The order of the shots has also been chosen very carefully. For example, at Sycamore Grove, the camera begins on the friends but then shifts to Mercutio as the music starts. This is to establish Mercutio's character to the audience and how he is the life and soul of the party. Shots of the fire works have been mixed into the other shots as a constant reminder to the audience that there is a party going on. As Romeo and Mercutio talk, they alternate low angle close ups with high angle shots, as the conversation becomes more close it moves to a two shot showing the audience the communication and closeness between the two friends. At the party Luhrman has events happening at the same time. For example, the shots are of Juliet, then Romeo looking at her in love to suddenly Tybalt who is showing hatred. Luhrman uses this as a reminder that it will not work out well. This same technique has been used for the end of the scene as the shots move from Romeo longing for Juliet, to Juliet looking at Romeo, to Tybalt who again, expresses the hate and violence that is built into the society. By mixing Shots of Tybalt throughout the scene, rather than having his speech at the same time, Luhrman adds to the passion and excitement that Shakespeare wrote.
There are two songs from the soundtrack that are played in this scene. The first is, 'Young Hearts Run Free', this song is not only sung by Mercutio but expresses his opinion to the audience. The song is about having fun and not settling down with lyrics such as, 'don't be no fool when love really don't love you' and, 'to yourself be true' the audience know that he is singing to Romeo about Rosaline as it echoes what he said previously, 'If love be rough with you, be rough with love'. When he first sings along at Sycamore Grove, Mercutio sings, 'Rosaline and thee'. The song gives entertainment and establishes the character without having to listen to large amounts of dialogue. The song is also very sexual, as are Mercutio's opinions of love. The song is associated with drag queens and Mercutio's costume confuses the audience as they question his sexuality. This is to draw the audience into the world of teenagers who are confused and sometimes make rash decisions and can be loud and arrogant. The fast pace and rhythm of the song links to the idea of the love drug and spinning out of control also. Luhrman has also mixed in the song sung by Lord Capulet. Although only one word is sung, 'Amore' it means love and it is sung with such a powerful voice that it shows that Lord Capulet has power over love, this links into the plot of the play also as he does.
The second song is 'Kissing You' sung by Des'ree. It is a vast contrast to the previous song as it is much more serene and calm. This shows the difference between Romeo and his friends, they are young and free but Romeo has fallen in love and has to become sensible and calm. An example of a lyric is, 'watching the stars without you, my soul cries', it is a song about painful, pure, true love which shows the theme of Romeo and Juliet's during the film. This is 'their song' and is always played when they are together, it is sad and upsetting and therefore represents their relationship to the audience, giving them a sense of things to come. When she is singing, Des'ree is wearing white, which symbolises truth and purity to the audience, making the song more believable. Luhrman has Tybalt speak over the top of the song and his harsh, husky voice sounds evil against the soft passionate song. The violins express the passion between the lovers and they are strong when they kiss then getting louder as the nurse takes Juliet away but then they squeak when they realise who they are. The pain of squeaking violins shows the pain of not being together. The darker, more menacing song, 'A pretty piece of flesh' is played as they drive away and fills the audience with dread, as this is how the characters feel.
Luhrman has also used light carefully to enhance the mood and feelings throughout the scene. It begins with the fireworks lighting up the sky at Sycamore Grove. Luhrman uses these as an analogy of Juliet's forthcoming affect on Romeo. He, at the moment feels upset and dark but she is going to 'light up his life'. The swirling lights add to the confusion and the effects of the drug, they also build up the excitement towards the party for the audience. During Romeo's premonition the crosses are an eerie fluorescent blue, which gives the audience a sense of foreboding but at the same time, the lit up crosses are religious which links to heaven and purity. Most characters, such as Lord and Lady Capulet, Mercutio and Tybalt, are wearing shiny sequinned outfits that reflect the light drawing attention to them. This again, shows their concern with appearances. Romeo and Juliet however, do not reflect the light and are presented to the audience as much more absorbed in each other privately. When they meet, the lighting is surreal and blue which makes it seem more calm and relaxed to the audience. During, 'Kissing You' the light takes a slightly red tint which links to love and the heart and shows the audience how Romeo and Juliet feel for each other. The light in the party is gaudy and overpowering especially as there are gold balloons and ornaments everywhere. As it is the house of the Capulet's, Luhrman uses the decoration to express their wealth and concerns with impressing. The lighting in the lift is much more pure and divine in comparison. It gives the impression of purity and serenity. The audience then accept the love as true much more easily. As Juliet runs across the balconies, only the silhouette is seen making her seem even more like an angel, this is to emphasise her purity at this point in the film to the audience. Once they are outside, it is dark and depressing which adds to Tybalt's voice. This change in lighting expresses the moment of dread for the lovers as they realise the problems ahead. As Romeo drives through the trailing lights it is as if the idea of innocence and perfection has left him.
