Differences Between Romeo And Juliet

Baz Lurhmann and his behind the scene work “Two households both alike in dignity, in fair Verona where we lay our scene…A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their lives…” (Williams Shakespeare). The story of Romeo and Juliet is one of the most known tragedies of all time. Beginning as a play written by William Shakespeare, later transformed into films in 1968 an again in 1996 by Baz Luhrmann. When Luhrmann created William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet he did this using modern adaptations yet still staying true to the original Elizabethan language. The character of Juliet played by Claire Danes began as a young innocent girl, and then later becoming someone so desperate for love she took her own life. Likewise, Romeo played by Leonardo DiCaprio,
One of the first things you notice is the importance of religion in the character’s lives. When Luhrmann creates the prologue using newspapers, he has the Montague’s and Capulet’s sides divided by a religious figure picture. This division appears again after a brawl between the men. You see two building with the names on each and a large Jesus statue in the center of the town dividing the buildings. This immediately shows the importance of religion to the people of the city, and in addition, how even religious beliefs are not enough to maintain the peace between to two feuding families. In the beginning of the film, religious symbols help show the innocence of Juliet when you see her room. The majority of the room is covered in religious pictures, statues, and so forth. This immediately tells you that religion is Juliet’s complete life, and since she spend the majority of her time either there or in Friar Lawrence’s cell, it shows how innocent and pure Juliet is. Similar, you notice in Romeo who in the beginning trusts in star-fate. This is shown by Romeo’s monologue as he walks through a long isle of crosses. Furthermore, towards the middle of the film, some of the scenery Luhrmann adds is earthly aspects, including weather changes and water. Although, Romeo and Juliet personalities began to change immensely throughout the development of the film. An example of this is when it is bright and sunny outside and Romeo begs Tybalt to keep the peace, then after Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo becomes enraged, followed by the appearance of clouds filling the sky and a storm is created. Luhrmann does this to set a tone to the enormity of the situation. Juliet starting as a sweet innocent young girl develops into someone who agrees to be married, all with the help of a pool. Romeo and Juliet have the famous balcony scene partially acted out after they fell into a pool of