If you want to learn about Romeo and Juliet, you should read it in the original Shakespeare, preferably in his original hand writing.

This but unironically?

West Side Story was a real transformation of the work that added in places and subtracted in others.

If you want to learn about R+J, you absolutely should read the original. Better yet, you should see a performance by a professional Shakespeare company.

Don't watch the Spielberg knock off. Don't even settle for the Baz Luhrmann film. Watch the original if you can.

Purely on it's face, it is an incredible piece of artwork. You can enjoy it entirely in it's original form.