Romeo & Juliet Film Analysis

Romeo & Juliet Essay

Baz Luhrmanns 1998 adaption of Shakespeare's 1591 classic play Romeo & Juliet, is one that that gives new meaning to the original. The modernization of the play has redefined the context, and as a result has also altered the overall theme and message. His use of numerous thematic and filming techniques has added an entirely new layer of meaning to the original. Although he uses the exact same script as the original, some of the scenes in the movie couldn’t be more different.

Baz Luhrmanns version of the play is set in an entirely new setting, sharing only the main name as the original. He transformed Fair Verona, a town in which 2 powerful factions rival for power of the town, into Verona Beach, a modernized city in which the 2 aforementioned families more so resemble that of businesses than of factions. Everything about the play has been updated to fit in with modern day 1998. This was done in order to help the play identify much easier with the people of that age, even now it isn’t too far off of our current society. Instead of wearing traditional 16th century clothing, they are fitted in the trendiest fashion of the 1990s. Their main form of transport has been changed from horseback to that of a car. In the original play, characters fought through dueling. A form of one on one combat using swords, where as in this version they battle using firearms, although they are still referred to as swords, proven by the scene in which Ted Montague reaches for a shotgun, and asks for them to “pass him his longsword”.

However, these are not the only changes in the movie. Numerous scenes throughout have been slightly altered and changed around, this may have been done to shine light on a different meaning, or simply because it came up on film better. One of the major differences in the film is in the final scene. In the movie, Romeo enters Juliet’s tomb with ease, where as in the play he is confronted by Paris in the tomb. Paris believes Romeo to have ill intent with his visit to the tomb, Romeo attempts to reason with him but Paris refuses, and draws out his sword. They duel for a short while until Romeo comes out the victor, and slays Paris, where as in the movie Paris is missing from this scene and is still alive by the ending. In the movie, when Romeo finds Juliet’s body and drinks the potion, Juliet hastily awakens, only to be met with a dying Romeo, this gave them a more few seconds to say goodbye to each other, unlike in the original in which Juliet woke up to the dead bodies of Paris, Romeo and other family members. This contrast makes the scene in the movie much more somber, as Juliet saw her lover die, and could have prevented it if she only woke up earlier.

As I mentioned previously, Baz Luhrmann modernized the text with the intent of aiming it towards a younger audience. The actors he chose to play the roles of the characters were mostly very relevant and pop culture icons. Most notably the 2 main characters, Leonardo DiCaprio, who played Romeo, was a very popular actor and a teenage heartthrob. The person chosen to play Juliet, Claire Danes was also a very popular actress. By choosing to make these characters set in the modern time, it made it much easier for viewers, especially younger ones, to identify with the characters and take something from it. The modernization really makes an impact especially during certain scenes in which characters face issues that the youth still face today. Such scenes as the one in which Juliet contemplates suicide after being separated from her lover may strike a chord with certain members of today’s society, especially those dealing with grief. The inclusion of young actors really helps people relate to the characters in the movie and take away a message they may not have with the original.