Baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay

Baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay

Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of the classic Romeo and Juliet is set in 2 vastly differing times; the language of Shakespearian era in contrast to a much more modern set and city. The use of 26/02/ · Baz Luhrmann's film, Romeo and Juliet, is very successful as an appropriation of the original play by Shakespeare. Transforming the preth century play into a contemporary 1/06/ · It appeals to a teenage audience because of the simple plot where ‘A pair of star-crossed lovers take their lives’ Teenagers can relate to Romeo and Juliet because of the

Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of the classic Romeo and Juliet Essay Example | Happyessays

The use of Shakespearean language gives a sense of timelessness; that the time it takes place is irrelevant; it can happen any time, any where, to any people, baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay, and this is what matters. It addresses a young adult audience, baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay, who are familiar with both the situations which arise and the pop-like video style of shooting, with the fairly pacey storyline. At the very beginning of the film, there is a vague sense of mystery given by the fuzzy sounds of the TV tuning in. we are not entirely sure of what we are going to see, and so the tuning in of the TV represents how we are trying to grasp the story, trying to latch on to what is happening around us.

We see the black and white screen with the noise of no reception just before the newsreader appears on the screen, and so we anticipate that what we are about to hear will be important, or worth waiting for. We relate it to how we feel when we are waiting for the news to come on, and so the way that the story is presented; as the focus of a news report and the distinct tuning in of the viewer, baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay, means we expect the story to affect us. The way in which this introduction is presented sets its status to us. Its obvious sense of importance and slight air of tragedy contributes discretely to the overall atmosphere the audience feels at the beginning of this film.

The television set is placed in the middle of the screen, and all around it is plain blank blackness. This is deliberate to keep the attention on the screen, which mirrors the importance of this story and this news item. It only adds on to the overall feel. This represents to us one of the key elements of the story; symbols of unity, split. The ring is a wedding ring, we later find out, and so we transfer this image not to a broken marriage, but to one that was split. It represents a marriage broken against its will, and so the already subconscious feeling of tragedy to be expected is reinforced by this image.

During this shot, the camera slowly and gradually zooms in on the TV set, and so the TV set gradually fills up more and more of the space in the screen, pushing the black back ground out. It mirrors how we can sometimes feel that when someone is talking to us they seem far away, baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay their words seem distant, baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay. It makes the viewer feel like this story relates to them, how distant sounds become common ground. The overall feeling this aspect of the shot gives of is that baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay involvement.

It makes the audience anticipate once more that this story will affect them as an individual. As the beginning sequence takes off into a rapid Rolla coaster of images, the music and atmosphere take on an entirely different tone. It goes from one of casual, and maybe more intense interest, to one of extreme excitement and tension. This is due partly to the speed of the shots and their content, but mostly because of the music and the ideas and images it puts across. The music portrays the idea of overwhelming emotion above all. It is extremely dramatic in its use of emotion, and the power and energy you feel from it. The high pitch of both the piano chords and vocal baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay give an idea of excitement and speed, and the classical element to baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay, the traditional instruments and ensemble, give the idea of depth, meaning and sophistication.

The high tempo of the piece as it climaxes towards the end increases with the pitch, representing how the power and the emotion and the intensity all build up together. When the piece does climax, it then abruptly subsides, and the film titles and quiet remain. It is natural to associate dark feelings with dark nights, and so sad atmospheres with darkness. So again, moods are split, and the audience is intrigued and very curious about what is to come. The other lighting effects that stand out to the audience are the bright flashing lights.

The two main sources of bright flashing lights are the lights of emergency service vehicles, and the bright lights of Vegas. These freeze-frames are usually taken from later periods of the film, when a lot has happened, baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay. The characters often look menacing or anxious. We see a brief window into what is to come, and we see the faces of highly-strung, baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay, grieving and on edge characters, all of who appear to be close to either Romeo or Juliet.

When we see these traits in the people of the story, we combine these new characteristics to the atmosphere created previously, and later it is added to the atmosphere yet to come, and our atmosphere of danger and excitement becomes one of ominous emotion. This foreboding feeling is the product of the things that have just flashed before our senses; the power, the emotion, the excitement, the danger and the worry. The screen with the titles wipes onto the Montague boys speeding down a highway, wearing loud Hawaiian shirts and brave hairstyles.

They are jumping about, very over-excited, playing loud music and yelling a lot. The music is very upbeat and rap-like, and associated with carefree youths. The impression is immediately given that these boys are fun loving, baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay, baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay, self assured, confident and aggressive. It is a bright sunny day, and they are in an open top car. It, again, gives that sense of carefree fun, contentment and a completely worry-free atmosphere. They offer more relaxed and easygoing prospects than that of the music and images in the previous sequence; however it is possible that their pride and aggression may get the better of them.

As the Montague boys party in the car, the camera tracks it from behind. Indeed, most of these shots are close ups, or at least within a few metres of the characters, baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay. The viewer feels closer to the action. It makes the audience feel as if they are in the car also, and so the excitement seems more real to them. The man in the back seat turns around and speaks to the camera with a tone of excitement, and so it feels as if you are in the car and he is talking to you. This feeling contrasts slightly that of what we have seen before, as it seems so much more social and fun. The audience feels more relaxed and comfortable.

