Baz Luhrrman- Romeo and Juliet

baz luhrrmann- romeo and juliet

As we are currently watching in English class for the last few days, I have come to realize that Luhrmann has used key Shakespearean tools and ideas, and as observable has added a modern twist to the whole subject. In result the younger generations, or more specifically our grade was able to understand the same context with different settings and props. The new props helped visualize this situation in modern eras and furthermore helped me to imagine the situation between both families in our country.

 Luhrmann used specific Shakespearean ideas which were continued into his interpretation. The lines for the actors stay, some costumes are also used from the designs of the Shakespearean era and it also uses the same entrances and exits. keeping all the key areas intact Luhrmann was able to make his interpretation a success in not only mine but millions of other people's minds. Luhrmann had to keep some aspects of the play within the scripts the same, since they could not be done better, as Shakespeare himself had written this play. Therefore the main framework for the play had stayed the same, doing justice to the play and helping keep the idealistic thinking of Shakespeare himself. By looking at both sources, I will not object to mention that they are quite biased, as though they do not like change or the subject of taking something and modernizing it. Baz Luhrmann did so not perfectly but beautifully through the play. I will strongly agree that many parts could be improved since it is almost a 10 year old movie, hence at our current time and generation we would be expecting a higher level of technology in the play, or technology used to improve and design the settings of the play. But for that era of time, Baz Luhrmann did justice. There is also a subject of the lines being "wrongly" spoken. Shakespearean language does not have a right or wrong since he is not alive we cannot understand the pronunciation of his words. Criticizing Leo Di Caprio for pronouncing words and lines wrong is not constructive criticism, it mentions how the lines were apparently "Shouted", where as for us, we enjoyed it and thought it was fun. Furthermore we do not need the full on traditional pronunciation, language developed for a reason and for younger generations to understand the language must be made simpler, this movie should be understood by all ages, so criticizing for its lines and keeping the 'old' Shakespearean language is not valid in my personal opinion. The people who reviewed this have some truth in what they are saying, but it is reasonable for them to understand that the world will not use 500 year old language a lot in their movies. Simplifying the language to normal English yet keeping the meaning and framework of the play in my opinion is fine, since younger generations will actually understand rather than not understanding anything of the 2 hours of the movie. 

Shakespeare if he was to be alive would be more than 500 years old (His birthday was a few days ago), but he would probably be against Luhrmann, since he would not want his own content to be altered in such a drastic manner, though I think that simplifying it helps everyone to enjoy it and understand the play. Luhrmann has done justice to Shakespeare and even if he gets quite a few negative feedback, the counterpart still overpowers, there are more people liking than hating the movie. I personally have enjoyed it so far. and would say that it is time to do ANOTHER rework of the movie but with simplified not totally changed language. THESE ARE MY 

PERSONAL OPINIONS AND DO NOT MEAN TO OFFEND ANYONE: 

THE REVIEWS:          

 http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/romeo-and-juliet-1996

http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C0CE7D91139F932A35752C1A960958260

 

Unit 3: Romney & J

-historical context 

They are both set around the same area of time, around the 16th to 17th centuries, hence they might have the same kind of humor or language since they are all during one period of time. The audiences have an expectation for this type of play in this era, hence they maintained the time and setting. Both share similar time periods.

-audiences The audiences of both types of plays are large, but large in two different scales, the type of audience which is found at an average day R&J or any other Shakespearean play differs from any other comedia d'ell arte plays. The audience not only differs in size but also in expectation and moral situation. Audiences who watch R&J know of the reputation of Shakespeare, hence they have different expectations and moral situations when watching this, they take things differently and are prepared for whats to come, each audience has their own age group, you would not find many elderly attend Comedia, where as you would find them attending R&J (not really true now) but the  younger people watch both genres, therefore age also differs from each audience. -script/text One of the more obvious changes are in scripting and dialogue, script writers in Comedia write differently in most parts than Shakespeare, hence the scripts are different since the genres, and the audiences plus the emotions of both plays differ, one might be happier than the other, while one is more funnier or lighter in depth and emotion, in result we have different scripts, actors and in some cases different audiences.

