However, perhaps one of the most obvious uses of imagery is water. It appears in all the key scene throughout it shows purity and clarity. Romeo washes his face in water at the party, which clears his mind of drugs and he sees Juliet in a clearer light. Romeo and Juliet’s first vision of each other are through a fish tank full of water. Water could also be seen as an object to show fate working. When both Mercutio and Tybalt die there is water very much present (sea/fountain). The swimming pool, obviously full of water, is used in a key part of Romeo and Juliet, a point where it could be make or break for their relationship.
Despite the changes to the text to show imagery and meanings in visual ways, there are some scenes that are changed with no reason other than to be different. The balcony scene for example. Romeo no longer climbs up to Juliet, but he climbs up to find the nurse. Juliet then comes down in the lift, to the same level as Romeo, by the swimming pool. Even so, she still can’t see him, and even walks right past him while busy talking to the stars. This change doesn’t effect our understanding at all, but is more exiting visually than the traditional scene. Also, the use of the swimming pool into the scene Baz Luhrmann has managed to add more freedom of movement to the characters and the added tension of the security guard coming out to look, the whole time Romeo has to hold his breath underwater as not to be seen. Juliet then returns to her calling nurse in her room by the stairs so she is permanently in the view of the camera, not splitting up the action or speech by entering a lift. It also avoids repetition.
Also candles are used to show passionate feelings and the burning love and romance, light was also very important in the death scene, the hundreds of candles provided a heavenly atmosphere, and the steps look like steps to heaven, and also making the whole scene look very symmetrical. The neon signs on the sides of the seats leading up the aisle draw your eye to the vocal point, which is the sleeping Juliet. The white dress she is wearing and all the white around her symbolises the wedding she never had, and the double bed she is laid upon represents her marital bed. When Romeo arrives and lies on the bed beside Juliet the camera shows lots of facial views, it shows him crying for her, and ripping her ring off the chain on his neck and putting it on her finger. Then as Romeo proceeds to drink the poison Juliet slowly wakes up, it shows close ups of her eyes and how she smiles when she sees Romeo, then as Romeo swallows the poison Juliet reaches out to stroke his face; you can see the horror in his eyes, the light from the candles shines in his eyes as he slowly sinks to the bed. Once Romeo has died the camera automatically goes to Juliet, focusing on her face, and the solitary tear dripping down it, her eyes flicker and there is silence all around, then suddenly the silence is broken by a cry from Juliet.
Hearts are also used in the way candles are, but clearly it shows a love that could never be. The amount of hearts is over exaggerated I feel that this helps to rub in the fact that Romeo and Juliet’s love will not be plain sailing.
The costume throughout shows the break between the two families. The party was the perfect way in which the Luhrmann could show his characters. Juliet dressed as an Angel this represents her innocence and her purity as a child. Romeo dressed as the Knight represents the one to take away all fear the knight in shinning armour. Paris the Astronaut shows he is looked upon as the hero, he can do no wrong. Tybalt dressed as the Devil represents the bad and the evil he sees around the world and how he has been brought into it, and Mercutio he is dressed as a woman he is showing that he is open minded and has a humorous out look on life.
The light was also very important in the death scene, the hundreds of candles provided a heavenly atmosphere, and the steps look like steps to heaven, and also making the whole scene look very symmetrical. The neon signs on the sides of the seats leading up the aisle draw your eye to the vocal point, which is the sleeping Juliet. The white dress she is wearing and all the
white around her symbolises the wedding she never had, and the double bed she is laid upon represents her marital bed. When Romeo arrives and lies on the bed beside Juliet the camera shows lots of facial views, it shows him crying for her, and ripping her ring off the chain on his neck and putting it on her finger. Then as Romeo proceeds to drink the poison Juliet slowly wakes up, it shows close ups of her eyes and how she smiles when she sees Romeo, then as Romeo swallows the poison Juliet reaches out to stroke his face; you can see the horror in his eyes, the light from the candles shines in his eyes as he slowly sinks to the bed. Once Romeo has died the camera automatically goes to Juliet, focusing on her face, and the solitary tear dripping down it, her eyes flicker and there is silence all around, then suddenly the silence is broken by a cry from Juliet.