This, similarly to the car, is also baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay to the Capulets. The black eye just points out once more that they are very loud, confident and self assured, that they get into brawls and fights, and that we can expect something from them the more calm characters could not offer. These things just highlight points already in the backs of the minds of the viewers, and strengthen them as composites of the atmosphere being built. Of the combinations of our ominous emotional atmosphere, power, emotion, danger, worry and excitement these images enforce the excitement and the danger sides of the scale.

Our first image of the Capulets is their blue car, not dissimilar to that of the Montagues. One Capulet has the cross shaved into the back of his head, and Tybalt has a Celtic-style cross on his clothing. We get the impression that their rivalry is misplaced because of their likeness in beliefs, taste and family pride. This indirectly gives us the impression that he is feared and respected, as if it is no coincidence that the viewer who recently felt to be a Montague is at the feet of their enemy. Because the Capulets seem so menacing and sinister, the audience are feeling what the Montagues feel; timid and frightened.

It leaves them unsure of what they are now expecting, because of the more vulnerable side on the Montagues they have just seen in contrast to the previous images of them. The Capulets seem particularly menacing due baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay the camera shots. It highlights individual characteristics of his personality, and the snarl increases the menace he already displays. When Tybalt is speaking, baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay, there is no sound, apart from a faint whistle of the wind. The petrol station is in fact by a main road, but still no noise. This keeps the focus on the words he is mouthing, making it seem more powerful.

It also is a discrete reference to the Spaghetti Westerns, with the traditional sounds of the wind whistling. The fire in the petrol station represents the burning anger of the two parties involved. It creates an atmosphere contrasting drastically to the one beforehand, with long distance shots and a lot going on very quickly. We immediately know that what is to come will be different, and with the silence as well, a feeling of anticipation and trepidation is created. The darkness adds a feeling of unease and nervousness to the worried anticipation. To summarize, at this point in the film, the music, lighting, shots and characterisation all add up to feelings of anticipation of the expected denouement, unease and worry, but also a sense of privacy now that the outside world is closed off.

Luhrman has used similar techniques baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay that of the beginning scene showing the Montague boys in their car. In that scene, the wide spaciousness, lighting, noise, music and shouting all gave a sense of contentment and excitement. It seems he is hesitating; perhaps he is thinking. It is clear that the audience was intended to feel empathy when Romeo makes his way down the isle, but at this point in time, the music level is still low, the lighting is beginning to pick up, and Romeo is staying mostly still. As Romeo proceeds down the isle, the atmosphere changes to one of nervousness, sadness and unsure anticipation.

Romeo walks very slowly, and looks very pained and thoughtful. We also see tracking camera shots of Romeo, showing the scene from his point of view, so the audience feels as if they are in his shoes. His eyes are fixed, looking ahead to where Juliet lies. The music mirrors what the audience interprets from the characterisation, and so the feeling is strengthened. Romeo presents a very nervous disposition, and naturally, the viewer shares these instincts, and so the nervousness and unease is felt strongly. His slow movements represent his fear of what is ahead, and worry, and his need to think about what is happening and what he should do.

He is considering killing himself; he seems quite sure of it, as he has the bottle grasped tightly in his hand, as if, ironically, it was his lifeline. In the last of the opening scenes of the film which I looked at, there was a fire, which represented the hatred between the two groups; the friction and the conflict. At the end, Juliet is surrounded by candles, lots of them, but this time the flames represent the beauty and importance of Juliet. It brings the focus straight to her. It makes everything seem so much more upsetting to Romeo, as she was treasured so much. The candles and the surrounding darkness make us feel pained, and indeed Romeo feels the same, as he reflexes as he would if he were feeling overpowering physical pain.

The music gradually builds up as Romeo makes his way down the isle. There is a crescendo, at which point Romeo is looking with desperation at Juliet, and with the music steadily increasing in volume, the feeling of overwhelming emotion resumes. At the beginning of the film, powerful and dramatic music was used to create this same atmosphere, but this time around it is slower, and sadder, baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay, and represents more about forlorn hope and great sadness than an overall tragedy. While Romeo is walking down the isle, we see some shots from his point of view as he approaches Juliet. It makes baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay feelings seem more real, and makes the audience more involved and caught up.

It greatens the sadness also, because the feeling of empathy is literally right there in front of you. Once Romeo has joined Juliet, from that moment on, the shots are all very close up. It gives a huge sense of intimacy with the characters, which, in the long run, means their deaths are more of a tragedy. We see many small movements in Juliet, such as her fingers or eyelids twitching, and they are quite clear in comparison to the predominant stillness around her. Since we felt as if we shared something with them; the intimacy, baz luhrmann romeo and juliet essay also feel the loss when he dies.

These scenes are very slow; to provoke thought maybe.

Symbolism In Romeo and Juliet - under 10 Minutes

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15/04/ · Overall Luhrmann creates a larger effect on the audience to show rivalry, because you cannot see much contrast between the Montagues and Capulets in the script, while in the Baz Luhrmann brings a unique visual style to William Shakespeare’s renaissance tragedy “Romeo and Juliet”. Set in a modern Verona Beach, Luhrmann sets the assertive and trendy tone of his adaptation within a decaying Miami City. Within minutes, the opening TV prologue hurls us into the white-hot intensity of the two warring families, bombarding the Luhrmann takes the creative liberty of factoring out the suitor’s passing from Shakespeare’s version of Romeo and Juliet. Originally in the play, Paris mourns Juliet’s deceptive demise