Film Version Review/#10
Directed by Baz Lurhmann, the film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet is a special but successful one among all of those versions of Romeo and Juliet. Not only because of its setting where the story takes place in modern world, but also its principle of following the original play. To be specific, Acts 4 and 5 in the film are like the immediate turning point with the changes of the main character, Romeo and Juliet.
In the film, Act 4 begins with the appearance of Juliet entering the church, seeing that Paris and Friar Lawrence are talking about the coming marriage. Juliet shows up with an indifferent face, trying to avoid talking to Paris, and getting a little mad with Paris for he has kissed her cheek. She tries not to get furious with Paris but seeks for a place to talk with Friar Lawrence secretly. As Juliet enters the room, she immediately burns into tears and longs for Friar Lawrence's help. What is different is that she is not holding a knife, trying to threaten Friar Lawrence, as she does in the play. Instead, she has a gun, pointing to Friar Lawrence at first, and then putting the muzzle near her head. In this part, Juliet is totally crazy and disappointed with a lot of cryings and shoutings. In the play, there is a long speech of Juliet saying that she doesn't want to marry Paris; otherwise, she will kill herself. However, in the film Juliet cries that her determination of not marrying Paris and only says "Be not so long to speak, I long to die". At this point, Lurhmann wisely shows how Juliet has changed form a naive to a brave and determined girl. Comparing to Romeo at the same time hanging out in another city, Juliet takes actions to save their marriage. After Juliet receives a unique mixture and comes back to home, the preparation of the wedding part has been cut off. Juliet stays in her room alone and drinks the mixture without hesitation. In addition, there is not a part showing that how the Nurse finds out Juliet is dead and the whole family is in chaos. In the film, Juliet is found ''dead' on the bed in the next morning along with the sound of shutters when the police arrives.
What is added into the film is a plot showing how Balthasar knows the news of Juliet's death in the funeral in Act 5 and sends a letter to Romeo instead of coming and telling him what happens. Romeo then buys the poison and drives back to Verona, trying to avoid the police and staying with Juliet. In contrast, the part which Romeo kills Paris is also cut off. Romeo goes straight to Juliet and holds her tightly with tears. Then he puts out the poison with a speech to say goodbye to Juliet and ready for drinking it. What interests me is that Juliet actually has opened her eyes but is not aware of what Romeo is doing until he has drunk the poison completely. Juliet gets up in a second and holds Romeo, crying and trying to drink the poison left on Romeo's lips. Then she moves to a gun. With a sorrowful background music, Juliet kills herself with a short hesitation. This is a plot where the director strongly upholds the feature of Juliet after experiencing a lot of changes. Her love for Romeo is pure, determined and eternal. As a tragic heroine, what Juliet does can be best described as brave and unshaken.
These two Acts show a lot about Juliet's change and actions, which are surprising to the audience. Based on the original play, the director properly adds and cuts some plots to emphasize what he tries to reveal about the characteristics of Juliet. With the help of background musics, audience can feel what the characters feel at a certain scene. And this is successful as a film adaptation.
In the film, Act 4 begins with the appearance of Juliet entering the church, seeing that Paris and Friar Lawrence are talking about the coming marriage. Juliet shows up with an indifferent face, trying to avoid talking to Paris, and getting a little mad with Paris for he has kissed her cheek. She tries not to get furious with Paris but seeks for a place to talk with Friar Lawrence secretly. As Juliet enters the room, she immediately burns into tears and longs for Friar Lawrence's help. What is different is that she is not holding a knife, trying to threaten Friar Lawrence, as she does in the play. Instead, she has a gun, pointing to Friar Lawrence at first, and then putting the muzzle near her head. In this part, Juliet is totally crazy and disappointed with a lot of cryings and shoutings. In the play, there is a long speech of Juliet saying that she doesn't want to marry Paris; otherwise, she will kill herself. However, in the film Juliet cries that her determination of not marrying Paris and only says "Be not so long to speak, I long to die". At this point, Lurhmann wisely shows how Juliet has changed form a naive to a brave and determined girl. Comparing to Romeo at the same time hanging out in another city, Juliet takes actions to save their marriage. After Juliet receives a unique mixture and comes back to home, the preparation of the wedding part has been cut off. Juliet stays in her room alone and drinks the mixture without hesitation. In addition, there is not a part showing that how the Nurse finds out Juliet is dead and the whole family is in chaos. In the film, Juliet is found ''dead' on the bed in the next morning along with the sound of shutters when the police arrives.
What is added into the film is a plot showing how Balthasar knows the news of Juliet's death in the funeral in Act 5 and sends a letter to Romeo instead of coming and telling him what happens. Romeo then buys the poison and drives back to Verona, trying to avoid the police and staying with Juliet. In contrast, the part which Romeo kills Paris is also cut off. Romeo goes straight to Juliet and holds her tightly with tears. Then he puts out the poison with a speech to say goodbye to Juliet and ready for drinking it. What interests me is that Juliet actually has opened her eyes but is not aware of what Romeo is doing until he has drunk the poison completely. Juliet gets up in a second and holds Romeo, crying and trying to drink the poison left on Romeo's lips. Then she moves to a gun. With a sorrowful background music, Juliet kills herself with a short hesitation. This is a plot where the director strongly upholds the feature of Juliet after experiencing a lot of changes. Her love for Romeo is pure, determined and eternal. As a tragic heroine, what Juliet does can be best described as brave and unshaken.
These two Acts show a lot about Juliet's change and actions, which are surprising to the audience. Based on the original play, the director properly adds and cuts some plots to emphasize what he tries to reveal about the characteristics of Juliet. With the help of background musics, audience can feel what the characters feel at a certain scene. And this is successful as a film adaptation.
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