Comparison Of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo And Juliet

Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet provides a fresh, new take on an older story. He takes a classic Shakespearian story and transforms it into a modern tragedy. He does this by incorporating new technology, ideas, and settings to surprise people who already know the plot. Even though he stays true to the story, Luhrmann’s decisions as a director inject suspense and tension into a story the audience already knows.

The scene where Romeo and Juliet first meet is interesting because Luhrmann’s interpretations create artistic thought. In the play, Shakespeare only describes the scene in Romeo’s point of view. You can infer that Romeo is looking across the party room and spots Juliet. Romeo says to a serving man: “What lady’s that which doth enrich the hand, / Of yonder knight?” (1.5.41-42). Who replies with: “I know not sir” (1.4.43). In response, Romeo says:

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night

As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear-

Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!

So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows

Tybalt is killed in this fray. Luhrmann makes a decision to have Romeo purposely wreck his car into Tybalt’s. This scene is shot with a shaky camera. The view cuts from Romeo, to Tybalt, and back to Romeo, both of their faces bloody. Then, there’s slow motion as the car flips, and you see Tybalt tumbling through the air. The camera focuses on Tybalt, and he isn’t moving. You think he’s dead, but then he turns. He spots the gun, and crawls towards it. Romeo also races for the gun. The audience wants to know who gets to the gun first, most might think Romeo, since they know Tybalt dies. Contrary to their thoughts, Tybalt gets the gun. Even though this story is familiar to most people, there is still suspense in a well-known moment. It’s almost like reading your favorite book a second time, but something different