How are the main themes presented in the opening sequence of Baz Luhrman's film of Romeo and Juliet

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Justin Coaley 10 c                                                        4 February 2001

                           How are the main themes presented                                                                in the opening sequence of Baz Luhrman's

                                film of Romeo and Juliet

        In Baz Luhrman's film of Romeo and Juliet the opening scene captures many if not all of the main themes in some form or another.  Many of these themes are depicted with: clips from the film, news readings, news reports, sound effects, music and text.  The opening sequence which lasts for two minutes shows these main themes: modernisation, conflict (family), violence, tragedy, death, romance, an arranged marriage and religious aspects.  The film came out in 1997 and was completely modernised except for on thing, it was still in Shakespearian language. The original text was kept completely as it was written.  The setting has moved to an urban and modern location, Verona Beach in America.

        The modernisation is the first theme you see in the film.  This concept of modernisation in the opening scene is important because the whole film has been updated and if the opening scene was not modernised then it would not make sense and none of the things you see would fit in with the rest of the film.  The modernisation makes it easier to understand and you still get a feel for the original because the script is the same.  You see a woman newsreader to us this is nothing special or strange but, in Shakespearian times this would never of happened as it is an important job and Women were not allowed these.  The chief of police who is one of the most important characters in the film who in the real play was the Prince is black.  There is no way is Shakespearian times that the Prince of Verona would have been black.  This is due to old times being so racist and, this represents how far the whole world has come in not being racist and how much it has changed.  This small thing to us is a depiction of modernisation.  Also the fact of the news report is an example of our times, as they definitely did not have televisions in those days.  

The film is set in an urban, lively and prosperous city, Verona Beach.  Instead of seeing the houses where they live you see the office blocks that they own.  These are two main viewpoints of the city and are separated by a statue of Jesus Christ to show that the two families are separated by religion.  At the beginning you see police cars and helicopter’s these are another definite modernisation to the film.  When Romeo and Juliet was written the weapon that would have been used was a sword, in the film they use guns.  However unlike today where gun laws are very tight and strict you see people walking around with them as if they were in the olden days and they were swords.

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        The setting is an important part of the film.  It is a modern city with big buildings and everything you would expect from a big city in America.  The new setting is not an essential part to the film but I think it is a good one in making it easier to understand and relate to.  It is a very dramatic city with very big features, which go with the play for example, the chapel of the Capulet family and the two skyscrapers, one belonging to each family.  The big buildings represent the status of the two families among ...

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