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Baz Luhrmann Romeo And Juliet Comparative Essay

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Baz Luhrmann Romeo And Juliet Comparative Essay
In the opening scene of the modern adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet", the qualities of the feuding families: The Montagues and The Capulets are successfully exposed to the audience by the use of presentational devices. The director, Baz Luhrmann, has paid deliberate attention to these areas, which successfully portray the rival family member's temperaments. The use of different lighting, colour, music, sound effects, costume and make up are applied to represent the different families to show the distinction of the two. Areas such as framing, location, camera angle and movement help to express the diversity of the two families, making it apparent to the audience the existence of the two families resentment towards each other. This essay will …show more content…
Both the Montagues and the Capulets have religious adornments, proving that only religion unites the two families. Baz Luhrmann creates a symbolic image when the Capulets go into the station the nun comes out. This demonstrates that as evil goes in, good comes out.
Luhrmann has created different impressions of the families by distinguishing their reactions in situations. This image is a sinister portrayal of evil and sin. Luhrmann uses a close up shot on the Capulets to suggest the seriousness and control that the Capulets obtain. Fast framing has been deliberately used to express the Montagues panic and unawareness of how to respond. The fear of the Montagues is also portrayed by the way their voices become high and comic. Their whimpering indicates the Montagues fear of the Capulets.
The audience become increasingly aware of the rivalry. Luhrmann suggests that the Montagues, though proud to maintain the feud, fear the Capulets. This is shown through the conflicting mannerisms of the two families. A Capulet jokingly pronounces, "Boo". This results in a negative reaction that embarrasses the Montagues. The reaction makes evident the influential power the Capulets have and how they are perhaps the more aggressive family. In return for their humiliation, a Montague uses a juvenile hand gesture to insult the Capulets. This gesture reaffirms the irresponsible nature of the Montagues. The Capulets aggressively act in response to the insult by shouting at a high volume, expressing the violent side to the

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