that the discomfort helps highlight the pressure Juliet was being put through at such a young age, which was normal in that time. She is expected to marry, obey her parents, and make life changing decisions while still being a pre-teen. Instead of romanticizing everything, the film makes the audience be more aware of how tragic the story is.
I also think that the fact that the movie was made in 1968 changes the way the story is presented. The film looks more natural and less refined than in many moderner romances movies, such as Gnomeo and Juliet, which is really just a kids movie or another story like West Side Story, which is still a tiny bit tragic and keeps the destructive love theme, but in a more modern way, with simpler language and even adding music. In Romeo and Juliet (1968), their love feels dramatic and intense, but also immature. Especially Romeo, he comes across and emotional and impulsive, constantly not thinking logically and just mourning his past loves, for example, crying for Rosaline who never loved him, or killing himself because Juliet was “dead”. On the other side Juliet seemed more mature despite being younger. She appeared thoughtful and in some ways independent, especially when dealing with her family, in which the only one who with she truly has a connection is the nurse.
Finally I also noticed how the movie went from romance to discomfort in between some scenes. One scene that really stood out to me was the time when Romeo goes to Juliets balcony. They are alone together, having a romantic moment which can make you feel emotional with the script alone, nevertheless in the movie the actors look so young, reminding the audience how Romeo and Juliet are teenagers who want to get married and have kids, at the ripe age of 13 and 16. Although on the final scene when they die it really allows you to feel sadder, due to the fact that they still had a lot to live for. Instead of only focusing on romance, the movie highlights how youth, impulsiveness, and pressure from adults contribute to the ending.