“Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night” (3.2 22-24)
This is an essay exploring Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet to examine how the effect of any modernisation, or updating, may impact on Shakespeare’s story. It will also consider the acting style and whether, how the verse is spoken and how actors engage with emotions through use of the text has any difference to the original play. The essay will also contemplate the effect of any elements of visual storytelling and the relevance/appropriateness of all of the above and whether it has any effect on Shakespeare’s text.
When first watched, Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo and Juliet” will show the viewer with even the smallest knowledge of the play, that the original when compared to the film shows some aggressive differences. Baz Luhrmann’s setting, costume, casting music and also the props, have all been altered and upon closer inspection difference in verse can be seen.
Act One, Scene One of Luhrmann’s adaptation can clearly define the differences between the two; the text from Shakespeare’s play is written:
“SAMSON: I strike quickly, being moved.
GREGORY: But thou art not quickly moved to strike.
SAMSON: A dog of the house of Montague moves me” (1.1 5-7).
This shows the Capulets, Samson and Gregory throwing mockery at each other; they continue with the witty banter until the Montagues arrive, consisting of Abraham and another serving man, to which Gregory instructs:
“Draw thy tool. Here comes of the house of Montagues” (1.1 29)
To which Samson replies:
“Quarrel, I will back thee” (1.1 30)
Gregory advises that frowning toward them will suffice; Samson does not agree and the play rea...
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Romeo + Juliet - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games. 2014. Romeo + Juliet - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Romeo_%2B_Juliet. [Accessed 05 January 2014].
Romeo + Juliet (1996) movie script - Screenplays for You. 2014. Romeo + Juliet (1996) movie script - Screenplays for You. [ONLINE] Available at:http://sfy.ru/?script=romeo_and_juliet_96_ts. [Accessed 05 January 2014].
Shakespeare, William. The Norton Shakespeare, Based on the Oxford Edition, Second Edition One-Volume Hardcover. New York: W. W. Norton, 2008.
Weinraub, Bernard. "Audiences In Love With the Doomed Lovers.” New York Times 5 Nov. 1996, Late ed., sec. C.
William Shakespeare, 2000. Romeo and Juliet (Wordsworth Classics). 0 Edition. Wordsworth Editions Ltd.
Romeo and Juliet is a play about two lovers who have to risk their lives in order to demonstrate their love and will to stay together, regardless the feud between their families. By the end, the death of Romeo and Juliet finally bring the reconciliation to these two families. It is fate that the two most shall-not meet people fall in love and it love that eventually won against hatred. Since then, there have been many different versions of Romeo and Juliet, whether it was for film, stage, musicals. These different recontextualised adaptions change the original play by many ways, some modernise the language, environment, props as well as changing the original characteristics of some characters. Out of all the different adaptions of Romeo and Juliet, two stood out the most. One was the Romeo and Juliet (1996) and directed by Baz Luhrmann and the other one was Romeo and Juliet Broadway (2013) play version,
3 Dec. 2013. Kerschen, Lios. A. A “Critical Essay on ‘Romeo and Juliet’. ” Drama for Students. Ed.
One of the most celebrated plays in history, “Romeo and Juliet”, was written by William Shakespeare in the late 16th century. It is a story about two lovers that have to meet in secret because of an ongoing family feud. Tragically, because of their forbidden love Romeo and Juliet take their lives so they can be together. In 1997, a movie was adapted from the play “Romeo and Juliet”, directed by Baz Lurhmann. However, as alike as the movie and the play are, they are also relatively different.
Baz Luhrmann's Success of Making Romeo & Juliet Accessible to a Modern Audience. In this essay I am going to write about how successfully Baz Luhrmann made his film Romeo and Juliet accessible to a modern audience. Baz Luhrmann uses Shakespeare's authentic text, combining it with a modern setting. This combination attracts the off spring of the modern.
