Baz Luhrmann Romeo And Juliet Comparative Essay
Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet: A Cinematic Icon
Baz Luhrmann’s rendition of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet will forever remain one of the most iconic adaptations of all time. Luhrmann’s use of bright color, odd scene setups and camera shots, interesting modifications on the original story, and emphasis on religious irony make the film unforgettable and add to the suspense and creativity of the film. Vivid color saturates every scene in the film from neon crosses standing in the church, to intensely-hued clothing, hair, and makeup, to vibrant decorations and settings. This use of color adds to the creativity factor, given that audiences are familiar with the many variations of Romeo and Juliet that have been filmed/performed using monotone articles …show more content…
In Juliet’s room, there is a shrine of Mary in which she spends much of her time praying in front of throughout the film. There are crosses placed in the background of a number of scenes and behind the back seat of the Montague’s stretch limo. Romeo wears a brightly colored Hawaiian shirt with the immaculate heart of Mary in the center. Luhrmann adds these religious references as symbols of how deeply religion played a role in the lives of those living in 13th century Europe. But it’s not erroneous to think that he tends to overemphasize these symbols trying to create dramatic irony. For example, Luhrmann uses the image of Mary on the side of Tybalt’s gun when he attempts to kill Romeo. Furthermore, the irony created from the fact that one of the Ten Commandments is “Do Not Kill”, yet the image of Mary is on the side of a weapon used in murder. All the emphasis on religion in the film draws attention to the fact that for a time period that was completely centered around religious beliefs and a life with God, there sure was A LOT of sin, death, revenge and
Baz Luhrmann’s rendition of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet will forever remain one of the most iconic adaptations of all time. Luhrmann’s use of bright color, odd scene setups and camera shots, interesting modifications on the original story, and emphasis on religious irony make the film unforgettable and add to the suspense and creativity of the film. Vivid color saturates every scene in the film from neon crosses standing in the church, to intensely-hued clothing, hair, and makeup, to vibrant decorations and settings. This use of color adds to the creativity factor, given that audiences are familiar with the many variations of Romeo and Juliet that have been filmed/performed using monotone articles …show more content…
In Juliet’s room, there is a shrine of Mary in which she spends much of her time praying in front of throughout the film. There are crosses placed in the background of a number of scenes and behind the back seat of the Montague’s stretch limo. Romeo wears a brightly colored Hawaiian shirt with the immaculate heart of Mary in the center. Luhrmann adds these religious references as symbols of how deeply religion played a role in the lives of those living in 13th century Europe. But it’s not erroneous to think that he tends to overemphasize these symbols trying to create dramatic irony. For example, Luhrmann uses the image of Mary on the side of Tybalt’s gun when he attempts to kill Romeo. Furthermore, the irony created from the fact that one of the Ten Commandments is “Do Not Kill”, yet the image of Mary is on the side of a weapon used in murder. All the emphasis on religion in the film draws attention to the fact that for a time period that was completely centered around religious beliefs and a life with God, there sure was A LOT of sin, death, revenge and