Preview

Romeo and Juliet, Baz Luhrmann

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1944 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Romeo and Juliet, Baz Luhrmann
I believe that Baz Luhrmann has created a very effective prologue and version of Act 1 Scene 1 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, using visual images and landmarks along with the language to aid the audience in understanding the story. Using the media throughout, Luhrmann makes the situations easier for the audience to grasp, and in turn, relate to.
The film begins with the camera zooming in on a television. The prologue is spoken by a black female news reporter. Using a coloured female reporter is effective as it shows how universally important the story is. This indicates the importance of the Montagues and the Capulets for their frays and fights to shown on national television. Using the media makes the situation seem more real, and makes it easier for the audience to relate to as the media is where we find out most of our news in a modern day world.
In the background of the news studio the image of a broken ring appears along with a caption saying ‘star-crossed lovers'. This indicates to the audience how their love and unity will be broken during the story.
A caption then appears reading ‘in Fair Verona'. This is telling the audience that Verona should be a nice, peaceful place to live, but the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets is ruining everything for all the citizens of Verona. This gives an indication to the audience of how long the fighting has been going on, and how much it affects everyone.
The helicopter flying over the beaches of Verona reinforces to the audience, that Verona should be a pleasant place for everyone to live.
Immediately the audience is made aware of how important religion is, and how both families should be bound by the rules of religion. It is important for Baz Luhrmann to do this as in a modern day world; religion is not generally seen to be as important as it used to be. Luhrmann frequently reminds the audience of this, referring back to the statue of Christ in Verona, and having religious messages and images

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    romeo and juliet

    • 526 Words
    • 2 Pages

    If it weren't for Romeo’s actions, both he and Juliet would have never fallen in love, and never ended up taking their own lives. Romeo is most at fault for his death and the death of Juliet because Romeo should have listened to Friar Lawrence. He should not have fallen in love with Juliet so easily, and he should have respected the feud between the two families and stayed away from the Capulets.…

    • 526 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Baz Luhrmann's film, Romeo and Juliet, is very successful as an appropriation of the original play by Shakespeare. Transforming the pre-16th century play into a contemporary popular culture film was done creatively by keeping the same values and language, but changing the context. This is illustrated by the use of anachronisms. For instance, daggers and swords are replaced by guns as well as cars stand in for horses. The disputes between members of the two families (the Capulets and the Montagues) evoke associations with multi-ethnic gang warfare. Their feud reflects the behaviour of mafia families. Using these modernising elements, he achieves an appeal to the contemporary teenage audience and the changes in the film create a more comprehensible meaning to the audience because people can relate to it better and this is why the film is so engaging.…

    • 1215 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The maids, butlers and chefs all hurried about in the Montague household, preparing for what would most certainly be the biggest event of the year. It’s been crazy all day, for that has been all the time we were given to make the preparations for the arrival of the Capulets. Yes, yes the Capulets are going to have dinner with the Montagues. I couldn’t believe it myself when we were told of the news. Now, 6 o’clock has struck and it’s high time that the head of the Montague’s household are to arrive.…

    • 627 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romeo and Juliet

    • 756 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In Chapter 1, Old Major says, “Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove Man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished for ever.” Is that true? What does the novel reveal about “real enemies”?…

    • 756 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    No matter what critics say, Luhrmann’s film was a masterpiece. He was dared to make something new, whereas in this matter, as it seemed, everything has been told, seen and created. The film was an experiment which can be described as blending two substances, of which no one would have ever thought that they can go together this well. It was a kind of play with conventions, which was based on an assumption that if one takes a work of a great dramatist, a couple of talented actors, adds some modern set and seasons it with good music, the outcome must be delicious. And actually the assumption turned out to be right. The ‘modernisation of Shakespeare’ tends to be one of the few possible ways of popularisation of his plays within the contemporary society.…

    • 947 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romeo and Juliet

    • 409 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Juliet fantasizes about losing her virginity to Romeo. She asks the night to bring her lover back. Juliet's love to him is so strong that she suggests that when she dies he would turn into stars that would make everyone admire the night. "And when I shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he ill make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night And pay no worship to the garish sun."…

    • 409 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    romeo and juliet

    • 344 Words
    • 2 Pages

    It kind of falls into whether or not you believe in love at first sight. I personally believe that it was infactuation, or, moreover, lust. Romeo was already "in love" with someone when he met Juliet, and yet, he was instantly swept away by her beauty. They aparently loved each other before they even spoke with each other. I dont think that true love works this way. Obviously, there has to be some kind of connection at the beginning, but a couple cant fall in love on sight and already kiss twice within the first five minutes and know, instantly, that you want to marry this person. Obviously, things were different and simpler back then, but still, there have to be a few steps to take in a relationship. They were about to get married and ditch botht heir families for each other without knowing anything about their partner.…

