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