Drama and Excitement in the Opening Scene of Romeo and Juliet by Baz Lurhmann

Drama and Excitement in the Opening Scene of Romeo and Juliet by Baz Lurhmann

Romeo and Juliet is directed by Baz Lurhmann and was produced in 1997

.In the opening scene of the film is set in a petrol station . The

Montague boys and the Capulet boys happen to meet each other and a

quarrel ensues and this leads to a big gun battle accompanied by

western music that adds humour to the scene. The techniques the

Luhrmann uses are lighting ,camera angles , setting and different

aspects of mis en scene to create drama and excitement for the

audience.

In the opening scene of “Romeo and Juliet” sound is used to create an

effect on the audience . When the film starts images of the city of

Verona are shown to loud opera music , this non-diagetic sound creates

a tense atmosphere , it builds up the audiences suspense , this leads

the audience onto the intensity of the film that they are about to

watch.

As the opera music is being played , a voice over in an American

accent is used to introduce the prologue .This non-diagetic voice over

by the character Friar Lawrence is used to introduce the quarrel

between the two families ; the Capulets and the Montagues . It makes

the quarrel between the two families seem the most important part of

the story and how it influences the characters on their decisions .

In the opening scene of the film we are introduced to the Montague

boys and the Capulet boys . Different sounds are used to differentiate

between the two groups of characters . When we see the Montague boys

coming into the petrol station , loud

Hip - hop music is coming from their car , and they are making silly

boyish noises this i...

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...threatening towards Benvolio and has power over him , this is also

shown from the look that we get from the close up on Benvolios face ,

his facial expression shows that he is intimidated by Tybalt

Baz Luhrmann uses many techniques to create drama and excitement in

the film ‘Romeo and Juliet’ I think that the technique he uses the

best to full effect is the sound he incorporates in the film. The

sound creates a tense feeling of drama and excitement within the film

. As soon as the film starts the sound is thrown right at the audience

from the start , the use of the opera music and the western style of

music creates the correct atmosphere for the scenes that they are used

in . For example when the western music is played in the petrol

station scene it builds the audience up for what is about to happen in

that scene .