Luhrman has taken the idea of medieval balls and masks and turned this party into a fancy dress party. This has enabled him to express the characters through their costumes. Lord and Lady Capulet are Anthony and Cleopatra, rich, powerful people. The amount of gold on both of their costumes shows their wealth and arrogance. Tybalt is dressed as a devil, which shows the audience the link to death and sin. Romeo is dressed as a knight as Luhrman gives him the role of Juliet's knight in shining armour. The childish link to fairy tales shows his young age and naivety. Juliet however, is an angel, Luhrman has chosen this costume for her as it enables the audience to see her purity and innocence. Luhrman knows that first impressions count for a lot when forming opinions and has therefore taken a lot of care over the character's costumes.
Luhrman has kept the setting true to the play as they are supposed to be in Verona town but instead are in Verona Beach then they are both obviously set at the Capulet mansion. The whole film is set at Verona Beach which is a choice made by Luhrman to make the play more modern. The youths in Verona Beach would be quite rich and arrogant so this kept in with the personalities of Tybalt and Mercutio.
In order to make the film flow quickly and be more interesting, parts of the dialogue have been removed. As Mercutio already has an invitation, the beginning of Act1 Scene4 has been cut as in this they discuss not having one. Lines in which Mercutio is established as being rude and sexual have also been cut because this is already expressed through his costume. The Queen Mab speech is very long and has therefore been shortened, Luhrman has left in the most important examples; lovers and soldiers, these examples again emphasise the mixture of love and hate throughout the play and film. The line, 'Thy drugs are quick', has been taken from when Romeo drinks the poison and is said after he takes the ecstasy also, it shows that the odd camera shots and angles are showing the effects. In the same way that Luhrman cut Mercutio's speech and used his costume to express him, he does the same with Lord Capulet by using one line, 'I have seen the day That I have worn a visor, and could tell A whispering tale in a fair lady's ear'. This lets the audience know his longing to be young again but his concern with appearances is obvious through his costume. New dialogue has been added also and re-ordered to create dramatic intensity. For example, Paris is given new dialogue to make the dancing more realistic then Tybalt's speech is shortened then spoken in the middle of the moment that the lovers begin speaking. This has been done to shock the audience and once again show the love that is mixed with hate within the society. Lord Capulet's speech in which he threatens Tybalt is also shortened but the anger is expressed clearly as he hits him. This brings the Shakespearian intentions into the 21st century where violence is accepted more. Luhrman also chooses to shorten speeches and instead use the close-ups to express feelings, as the lovers realise who the other is. As Romeo says, 'She Capulet?', the close up of his face is so intense that the emotion is portrayed with out words. Another change to the original script is that it is Mercutio, not Benvolio who says, 'Away, be gone; the sport is at the best'. Luhrman has chosen to use Mercutio, not Benvolio because the former is more memorable as Romeo's friend and therefore reinforces the idea that his friends separate the lovers also. One of the most significant changes to the original script however, is Luhrman's choice to end the scene with Tybalt's speech of how he is not going to let the situation past. This creates a sense of foreboding in the viewer and the tension and excitement makes the film more interesting and entertaining.
The theme's that run throughout the play are also expressed in the film, and in the party scene in particular. For example, the idea of fate that is used so frequently in the play, 'star-crossed lovers', is emphasised as Romeo looks to the stars as he says, 'Some consequence yet hanging in the stars'. As Mercutio magically makes the trinket box disappear, this image also creates the atmosphere of mystery and magic. The same idea of magic, fate and fortune is also emphasised by Luhrman as Romeo has a premonition. At this moment in the film, the audience do not know what these flashing shots mean but this includes the audience into Romeo's confusion.
Each of the techniques described above have been used by Luhrman to create an overall effect of a party atmosphere. The combination of light, music and fast moving camera sequences draw the audience in but at the same time the focus on the main characters is still there. The audience are given an open window into each character's personality by their costume and the ending sequence with dark lighting and music sets off Tybalt's speech on revenge perfectly giving the audience the ever-present sense of foreboding.
When the film was originally presented to the world, it was not received particularly well as critics believed that it was not true to the original script and therefore not a correct representation of the Shakespearian play that had been known and loved for so many years. However, I believe that this film and this scene do everything that Shakespeare's play did in the 16th century. The audience are drawn into the surroundings by close-up camera shots, feel the atmosphere of the party through music, and the presentation of the characters by both DiCaprio and Danes express the idea of true love to the audience in every possible way.
