Baz Luhrmann directed a modern adaptation of 'Romeo and Juliet' was hugely successful in capturing the imagination of its target audience- the younger generation. His intentions in the film were to bring S

As the newsreader finishes, the camera zooms into the middle of TV and gives the effect of the film 'fast forwarding' over the city; this gives an effect of a fast moving film with lots of action. Then with operatic music you see large gothic, white words, "In fair Verona", this is to provide an emphasis on where it's set this appeals to today's modern audience because it deciphers Shakespeare's language. The next significant image you see of a Jesus statue in the middle of the newspaper article, this is meant to emphasise that religion divides the Montagues and the Caplets

Mexico was known as the 'created world' as Shakespeare never went to Italy to study Verona's society when he wrote 'Romeo and Juliet'. "It was his vision as an Englishman, of this mythical Italianate country, where everyone was passionate and hot-blooded." Luhrmann to choose a city that was modern looking that could have a dilapidated and a passionate look. This connects with Elizabethan times of politics, religion and violence connecting this is another reason to choose Mexico because politics linking religion therefore equally in violence still go on.

At the start of 'Romeo and Juliet', Baz tries to put the film into a modern urban setting. He portrays the Headquarters of the Montagues and Caplets as skyscrapers to signify to the audience that they are important figures in the city. Both of the skyscrapers are the same height and separated with a huge Jesus statue this is to connate the companies are just as wealthy as each other and "both alike in dignity". The Jesus statue between the buildings is another reference to the families being separated by religion.

The helicopter and police cars at the beginning gives us the effect that it is going to be an action packed film and the Montagues and Caplets cause trouble. The mattresses give the audience the impression that there is a lot of homelessness in the city and give something familiar for the modern audience to relate to. This also emphasises the rivalling families cause trouble, which effects everyone.

In Shakespeare's original script the setting for the 3rd civil brawl was a "public place" so Baz chose the fighting scene to be in a petrol station to relate to today's audience. In this set, there are a lot of signs to provide a particular connotations to the audience; 'l'amour' image of a 'Coca Cola' logo relate to the modern feel of things and the theme of 'Love Versus Hate' (l'amour is the french word for love). 'Add more to fuel to your fire' sign signifies to the audience that sometimes dangerous is about to happen.

As the petrol station goes up in flames so does the memory of the 2nd civil brawl, Luhrmann might have meant to show that even though they are in the lime light they will still fight and their feud is having a negative effect on Verona.

Kim Barrett, the fashion designer for 'Romeo and Juliet' chose the costumes carefully so that it would relate to the modern references to the characters and distinguish between the rivalling families. She describes the Montagues as 'utilitarian', normal and everyday like this is to give the audience the impression they are down- to- earth and have a 'more stylised and exaggerated look.' They wear sunglasses and un-buttoned, Hawaiian shirts to signify they live in a hit environment and hang around the beaches. The Montagues also have tattoos on the back of the head, dyed hair, and chain necklaces to imply that they are laid back and extravagant.

The Caplets are generally more clean cut and tidy than the Montagues this shows they are more serious and uptight. They wear religious icons like catholic cross necklaces and Jesus motif bullet-proof vest to show they are arrogant and think they are superior to their religious icons.

Sounds are exceptionally important in the opening of a film to engage the audience. Nellee Hooper, the dub-artist for 'Romeo and Juliet' tried to create enhancing atmosphere. The most dominant diegetic sound is the opening sequence is the sound of the car engines and people talking this is to make it sound realistic therefore real to the audience. Hooper chose exaggerated gun shots to emphasize that the guns are making the sound and that the situation is exaggerated. The most dominant non-diegetic sound is high pitched, operatic voice that it makes it seem the film is going to be unsettling and disturbing. They have added this because it gives the effect of a religious choir like effect to indicate to the audience that elements of the film are religious. This sound also gives an eerie impression to the words flashing on the screen.

To help appeal to a wide a wide age-ranged audience, Luhrmann helped the audience understand Shakespeare language with western genre aspects to give the viewer an image of the 'bad guys' and the 'good guys'. This effect, intertextuality, is when the director chooses to combine 2 different genres of film. We know Baz does this when his dub-artist added spaghetti western qualities to the petrol station scene. They did because they wanted the audience to relate with the story even if they can't understand the language. The Sounds included are leather and signs creaking, gun shots an oilcan being shot down.