Romeo and Juliet (1968)

Watched 20131226 (Netflix, Instant). 138 min. (Streaming until 20140101)
Romeo and Juliet (1968) Franco Zeffirelli. 138 min [bot play otsn (1500's) by William Shakespeare]

Romeo (Leonard Whiting) and Juliet (Olivia Hussey)

Relevant Links:
Romeo and Juliet (IMDb.com)
Romeo and Juliet (1968 film) (Wikipedia.org)
Romeo and Juliet (RottenTomatoes.com)

Romeo sits and thinks.

20131226:
[20140104]
For the most part I enjoyed this movie and perhaps would have enjoyed it more if I were a high school student studying the play for an English class. Note that the film couldn't be shown in its entirety at a high school, because it contains some brief nudity about 97 minutes into the movie, when Romeo and Juliet wake up in the morning after spending a night together.

Juliet is startled by news.

In any case, I don't know how closely the film follows the written play, but the speech is certainly as cryptic as one might find written. This is why I think it would be easier to enjoy the film after having studied the actual play. On the other hand, the film's many emotions, particularly the love between Romeo (Leonard Whiting) and Juliet (Olivia Hussey), are well-expressed, even without understanding what the characters are saying.

Romeo and Juliet have spent a night together.

Ultimately, I would most definitely recommend the movie to anyone who is familiar with Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and a less definitive recommendation to viewers looking for a romance with strong leading performances (by Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey).

Instant Comments:
The actress playing Juliet (Olivia Hussey) looks so young and has such a fair face. [It turns out Olivia Hussey was just fifteen years old at the time.]

Mercutio has a drink of water.

Fate enters the equation for Romeo. He fears that they have come too early and entering the party will lead to his untimely death.
What a creeper... endlessly watching Juliet and speaking to himself. And it isn't just for narrative purposes, because a Montague hears Romeo talking.
"You are a princox." [According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a "princox" is a "pert youth."]

Tybalt (black, orange and white clothing) and other Capulets.

"My only love sprung from my only hate."
Haha. They simply can't keep their hands off each other.
Oh my, thank goodness for intermission. I do believe I'm falling into a food coma. I resumed the film approximately two hours later.
I didn't know Romeo was partially to blame for Mercutio's death. At first, it's directly Tybalt and Mercutio's fault for fighting in the first place. But the movie makes it seem like their fight is just for fun.

Romeo and Juliet prepare to marry.

"A plague o' both your houses!"
Psh... men? Please, these are children.
By the one hour and thirty minute mark, I'm pretty much over the movie.
Seven minutes later, we see Romeo and Juliet waking from a night together.
"Give me, give me." Haha.
She could cut him open and drink his blood.

"Oh, happy dagger!"