The Major Differences Between Two Film Versions of Romeo and Juliet The major differences between the two movies Romeo and Juliet who were
The environment surrounding the star-crossed lovers in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet can influence audiences who may interpret the scenes in different ways. The audience can be greatly affected in their interpretation of the story by the mise-en-scene, costuming, and the hidden symbolic meaning. This great piece of literature was edited in two unique and intriguing forms, one Zeferelli directed which was filmed in 1968, and the modern version produced in 1996. The different scenes throughout the length of the party were the most influential to me in that I saw how different these movies were directed, and the different meaning I experienced from watching these movies. Focusing on the environment of the scenes and the costuming helped me in my interpretation, because I found hidden symbolism in these two qualities.
Luhrmann’s 1996 Romeo and Juliet is compelling when communicating the main ideas of the play by providing the audience with a modern translation of the play using the motifs in the film which correlate to the play.
Romeo and Juliet presents an ongoing feud between the Montague and Capulet families whose children meet and fall in love. Markedly, the meeting scene depicting love at first sight continues to be praised by today’s critics. Romeo and Juliet then receive the label of star-crossed lovers whose tragic demise is written in the stars. In fact, Shakespeare 's work is well received and its numerous adaptations have made it one of his most enduring and notorious stories. The cinematic world brings to the screens a disastrous approach by Baz Luhrmann to do the play justice. A glance at Baz Luhrmann’s productions allows audiences to assume he delivers movies which are unlike those of any other filmmaker today, or perhaps ever. Therefore, blending a delicate
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is fully summarized in Shakespeare's prologue: "Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona where we lay our scene. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny where civil blood make civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, a pair of star crossed lovers who take their life" (Universal, 1996). This movie is a masterful culmination of the director's phenomenal ability to create a powerful introduction, to select a realistic, but surreal setting, to choose realistic actors, and to enact specialized dramatic effects.
The classic play Romeo and Juliet by the famous playwright William Shakespeare is one of the most beautiful love stories of all time and has captured and inspired readers everywhere. Regardless of the fact that it was written in the 1500’s, it is still being performed and extolled today. There is a multitude of reasons for such continuance of the play. First of all, its everlasting themes of love and hate enable people to deeply relate to the story. Secondly, its memorable characters deeply imprint on the minds of readers. And lastly, above all, is its magnificent language which many writers today regard in awe. These three elements make the acclaimed play, Romeo and Juliet, one of the most timeless stories of our lives.
Baz Lurhmann’s creation of the film Romeo and Juliet has shown that today’s audience can still understand and appreciate William Shakespeare. Typically, when a modern audience think of Shakespeare, they immediately think it will be boring, yet Lurhmann successfully rejuvenates Romeo and Juliet. In his film production he uses a number of different cinematic techniques, costumes and a formidably enjoyable soundtrack; yet changes not one word from Shakespeare’s original play, thus making it appeal to a modern audience.
Casting includes Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo and Juliet as well as great performances by John Leguizamo (Tybalt) and, Harold Perrineau (Mercutio). Danes brings life to the character of Juliet and reaches far beyond the subservient stereotype of most Elizabethan characters with her ambition and assertion, although she sometimes sounds like a schoolgirl reading lines aloud for a teacher. DiCaprio is not quite as polished and in some scenes you may find him off-hand and whiny, however he manages to capture the depth and thoughtfulness associated with Romeo.
Zeffirelli’s ultimate goal for his version of Romeo and Juliet was to capture Shakespeare’s original intentions for the play while targeting the teenage audience of his generation. Luhrmann’s intentions were different however; he changed the way an audience looks at Shakespeare’s masterpiece by modernising the props, costumes, and sets. Obviously, to match film time quotas Zefirelli and Luhrmann has both cut many lines out of the play.
How Baz Luhrmann Uses Props, Iconography, Costumes, and Settings to Create His Own Version of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare’s best loved tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, has been portrayed in theatres and on film in many different ways. But none have been quite like Baz Luhrmann’s imaginative and unconventional adaptation. He has brought aspects of the plays Elizabethan origins and transfused them with a modern day background and created, what can only be described as a masterpiece. I believe that his use of Props, iconography costumes and the settings he has chosen has helped him to make this film such a great success. The settings of each scene have been specifically chosen to create a desired affect.
The movie version of Romeo and Juliet stars two popular young actors, Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. In some ways it is very much like the original, but at the same time very different.