Luhrmann's Movie Version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Essay

To begin, the secrets between Romeo and Juliet are presented initially in Juliet’s garden turns into the literal secret marriage in the church, which is the first shaping of the play. As a first point, Juliet’s garden is the starting point of the tragedy. It is in this location that Romeo hears of Juliet’s love for him. Romeo hides in the Capulet garden, when he overhears Juliet say, “My love as deep; the more I give to thee; / The more I have, for both are infinite” (2.2134-135). This is the first case of love presented between the two lovers. As a result of Juliet saying this, Romeo reveals himself out of hiding and proposes to Juliet. The fact of this scene being portrayed in the Capulet garden is important, as if such words are said in a more public setting, rumours would

followed the life of two “star crossed lovers” and their struggle to come together because of the feud between the montague and the capulet families.Throughout the movie important setting are put in place like,the pool(the modernised version of the balcony scene),the church where Romeo and Juliet marries and finally the infamous double suicide. These settings help the viewer understand idea of their love being pure and exciting by modernising it from the original play, showcasing the importance Verona Beach and Romeo and Juliet gave religion in their love and finally their quest to stay together despite the society's disapproval of their love. Even though Centuries has past since the original play was first released, Luhrmann proves that love is an emotion that has no barriers and all generation can indulge into the life of the greatest couple ever lived, Romeo and

In the beginning of the film, Luhrmann uses water as a visual symbol to complement the innocence and desire for serenity that both Romeo and Juliet unconsciously yearn for. The first time the audience sees Juliet, she is completely submerged in her bathtub, looking up with her eyes opened (16:30). This shot of Juliet, coupled with shots of her mother and nurse yelling for her while running around their opulent mansion, reveals a girl striving for a moment of peace and additionally highlights her innocence by presenting her in a vulnerable, but not sexual, position. This moment is also the first of many that demonstrates the

Analysis of a Scene from Luhrmann's Production of Romeo and Juliet It seems interesting at first that Baz Luhrmann should choose to rework Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet into a modern movie. However, when you think about the aims of a modern film-maker such as wanting to really affect the audience and create a series of moving and powerful images shot through with dialogue, then it is less surprising that Romeo and Juliet was Luhrmann's choice. Shakespeare's play is filled with emotion and suspense, so had limitless potential to be made into a great movie. Luhrmann adapted the play for the big screen very effectively, managing to portray the emotion of the film using visual storytelling techniques

This symbolizes that the drug, which had been a mask on Romeo’s mind, had been removed and negated. The audience can now start to see the role of water and how it makes a connection to acquiring clarity, cleansing, and

Luhrmann uses a similar motif technique, blurring everything else whilst the couple fall in love. In Luhrmann’s film, this motive is revisited in the form of Romeo’s “trip” which mimics the frenzied whirl and hum of love-at-first-sight. To contrast the fast paced excitement of the dances, both directors use a slow song for the actual meeting of Romeo and Juliet; in both films this song then becomes the theme for Romeo and Juliet’s love. In Zeffirelli’s adaptation, this scene is a kind of hide and seek between Romeo and Juliet, each searching for the other in a childlike game, their young faces contrasted with the disapproving looks of the older folk around them. The use of song is particularly important to the sequence of Romeo and Juliet’s meeting in Luhrmann’s adaptation, which plays as their eyes meet through an aquarium. Luhrmann’s camera produces a series of floating eye-line matches that follow Romeo and Juliet’s gaze as they dart about in search of each other through the strobe-like glint of water, fish and wonder that characterizes this surreal love-at-first-sight sequence. This striking imagery, coupled with the Des’ree song, creates ‘a kind of aural scenography which is as important as the costumes […] [it is] a sound which creeps into you. This use of a popular soundtrack, coupled with Luhrmann’s use of ‘glossy atmospherics, and breakneck speed is what many use to criticize

Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 modern adaption of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ set on the coastlines of the sizzlin’ Verona Beach takes an interesting spin on William Shakespeare’s 400 year old classic. Gang wars, drag, poison, guns, religious symbols and star-crossed love tied together with music video editing, Luhrmann only leaves the plot and dialogue relatively untouched.

In Baz Luhrmann’s balcony scene of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Luhrmann’s use of camera movement and camera angles do not execute and convey the sentimental love of Romeo and Juliet unlike Franco Zefferelli’s balcony scene does. The camera movements and camera angles in Baz Luhrmann’s balcony scene show he had a distracted view of Romeo and Juliet’s sentimental love for each other and viewed it as something else. Luhrmann’s over use of eye level angle throughout the whole scene especially in the scene of Juliet’s vows about Romeo by the poolside does not allow the viewers to convey Romeo’s thoughts of “Juliet is the sun” and her beautiful rays shining everywhere (2.2.4). With eye level angles being there for the whole balcony scene it

and Tybalt would be eager to start a fight. At a party held by the

Contrarily, in Luhrmann’s version, Romeo and Juliet are positioned on the same level. Juliet enters the scene in an elevator, symbolizing that in today’s society, men and women are equals. In this scene, there is a pool, artificial string lighting, and Romeo is monitored on security cameras as he watches Juliet.

When Romeo and Juliet first meet each other, they are separated by a large blue fish tank. The soft music with the sound of piano playing at the back presents its calmness and peacefulness of the mood. The deep blue water, soft pastel colours of pink and blue all give the effect of romance. Both Romeo and Juliet’s faces are zoomed into in order to help the audience acquire an understanding of the deep love both characters have fallen into. Long shot is used to show their emotions and certain relationships. When the party is over, Juliet is with her mother, Lady Capulet, on the

There is no questioning that William Shakespeare’s plays are influential. They were written centuries ago, yet are still enjoyed by people to this day, and hold a place in modern high school and university curricula. However, as with many other literary works, some of Shakespeare’s plays are received better by audiences and readers than others. Romeo and Juliet, the tragic story of two “star-cross’d lovers” (Shakespeare, 5) who pursue their love for each other despite the feud between their families, is considered by some to be one of Shakespeare’s greatest works; however, the question of whether it is his greatest tragedy remains under dispute. This play is different from other Shakespearean tragedies in that in several ways, it does not fit the traditional characteristics or structure of a tragic work. It can be feasibly argued that this, as well as the fact that the main characters are much younger than those in Shakespeare’s other plays, takes away from the tragic element. Through analyzing Romeo and Juliet, one is able to reasonably conclude that while it is classified as a tragedy, it is not a very effective one.

as if we look up to him, however this can make the audience feel small

He calls upon the one “that hath the steerage” of his “course” – he who guides the path of his life, to direct him to safety. The sea is often used by Shakespeare as a symbol of the powerful and unpredictable forces of fate and the audience already knows that Romeo’s fate is fixed for he is “star-cross’d”. Once at the ball, Romeo is searching for a woman to substitute Rosaline. Romeo happens to gaze upon Juliet. He proclaims, “Did my heart love till now?

Directing Romeo and Juliet In this assignment I will be directing act 3 scene one lines 35-136 of the tragic play Romeo and Juliet I intend to use lighting, music, tone, and facial expression to affect the audiences emotions. Introduction = ==