-performers/performance styles 

The performers themselves differ aswell, there are different people who are suited for different jobs, there performance styles may vary from different personalities to different postures, hence they will differ through a person's initial personality, people who think can bear the depth and emotion related to Shakespeare may aswell do so, people who can go lighter and have the tallent to make people laugh, can go to comedia, furthermore it is developed throughout their careers and it differes from the base of their emotion and really what they want to do. Actors will have different postures but maybe similar scripting language, hence some things change and the others don't.

-performance space 

Both vary in stage size, where as R&J normally takes u more space and props.

Comedia doesnt require that much space or props to perform.

-production elements (lights, sound, costumes, etc.)

There are more of these factors in R&J where as in comedia it is not required.

Love of Three Oranges- Evaluation and Thoughts

Paragraph 1: Basic info of the play-By whom, where, when, how was it produced? When did you attend?in 

I attended the play on Thursday. On Thursday I had to go back home and return, so I missed the first few minutes of the play. After I took my seat with a couple of other friends. We started to watch the play and actually understood the plot as it was built up for the climax. It was performed by a few grade 8s, Fata Morgana- Sapphire, Third orange: Farah, Magnifico- Thiyasha and the first orange- Suhala. It was performed in the auditorium on both Thursday and Friday. It was produced in what I like to call, an audience friendly manner, The play wasnt that formal with the regulations and actor restrictions, the actors interacted with the audience (such as Fata Morgana's sound effect fails) and other parts. It was actually very enjoyable with a couple of friends to smile and even laugh at the different activities the actors performed up on stage.

Paragraph 2: Brief summary of plot & structure of play (use your program if you don't remember).

The play had two different stories going on at once, which both built up, and intertwined and reached the truly epic climax. First off, the story we saw first was the introductory and further story on the Prince and Magnifico, understanding what happens in the kingdom, we then saw various types of acts by the Jester (I think Rehnuma). Afterwards during a party to cure the prince of his sickness, we met Fata Morgana, an unmentioned name, who was I think a witch or sorcerer, who had a grudge against the kingdom. Then after Morgana set the prince to fall in love with the oranges, we understood that the two workers for magnifico were plotting to overthrow the king and become king and queen (second plot). After a series of different activities, the prince along with the jester set out for the oranges. They approached a kingdom where they approached various different puzzles, of which they got answers from celio who got the tools from a demon. Furthermore the prince found the oranges. One by one the jester opened the two oranges, noticing that they need water, they died. The last orange, the prince opened had his future wife, the prince found water and eventually proposed to the third orange. They return back to the kingdom and after the reunion of magnifico and the prince, the prince has to marry someone else, not the orange. Hence they have fights, and eventually the prince marries the third orange. THE END.

Paragraph 3: Evaluation of acting/characterization, directing/staging, etc. Were you entertained? What kinds of "skills" did you particularly notice from the performances? Use vocabulary from class to support your comments here.

I really enjoyed the following as a part of the audience:

• Sound effect delays (were awesome)
• How there was smoke in the evil kingdom
• The lighting was a bit off time but well placed
• Characters were very convincing
• They had extremely good acting and facial expression skills.

Paragraph 4: Evaluation of technical elements - description of design of set, costume, props, etc. Overall execution of the technical elements (scene changes, light and sound cues, etc.). 

• Costumes were interesting
• Lighting was a bit delayed 
• Scene changes were well done
• Ending dance scene was fun
• Sound cues were awesome
• Overall execution out of 10 would be a 10. It was truly awesome and very enjoyable.

Paragraph 5: Overall enjoyment of the play - what you liked best, what you would have changed, etc. How did the performance compare to your expectations before the show?

I overall enjoyed the play alot, one of the best for the last 4 years in ISD, but the lighting really needs to be improved along with swifter scene change, sound cue delay (i dont know whether it was intentional) was very funny (should be kept) all series described above should change for maximized environment effects throughout the play