The themes that are introduced in the first scene are that there is a grudge between the two sides and that the two main characters are Benvolio and Tybalt, Benvolio the peace keeper and Tybalt the trouble starter. This theme is held for most of the play because it shows the hatred between the two houses and that the grudge is a deep hatred because of the intensity and hot headedness that the characters have and act out within the play. It says in the directions [He beats down their swords] when Benvolio says 'Part, fools! Put up your swords; you know not what you do.', this shows how Benvolio added to the hostility by drawing his weapon.
Dramatic tension is added at the start when Benvolio and then Tybalt enters, this adds tension because of Benvolio having put up his weapon, which has provoked Tybalt a lot more than having his weapon sheathed. Then when Benvolio meets Romeo, the mood and dramatic tension change because Benvolio knows what Romeo's problems are but can't talk any sense into him. The mood changes because the pace has slowed down and the atmosphere has changed.
We aren't that prepared for what is to come because the story has a lot of twists within it and changes a lot throughout the course of the play. because of the types of genres that are within the rest of the film i.e. comedy or love, we have not been prepared for that because all we have been prepared for it the violence and how we see that and how the story goes along with all the turns and surprises.
In the later part of the film, Romeo's best friend Mercutio is slain by Tybalt because of Tybalt's hatred for Romeo. This happened because of what Tybalt and the others didn't know. Tybalt’s aggression is very easily brought out and so it shows at the Capulet masque where Tybalt recognizes Romeo's voice.
Romeo and Juliet Assignment (Part 2)
The prologue is very dramatic because it starts off with a TV, which channels are being flicked over until the news reporter who tells us about the two households and the star crossed lovers and how they take there own life. This gives us an idea of what is to come. Then it is repeated by the Friar who announces it to add a dramatic feel and to put the message across if you missed it the first time. There are around 75 frames within the set where the Friar speaks. This shows us the set and the characters and gives us an idea of what’s going on.
The Montague Servants are dressed in clothes that people would wear at the beach and the Capulet Servants have a more serious dressing. The Montague’s come across as the funny and the people that like to have a good time and the Capulets come across as the classy, stylish pair that are very keen to have a good time but hate all Montague's. The two recurring motifs that stick in my mind are the license plate 005 CAP and 005 MON and the name of the weapons 'SWORD', 'DAGGER' and 'LONG-SWORD'. Benvolio tries to be the peace keeper but has to resort to violence to solve the problem, when Tybalt attacks him.
Humor is brought into the scene when the Nuns, drive away and the Capulets and Montagues see each other. After we come to the 'Do you bite your thumb at me, sir?' This is humouress because to the public nowadays that would seem stupid but in Shakespeare's day it was a very offensive to do it to someone. Also there are the comments from the Montagues about that they will push the Capulet maids up against the wall. This is different from what Shakespeare did because Shakespeare had it the other way round, i.e. the Capulets would push the Montague maids up against the wall.
There is a change of mood in the scene when Benvolio goes to talk to Romeo on the beach, and they start talking about the previous brawl and why Romeo is sad, this change in mood gives us an idea of what’s to come later in the movie. The change in mood is brought about when Romeos parents ask of where he is and so Benvolio goes to talk to him. I believe that Baz Lurhmann has done what Shakespeare would have wanted if he was still alive to the present day because the film is very entertaining and has the same story line and goes along with what Shakespeare wrote.
I believe that the film is not as good as the play because the play can be acted out in many different ways but I don't believe that this was the right way to do because I believe that it wasn't as good as it could of been. They could of added extra things like a better ending to Tybalt life like being stabbed or being impaled and a spike of the fountains or have his car blow up and him die in the explosion.
