Baz Luhrmann's Film Techniques to Make Romeo and Juliet More Accessible to a Younger Audience

Baz Luhrmann's Film Techniques to Make Romeo and Juliet More Accessible to a Younger Audience

The story of Romeo and Juliet has been added to and adapted to over

the year's though different film productions, but none more

spectacular and popular as the 'Blockbuster' Luhrmann created.

Luhrmann turned an Elizabethan play into a modern day action packed

film all could relate to and understand.

Luhrmann turned a historical tragedy into an up-beat action packed

love story. Luhrmann had an enormous potential for the movie he was to

create, and also had confidence in making a success of it.

He chose cast for the film wisely, a handsome leading man 'Leonardo Di

Caprio' and the young appealing girl 'Claire Danes'. These two

characters are almost used as props to demonstrate the modern day

world.

Luhrmann tackled his obstacle recreating 'Romeo and Juliet' by using a

rock soundtrack and many modern day references including swimming

pools cars TV's etc. The film was portrayed vibrantly on-screen, with

soppy love scenes and references to sex. By incorporating these things

together the film can me referred to as an 'Action thriller' or a

'Chick Flick'.

The opening scene of the film is packed with the main film genres. For

instance the western genre is used extensively in the first scene. The

whistling wind when Tybalt speaks and the way his metal-heeled boots

clink on the ground, as well as the squeaking petrol station sign, all

have strong connotations of the western genre. Another genre used in

the first scene is action. Explosions, guns and special effects all

show this. There are also comedy aspects throughout the film. The two

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...he never had, and the double

bed she is laid upon represents her marital bed. When Romeo arrives

and lies on the bed beside Juliet the camera shows lots of facial

views, it shows him crying for her, and ripping her ring off the chain

on his neck and putting it on her finger. Then as Romeo proceeds to

drink the poison Juliet slowly wakes up, it shows close ups of her

eyes and how she smiles when she sees Romeo, then as Romeo swallows

the poison Juliet reaches out to stroke his face; you can see the

horror in his eyes, the light from the candles shines in his eyes as

he slowly sinks to the bed. Once Romeo has died the camera

automatically goes to Juliet, focusing on her face, and the solitary

tear dripping down it, her eyes flicker and there is silence all

around, then suddenly the silence is broken by a cry from Juliet.