How does Bas Luhrman's staging of key scenes, in "Romeo and Juliet", add to our understanding of the play?

the prologue. At this point the audience would realise that the language has not been modernised as the visuals have. This is to provide easier understanding of the language used by having the audience associate what is being said with the situation. For example, after the prologue you see the Montague boys driving on a dual carriageway. While listening to what is being said, the audience sees that their behaviour suggests that they wish to enjoy themselves through rowdy and disruptive behaviour. The quote used is “I will take the wall of any man or maid”. When listening to the prologue, it is said that “ancient grudge” shall break into “new mutiny”. This suggests that an older violence shall be repeated, but by what violence would consider a threat, new love. The prologue mentions that “civil blood” will make “civil hands unclean”. During this, the city of Verona is shown as dark and with people fighting in the streets. The audience would then realise that this “civil blood” is the blood of the population of Verona not the blood of the Capulet or Montague family. The image of blood suggests passion, however, this blood only ends in death. Throughout the prologue it mentions fate, for example, “fatal loins”, “star crossed lovers” and others. As the definition of fate tells us, it is an event that is unavoidable. From the beginning of the play, the audience know that Romeo and Juliet will die in the midst of their family’s conflict. Romeo perceives this before entering Capulet’s mansion by saying “by some vile forfeit of untimely death”. Romeo and Juliet give these premonitions at other times in the future. While the prologue is repeated, so as to emphasise it, there is a montage of quick images. Among these are various religious symbols. Luhrman does this to explain that Shakespeare bases the entire play in a society where religion and its laws are held in far higher regard than today. When continuing to watch the images you see a type of slide show in which you see the gradual breakdown of order in society. However, one image is of a sign on which is written “Phoenix Gas”. The phoenix is the most accurate representation of Romeo and Juliet’s love.         After the prologue is the first scene. In this scene is a meeting of the Montague and Capulet boys. As the gunfight ensues, the film slows and quickens. The slower scenes prolong the tension amidst the fighting. Close-ups emphasise important phrases, for example, when Tybalt says, “peace, I hate the word”. The fighting escalates to a point where the petrol sprays around them. The audience feels tension at this point because they know that it would only take a spark to ignite the fuel. Luhrman uses this part of the scene to best tell the audience the situation between the two families. The metal sign, “add more fuel to your fire”, suggests an explosion. As a Montague attempts to escape, he runs into traffic. This traffic is both metaphorical and literal as the citizens of Verona are caught between the two families.         The ballroom scene contains the greatest amount of symbolism. Luhrman has adapted the story to explain Romeo’s intoxication of love. Mercutio gives Romeo L.S.D and the first half of the party is a distorted image of love as he sees Mercutio singing in women’s clothing and Tybalt kissing Juliet’s mother. There is a crescendo of music and light as the party continues. Romeo is then seen washing his face and removing his mask. This represents Romeo’s new identity. He then finds Juliet and realises a new form of love.         In conclusion, Bas Luhrman has directed Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” in such a way as to give a new generation a better understanding of a tragedy. He has fused Shakespeare’s words with a twentieth-century setting of which the audience can better comprehend the workings.