The Techniques Used in Baz Luhrman's Interpretation of Romeo and Juliet

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The Techniques Used in Baz Luhrman's Interpretation of Romeo and Juliet

Baz Luhrman's ' Romeo and Juliet' uses modern settings, clothes and

weapons.

The film is set in Verona, Italy. The play is about two people from

feuding families who fall in love.

At the beginning of the film ther is a small television screen in the

centre of the screen. A newsreader is reading the prologue from Romeo

and Juliet. It grabs your attention because the newsreader is talking

in old English. It makes sure the viewers are listening and makes

Shakespeare's text seem relevant to the modern world.

There is a change of scene, with a long shot of two towers one with

Capulet on top of it and one with Montague. These are the names of the

two feuding families. This shows the two families are very important

and powerful.

It also emphasises the importance of the feud.

The music is dramatic, it makes you feel like the film will be action

packed. When the music ends the words ' two star crossed lovers' is

shown, this is from the prologue. The screen then goes black and in

white letters it says 'take their lives' . The letter t represents a

cross to show death, this emphasizes the idea of destiny or fate.

The characters are then shown one by one in freeze frame with their

name. The Prince of Verona is now the chief of police. He has been

given a modern posistion that has authority, similar to a Prince.

The first scene starts with Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio in a car

playing rap music. They drive to a petrol station and stop. They are

laughing and joking until a black car pulls into the petrol station.

Suddenly, the Montagues go quiet and watch the car carefully. A close

up shot shows the car door open and Tybalt gets out. The camera only

shows his feet. He is wearing black boots with big silver heels.

The camera zooms out and the viewers can see the whole of Tybalt, he

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