Compare and Contrast how Mercutio is Portrayed in the Baz Luhrman and the Franco Zefferelli Productions of Romeo and Juliet Focusing on Act 3 Scene 1

The first 200 words of this essay...

Compare and Contrast how Mercutio is Portrayed in the Baz Luhrman and the Franco Zefferelli Productions of Romeo and Juliet Focusing on Act 3 Scene 1

Baz Luhrman and Franco Zefferelli explore and interpret Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" and present them both in very different ways, mainly due to the fact that Shakespeare didn't write too many stage directions on his plays. Besides the language he used, there was few stage directions for them to base there work upon, allowing them free to interpret into completely separate ways. But, the one thing they kept the same was the language Shakespeare wrote in. Making it still obviously a Shakespearian film, even though it was set in different times.

This essay will explain how Mercutio is portrayed in both adaptations of the film. It will also be looking at the settings, music, expressions and the actions of the other characters around and with Mercutio.

Luhrman set his film in the present day (1996), which best captures the essence of Shakespeare for the present-day viewer and although the language is still in Shakespeare's style, it still seems easier to understand when put into present day context. The movie begins with