William Shakespeare 's Romeo And Juliet

Baz Luhrmann's 1996 film, Romeo + Juliet effectively appropriates the Shakespearean 16th century love tragedy. So why has Luhrmann decided to appropriate Romeo and Juliet? By changing the context, Luhrmann effectively makes the play relevant, discussing his contextual concerns of the 1990’s. This is done through the use of themes in the film, love, family disputes and hate which have remained similar to the original play, although the way they have been presented are different, in particular the form and characters. The form has had an obvious change as the original play has been adapted into a film. Characters in the film have also been appropriated to correspond with Luhrmann's contextual concerns. Hence, Luhrmann successfully appropriates the original Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet by maintaining similar themes, but altering the form and characterisation to fit his contextual concerns.

The Elizabethan play is re-imagined as a modern action, love film, Bricolage. Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet takes aspects of the original Romeo and Juliet, pastiche, and includes them in scenes such as the prologue, taking the original artifice and adapting its relevance to today. The techniques of metafiction are also found, as Mercutio in Luhrmann’s film is a black bisexual male. There is also techniques of, “flattening of effect” where violence detaches the families’ members from emotional lives. Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet’s multi voiced narrative, setting his movie in a country and culture unfamiliar to himself contra to Strictly Ballroom, Luhrmann implementing Shakespearian prose in place of modern communication within his film and filming Romeo + Juliet in a much larger area, with more diverse areas for scenes, indicates the development of Luhrmann becoming a more courageous and expressive

So begins Baz Luhrmann’s production of Shakespeare's beloved play, "Romeo and Juliet," from the famous opening line of "Two Households both alike in dignity.." to the tragic end, the viewer is whisked away into the ‘depths’ of heightened realism in the world of Verona Beach.

Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, is a tragic love story about two young lovers who are forced to be estranged as a result of their feuding families. The play is about their struggle to contravene fate and create a future together. As such, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood would try and emulate Shakespeare’s masterpiece. This had been done before in many films. Prominent among them were, Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 “Romeo and Juliet” and Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 “William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet.” Both films stay true to the themes of Shakespeare’s original play. However, the modernised Luhrmann film not only maintains the essence of Shakespeare’s writings, Luhrmann makes it relevant to a teenage audience. This is

Both Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, and Luhrmann’s film, Romeo + Juliet, explore the idea of conflict and how it inevitably leads to tragedy. Although situated in the contrasting social and historical contexts of Elizabethan England and the modern world of Verona Beach in Southern California, 1990s, the two texts both represent how conflict directly leads to tragedy by conveying that, the fight between the Montague and Capulets was depicted as long going and did not have meaning anymore yet the two Lords pride shields them from stopping it, the neglectfulness of the individuals from each house prolonged the battle unnecessarily, and that Juliet and Romeo's knowledge of the conflict between their families drove them to conceal their relationship.

Baz Lurhmann’s creation of the film Romeo and Juliet has shown that today’s audience can still understand and appreciate William Shakespeare. Typically, when a modern audience think of Shakespeare, they immediately think it will be boring, yet Lurhmann successfully rejuvenates Romeo and Juliet. In his film production he uses a number of different cinematic techniques, costumes and a formidably enjoyable soundtrack; yet changes not one word from Shakespeare’s original play, thus making it appeal to a modern audience.

Romeo and Juliet is a timeless story about two ill-fated lovers. Originally written by, Shakespeare, this story has been adapted by different directors who all commonly try to add their own unique twist to it. Two of the most prevalent adaptations of Romeo and Juliet have been done by Franco Zeffirelli and Baz Luhrmann, who have taken this love story to the big screen. Franco Zeffirelli’s movie, which was produced in 1968, is extremely authentic and stays true to Shakespeare's vision, whereas, Baz Luhrmann’s version produced in 1996, is contemporary and appeals more to younger audiences. There are various differences and a couple of similarities between Zeffirelli’s and Luhrmann’s movie versions such as the costumes, their interpretations of

Romeo and Juliet’s actions may seem rushed and immature, but Baz Luhrmann’s movie offers a compelling insight into their decisions. By setting this Elizabethan era play in the present day, the viewer can see past the differences in scenery and clothing compared to those of their lives, to analyze the unique characteristics of the lovers’ society and upbringing that may have led to their hasty love affair and violent end. Luhrmann creates a culture of violence and speed through careful decisions regarding cinematography, editing, and sound.

In the different film adaptations of Romeo and Juliet, Franco Zefirelli best conveys an emotional impact through the set design, blocking, and other theatrical elements. Zefirelli also chooses to have the film in the fourteenth century so that Shakespeare’s diction is comprehensible. From this, Zeffirelli adaptation is best conveys the romantic impact Shakespeare intends to emphasize.

Baz Luhrmann, a well known film director, adapted this love story to film in 1996, which is called Romeo and Juliet. William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, is a tragedy about two young lovers who cannot be together because their families are enemies. Baz Luhrmann directed 'William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet' recounts the Romeo and Juliet story utilizing Shakespearean Language set as a modern day environment. Not all viewers would recognize the language of Shakespeare so the mise en scene and additionally the performers' developments are essential to ensure that the audience recognizes what is happening inside of the dialog. In this essay, I will talk about whether Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and Baz Luhrmann's film updates Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet, one of William’s Shakespeare most famous classic works, is a heart-wrenching tale which is composed of passionate love and anger. It is a timeless piece of literature that has lasted to this century. The beautiful story is set in the remote town of Verona. This play recounts a tale of two star-crossed lovers, forbidden to pursue their inescapable love due to the long history of a violent family feud. Passion is strongly represented in Romeo and Juliet’s undying romance. As the story continues, passionate and uncontrolled anger is clearly expressed, fuelled by the noxious hatred of the family’s feud, intensifying as the plot progresses.

The New World Encyclopedia includes a lengthy and extensive section on Romeo & Juliet with a copious amount of information or aspects pertaining to the play. In one part, it examines the film adaptations of Romeo & Juliet and discusses the thought process when trying to adapt Shakespeare’s works cinematically. The end of the fourth act being a major focus. This material will help further my understanding and argument of the sacrifices that need to be made to have Shakespearean plays effective on the big screen; especially for modern audiences.

Romeo and Juliet is always thought to be a play about innocence, love and the ideal version of lovers sacrificing themselves for one another. People do not realise what characterises love. Baz Lurhmann has transformed an iconic masterpiece of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to explore the issues in everyday society such as violence in the streets and the feelings that drive it, religion as the root of most violence and minorities experiencing victimisation. These themes add additional layers of meaning and also create a contemporary version of the original story itself.

With short attention spans, ever-increasing amounts of technology and endless distractions, 2018’s modern audience vastly differs from the audience of Shakespeare’s time. So, how does Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo and Juliet manage to capture and engage a modern audience? The answer to this question is by using the theme of conflict. People, especially in today’s society, love drama, suspense and action, and combining all three into the movie helps to hold the audience’s attention until the very last moment. Baz Lurhmann conveys the theme of conflict in a number of ways by showing the conflict between, the Montagues and Capulets, Juliet and her family, and the Friar and Juliet. The theme is expressed by using SWAT codes, foreshadowing and dramatic irony

In this Journal articles by Anthony Davies, he attempts to trace, compare, and analyze the play of Romeo & Juliet’s life throughout cinema. To do this, Anthony does a close reading of four different films directed by Cukor, Zeffirelli, Alvin Rakoff, and the BBC. With these films, Anthony delves into them while dissecting specific scenes to compare how they are different or similar to each other as well as the original play; all while showing how each film has an aspect of the play that they excel at reimagining unique to itself.