The music and images get slower and slower, “two households both alike in dignity…”showing the two families, again separated by Jesus, sour looks upon the head's faces; hate and malcontent, though smiles upon the children's; happy, contented faces, with no worries. The images of fire represent hell, hatred and death. Headlines of newspapers flash upon the screen, linking again with the theme of the media and the modern setting. Showing there must be public interest in the growing feud between the two families, and again highlighting the conflict between the two families. Extremely short images are shown of police helping civilians escape the troubles caused by the quarrel between the Montague's and the Capulet's. The music had slower down up until the point of "take their life," where it picks up again adding atmosphere and letting the audience know there is great tragedy within the film.
The images build great suspense though shows a building power within the film. Two important images from later on in the film flash upon the screen, though they are very insignificant at this point, just adding suspense and wonder. The words in the screen show love, lust, hatred and tragedy. There were random images shooting across the screen, fireworks, and choir boys singing in a loud wild fashion. Guns, characters, light and dark images showing good and evil. Loud bangs of gunshots, police helicopters, blood, raging images demonstrating excitement and apprehension to the audience. At a climax, the words in bold print of "Romeo + Juliet" linger upon the screen.
The “+” in blood red symbolizing bloodshed and conflict, it is also shaped like a cross, to continue the religious theme of the film. The Montague “boys” look like” skateboard punks” while the Capulet look like “Latino gangsters”. The car has a personalized number plate, “Mon-005, Verona beach” and “Cap-005, Verona beach” Which shows wealth.
The flames escalate, symbolizing the devastation to come. The flames show hate and anger. Every body around is affected by the fighting as symbolized by the flames. Affecting people's livelihoods, every body is affected by these civil brawls. Again dramatic music starts, escalating the feeling of hate and friction between the two families. A poster is shown burning, once stating "Montague's and Capulet's 2nd civil brawl." This shows that it is over; hate has ended that, and born a third brawl, more powerful than the previous ones. A sign is also shown burning, "Add more fuel to your fire." Showing that the public are affected, and that hate is the road to all evil's, symbolizing the devil and hell. The camera follows the flames upwards showing things will get worse, still with the music blasting. The fire is burning as strong as their hate, causing public panic and confusion.
The function of the Prologue is to give introduction to the Verona of Romeo and Juliet. It tells the audience exactly what is going to happen in the play. The Prologue refers to an ill-fated couple with its use of the word “star-crossed,” which means, literally, against the stars. The use of the term star can make the audience feel more sympathetic to the death of Romeo and Juliet. But the Prologue itself creates the sense of fate by providing the audience with the knowledge that and will die even before the play has begun. The audience therefore watches the play with the expectation that it must fulfill the terms set in the Prologue.
Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet present Shakespeare’s drama without offering a line-by-line readily. Baz Luhrmann use Shakespeare language because of its use of modern day support, important text, and most importantly, its use of imagery. There were only few scenes in which Luhrmann’s changes allow viewers to relate to the action.
Tybalt makes his feelings known in the earliest of scenes: “What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word “As I hate hell, all Montague’s, and thee”. These are strong words, revealing the strength of the hatred and the seriousness of the feud.
