The Opening Scene of Lurhman's version of "Romeo and Juliet"

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Mariam Saghir 9MAL-9A1 English

SHAKESPEARE-ROMEO AND JULIET

Shakespeare has written many popular plays ranging from different genres such as horror romance comedy and adventure. ‘Macbeth,’ ‘A Midsummer’s Night Dream’ and ‘The Tempest’ are a few famous examples of his work. The one we are studying as a class is one of his most well known piece ‘Romeo and Juliet’. This has been produced in to several movies like the 1996 version directed by Baz Lurhman  starring Claire Danes and Leonardo Di Caprio.

In the 1996 version of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, directed by Baz Lurhman the type of music used at the beginning is fast and classical, this is added to give a sense of adventure and excitement, to give the audience awareness that this love story has a huge meaning behind it and that it will affect both of the families and is not just going to be a boring old love story. The classical music does give and add an operatic effect to it.

In the opening scene when the Montague boys arrive, funky and loud punk music is played to show that there wild and lively bunch of boys, but when the Capulets enter a cowboy tune is played which is mainly found in Spaghetti westerns. This shows that these boys like to be seen as mature young men instead of wild out of control boys. Spaghetti western music is used to give a sense of feeling that a fight is going to take place, when cowboys have a riot on the street, but instead of it being between two cowboys it between the two families Capulet and Montague. This may give the audience a feel that a serious fight is going to place which may leave one or two people seriously hurt.

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There are many different types of camera shots taken during the movie. There are several medium shots taken throughout the film, for example when the Capulet enter the petrol station the main focus is on their number plate  to show the audience that they have pride in their name, so that is why they have their family name on their number plate. There is also a close up of a sign in the petrol station which read ‘add more fuel to your fire,’ this is done to keep the audience minds awake by them thinking what does the sign ...

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