Romeo and Juliet, Baz Luhrmann - 1934 Words

I believe that Baz Luhrmann has created a very effective prologue and version of Act 1 Scene 1 of Shakespeares 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,†¦show more content†¦All of this suggests their apparent immaturity, and fun attitude. The Montague boys pull into Phoenix petrol station. The name Phoenix is significant as it shows that often good things are born from the ashes, in this case, Romeo and Juliets love for each other, and an end to all the fighting. As they pull in, there is a clear shot of the cars number plate, which reads ‘Mon 005. The Capulets then pull into the petrol station, in a more suave, sophisticated car; however they have a matching number plate, this time reading ‘Cap 005. This again shows competition between the two families. One of the Montague boys climbs out of the car, and shows a sexual attitude towards some nuns. This indicates that they have little respect for people. The Montague has a black eye, which shows that he has been in a recent fight, most probably with a Capulet. Abra and Tybalt then step out of their car. Immediately there is an obvious difference in the two families, and their attitudes. The Capulets are more sophisticated, whereas the Montagues are immature and up for anything. As soon as the Montagues spot the Capulets, there is tension between them. This indicates how much hatred has built up in the rift between the two families. Abra looks towards the Montagues in a threatening way. The Montagues are quick to respond, and bite their thumbs at the Capulets, a gesture that wasShow MoreRelatedAppropriation of Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare and Romeo+Juliet by Baz Luhrmann2533 Words   |  11 PagesDiscuss the appropriation of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespeare and ‘Romeo+Juliet’ by Baz Luhrmann Texts and ideas from texts are appropriated and transformed into other text forms and other compositions in a different context. 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