by November East

Created on: June 03, 2008

Baz Luhrmann's rendition of Romeo and Juliet includes everything Shakespeare had originally intended: hate, violence and of course, a love leading to a horrific suicide. This version combines the elements of a modern action movie, packed with action, fantastic love scenes, fiery explosions, all with an "in your face attitude" with a sassy twist and feel of an MTV music video. This passionate and heartbreaking story, where guns take the place of swords, comes to the big screen and surely to leave it's audience with more than just one tear in their eye.

The two main backdrops of the film take place on the bright and urban beach of Verona, Florida, juxtaposing perfectly to the glorious, dimly lit, and highly religious Capulet Mansion. The film creates these two worlds where the Montague's sport the blond "beach boy" look, wearing the typical Hawaiian shirts, and the Montague's model tight black leather; appearing to be apart of some high class gang while driving classy cars wearing dark sunglasses and slicking back their hair.

Right off the bat the audience is able to understand the stupidity of the feuding families in the gas station scene. The two sides foolishly test one another with their mockery and childishness. This action packed sequence makes use of only few special effects, for the real genius lies in the language. Loud explosions occur while the two families show us their inner rage toward one another with the power of their words and marvelous acting.

During this scene, time is sped up dramatically to evoke certain emotions. This "hurrying" of time, and the cartoon like movements, of Juliet's mother, as well as her speech, forces the viewers to pay close attention the slow and soft first encounter of Romeo and Juliet. This use of action allows the audience to prepare themselves for the fact that Romeo and Juliet are going to fall in love with one another in a very short period of time, making the idea of more believable and convincing to the audience.

The character of Juliet is played with just the perfect amount of innocence, purity and the inner desire to rebel against her parent's wishes. Claire Dane portrays a brilliant Juliet, balancing perfectly with the love sick Romeo.

The part of Mercutio has also been renovated by standing out the most from the rest of the characters in the play dressed in drag- his white wig, and white dress, contrasts to his dark skin. Mercutio, being Romeo's best friend, gives Romeo much advice regarding love, and possesses

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