    • 344 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romeo and Juliet

    • 678 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Conflict and violence in the play are presented in a variety of different ways. Throughout the play, there runs this idea of a conflict between love and hate- the key part of Romeo and Juliet’s problems. This conflict in part leads to the violence of the play, with the feud providing the catalyst for events such as Mercutio’s death and the demise of the star-crossed lovers. Interpreting conflict as a discord of feelings, actions, and events, the play shows how conflict creates an atmosphere of violence that permeates their language and actions. Violence begets violence, causing a chain reaction that ends in tragedy. There is a contrast between the internal nature of the conflict and the physical nature of the violence within the play.…

    • 678 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Verona was a poisonous environment that was filled with hatred. A prime example of this is in Romeo and Juliet is when both Tybalt and Mercutio are both found dead due to their hot temper and willingness to fight. The fact that 2 people died because of their temper shows that there is something wrong with the society.…

    • 946 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romeo and Juliet

    • 705 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Many people have terrible faiths, but out of all of them one was the most innocent. In “Romeo and Juliet”, Benvolio is free from guilt and a harmless man. He likes to keep peace. Furthermore, Benvolio had to suffer in many parts of the play. Finally, he is very helpful and does nothing wrong. Benvolio is free from guilt; he does nothing wrong and had nothing to do with lying or killing. Benvolio is the most innocent character in the play.…

    • 705 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Romeo And Juliet

    • 452 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The play is basically set off of conflict. When there is love there is war.Conflict is the key role in Romeo and Juliet. There are conflicts starting from the beginning to end.The conflicts include: Man vs.man, Man vs. self, and Man vs. society. Both of the families are in conflict, and have been since they can remember (Man vs. man).In fact the first scene in the play is a brawl between the Montigue and Capulet servants. Romeo is in love with Roseline, but Roseline wants nothing to do with him. Romeo then falls into a deep depression, that is one of the first conflicts ( man vs. self ). Then his cousin invites Romeo to a masque. This leads into more conflict considering that the masque is held at Lord Capulet's house. Taking into account the feuds that the Montigues and Capulets are having this is not a wise choice for Romeo. Since Romeo is in love with Roseline, he will basically risk everything to go to the masque. The next conflict that occurs in the play is Tybalt a Capulet recognizes Romeo's. Tybalt then wants to fight Romeo, but Lord Capulet won't have any fighting in his household.…

    • 452 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    romeo and juliet

    • 563 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The bodies of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet were found today in the Capulet tomb. Romeo had taken a poison, and Juliet stabbed herself with Romeo’s dagger. But the question is why? It all begins with the feuding Montagues and Capulets. Romeo and his friends sneak into a Capulet party, where Romeo meets and falls in love with Juliet. With the help of Friar Lawrence, who hopes to reconcile the families, they are secretly married the next day. Juliet’s cousin Tybalt, who hates the Montagues more than anyone, challenges Romeo to a fight. Romeo refuses. Mercutio is offended by the way Tybalt treats them and accepts the fight on Romeo’s behalf. Mercutio ends up getting killed. Romeo loses his self control and kills Tybalt in return, which leads to his exile by the Prince. He threatens to execute Romeo if he returns. Juliet is distressed. The Capulets misinterpret it, and threaten to disown her if she does not marry Paris. Friar Lawrence gives Juliet a potion that will put her in a death like state. Balthasar, unaware of the plan, gives Romeo false news that Juliet is dead. Heartbroken, Romeo purchases a poison and goes to the Capulet tomb where he murders Paris. Still believing Juliet to be dead, Romeo drinks the poison which kills him instantly. Juliet awakens, finding Romeo dead beside her, and stabs herself. The families are reconciled by the deaths of their children and agree to end their violent feud.…

    • 563 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romeo and Juliet

    • 440 Words
    • 2 Pages

    My theme for Romeo and Juliet is that children can disobey their parents if they have a justifiable reason. I chose this theme because Romeo and Juliet obviously really loved each other. Why not let them be happy. Love if a justifiable reason to go behind their parents backs.…

    • 440 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    romeo and juliet

    • 648 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Romeo and Juliet is a romantic tragedy, by William Shakespeare about two star-crossed lovers whose deaths are caused by a long feud between two households. The Capulet and Montague conflict has disrupted the streets of Verona. It has also caused the two lovers to remain secretly in love, which is thought to be forbidden and betrayal. Family loyalty plays an important role throughout the novel and in Romeo and Juliet it explains different types of loyalty whether its between friends or family. Although being loyal has many admirable traits and brings rewards, family loyalty, when taken to excess, can lead to disaster.…

    • 648 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romeo and Juliet

    • 1250 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The two most powerful forces in human nature are love and hate. William Shakespeare is able to contradict these forces and tests them against each other in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet must overcome the hate of their despiteful families to be with one another for they have fallen into a deep, passionate love. Although hate does a lot of damage and causes a lot of pain between these "star crossed lovers" and their families, love is proven to be stronger in the end. Shakespeare's overall message of the play Romeo and Juliet is that love -displayed thorough Romeo and Juliet- is stronger than the hate of their families and therefore, is able to conquer it.…

    • 1250 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays