There are many differences between the Elizabethan theatre and a film. The Elizabethan theatre was a performance in an open-air stage. There was standing space for most people and a seating area for the more wealthy visitors. The performance would be at around noon and would be shown in broad daylight, there were no special lighting or effects to help the actors. Males played all parts; females were not allowed to act in the Elizabethan theatre even if this meant two men kissing, at this time people would have not thought this of being abnormal. The costumes were simple and without any lighting, sound, or special effects the language was very important. The Elizabethan audience referred to going to hear the play rather than see it, emphasising that the theatre was an oral rather than visual experience. Also the visitors did not have to sit or stand in silence and watch the show as we do now when watching films. The theatre was more of a meeting place where people were free to eat, drink, meet up, chat and even join in with the production. It is very different with a modern film and audience. The actors are male and female, have believable costumes, many special effects and lighting. This makes films seem much more believable. Although a modern audience expects it to be believable and would argue if it didn’t, in the Elizabethan theatre the audience expected no more than a few actors stood on stage speaking. Also nowadays the director picks certain actors and actresses, maybe for their looks, popularity or talent.
Shakespeare’s purpose of writing the play was to entertain people and of course to make money. Luhrman’s purpose of the film was to answer the question ‘if Shakespeare were alive today, how would he make a film?’ He also wanted to let teenagers know who Shakespeare was, and let them no that Shakespeare’s play’s aren’t just chores that have to be studied at school.
Act 1 scene 5 is set at the Capulet’s party. Romeo sneaks in because he thinks his ‘true love’ Rosaline is going to be there. Romeo and Juliet meet through a fish tank separating the ladies and gentlemen’s toilets. Juliet is then introduced to Paris, her future husband, although Romeo and Juliet cannot keep their eyes off each other. Romeo now forgets all about Rosaline and says he is in love with Juliet for example, “did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight, for I ne’er saw true beauty till this night”. This makes me feel as if Romeo doesn’t really know what love is and isn’t being serious. Although we are still convinced that there love for each other is real. This is because of the language they use, music, location, their facial expressions and even their clothing. We also notice a difference in the way Romeo describes Rosaline and Juliet, for example, his use of religious imagery describes Juliet as a holy shrine and indicates a move towards a more spiritual consideration of love.
Romeo and Juliet is set in the gangs and gun culture of Verona beach. It was filmed in Mexico City. Baz Luhrman picked Mexico City because it could have represented anywhere in the world. It also looks realistic and is a religious city. Act 1 scene 5 is set at the Capulet’s house, where they are having a party. From seeing the house we can already tell a lot about them. The house is huge, modern and full of gold expensive objects. By this we can see that they must be a very wealthy family. There is loud music and disco lights. Then the setting changes into the toilets. There is a fish tank separating the toilets. Romeo and Juliet are on either side and then spot each other. We then are taken back into the party, where they meet for the first time and kiss.
Baz Luhrman picked a good choice of actors and actresses for his adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Leonardo DiCaprio played the part of Romeo. Luhrman picked him because he had already been in films before so he was familiar and obviously had some fans that would go and see the film because he was in it. He is also very confident and very good-looking. These things always attract more people to see the film, especially teenagers. Claire Danes played the part of Juliet. She was not very well known before the film but was picked as she had a familiar face and had ‘the girl next door’ look about her. She was attractive but not as a Hollywood star looks like. I think Luhrman picked her because of her having a familiar face, it could remind the audience of someone they know. Also because Luhrman felt that teenagers could relate to her. Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes (Romeo and Juliet) look good together and look like a good couple. This makes the story line easier to believe and more romantic. They are also very convincing and make the story believable. The Capulets were all picked because they were tall and looked strong. The Montagues had a younger look and were all quite small. Luhrman chose to do this because it was easier for the audience to notice that the Capulets were the rich and posh ones and the Montagues were quite poor.
The music was very important in Romeo and Juliet. It fitted in well with the story line and the acting. They used slow music for romantic scenes and fast music for action scenes. The music helps to add to the atmosphere. The music attracts more teenagers to the film, as it was modern music liked by teenagers. In act 1 scene 5 there was very fast loud disco music as there was a party, once we had entered the toilet there is slow, romantic music as it is when Romeo and Juliet first meet. It is clever how Baz Luhrman uses music in the film and how it affects the way we feel.
The costumes played a big part in Romeo and Juliet. All throughout the play the
costumes gave us an idea of the type of person and the mood they were in. Act 1
scene 5 was when we most saw the characters personalities through their costumes.
The party was a fancy dress. Romeo went as a knight in shining Armour; it was
basic and had no colour. This shows that Romeo is a prince; Juliet also calls him a
prince later on in the film. It also shows he is quite poor but is good and nice. Juliet
is dressed as an angel, the costume was pure white. This shows that she is clean
and doesn’t know anything about the outside rules. It also links to later in the play
when Romeo calls her an angel. Tybalt is dressed as a devil, it had strong colours.
This tells us that he is not very nice, violent and he could get whatever he wanted.
Paris was dressed in a spacesuit outfit, as an astronaut. This represents the future
(probably meaning the future of Juliet and Paris) He is also dressed in white, like
Juliet. Mercutio was dressed as a women. This only happens in the film, so it is
something that Luhrman decided to put in. The name Mercutio comes from the
word Mercurial, which means describing one whose behavior varies unpredictably.
This is probably where Luhrman got the idea from. Lady Capulet is dressed the
princess Egyptian conqueror of land Cleopatra. This shows that she is a very
powerful person, she is very rich and over the top. Lord Capulet is dressed as the
Roman emperor Julia Caesar. This shows that he is very powerful and rich. Is also
show a close relationship between Lady Capulet and Lord Capulet as they are
dressed similar. It is very clear for us to know people well in Romeo and Juliet,
most of this is because of their costumes. If we didn’t understand some of the
language said then we could still understand the sort of person they are by their
costume.
The language in the film is mostly taken from Shakespeare’s play with a few
extra bits added in and taken out. Sections of the play could be cut out because they
can be shown without using speech for example, Luhrman shows loyalty of family
members to their families without saying it in a speech but by using the family
crest on the base of their guns. This is less direct but effective, especially for
teenagers as they want more action than long speeches. Luhrman could show
speech in visual, this means there was no point in using some parts of William
Shakespeare’s script in the film.
Baz Luhrman also used the camera technique in a modern way. This looks better
and appeals to teenagers. The camera changes direction and uses close ups. If these
techniques weren’t used the film wouldn’t have the same impact on us for example,
when Romeo and Juliet kiss the camera is very close up on them for the whole
time, this is because we get much more of the romance and emotions. We don’t get
the same feelings in the text than in the film. Baz Luhrman also uses modern ideas
for example there are security guards and bouncers outside the party, and before
the party you had to hand in all guns.
Baz Luhrman used the same approach to adapt the 1595 film, Romeo and Juliet as
pop groups do nowadays. Pop groups take songs that have been sung years ago and
adapt them to a modern pop version. Luhrman made the film modern by using
lively modern images like a swimming pool, a modern rock soundtrack and young
good-looking people. He has taken Romeo and Juliet to an audience that would
normally think of Shakespeare as a chore to be studied at school. He changed only
a few things: It had to be vibrant on-screen action, have soppy love scenes and
have references to sex. By adding these things he would have an action film that is
exciting and fun to watch and a romantic chick flick. He also edited the film
because teenagers do not want to sit through a film hours long, although most
edited text was replaced with images. I think that act 1 scene 5 was edited in an
excellent way. The theme of water was very good, and meeting through a fish tank
is a scene that you can remember. Teenagers can relate to the film as love at first
sight is something that everyone would like to happen to them.
