A Critique of Moulin Rouge and Romeo +Juliet Essay Example For Students

A Critique of Moulin Rouge and Romeo +Juliet   Essay The films I will be analysing and commenting on are Baz Luhrmanns remake of William Shakespeares Romeo +Juliet (1997) as well as the outstanding film Moulin Rouge (2001). The Key features I will be focusing on are the following: Shot types and framing, Camera Angles, editing, lighting dialogue, music, location and costume. I will study each section for each film followed by an explanation for each film after that I will compare both films for that particular section. By analysing these topics I will be able to comment on Baz Luhrmanns skill as a director and how he uses his skills. The music was very important in Romeo and Juliet. It fitted in well with the story line and the acting. Luhrmann used slow music for romantic scenes and fast music for action scenes. The music helps to add to the atmosphere. The music attracts more teenagers to the film, as it was modern music liked by teenagers. In the Capulets party there was very fast loud disco music as there was a party, once we had entered the toilet there is slow, romantic music as it is when Romeo and Juliet first meet. Another example of where Luhrmann uses sound techniques is during the petrol station with Abra as he strolls out of the car. He has the look of a typical gunslinger, someone who could be extremely dangerous. The music is changed, as a more electric tune plays more menacing and threatening than before, highlighting the danger of this man. Fear is shown in the Montagues faces, shocked by the appearance of a known enemy. This man alarms them and with this abrupt entrance one of the boys makes a q uick movement to reveal the butt of his pistol. Luhrmann creates an atmosphere of many things in this scene but the main three things are tension, fear and excitement. I first of all think Luhrmann created this by showing the anger between both families this both created tension and fear of one another, he did this by introducing the boys and slowly setting the scene up till both families started being rude to each other. Both families show this by body language and face Expressions. I think the Montagues though felt more threatened by the Capulets because when the Capulets appeared they suddenly had a sense of fear in them, which created quite a bit of tension. A fast frightened movement, followed by the facial shot of a frightened face and the sound of a reluctant gasp, signifying the fear and tension between the two families. After the two families meet there is anger and hate starting to show as the montages reverse the car, with the noise of screeching tyres, and the sound of a quick furious sounding, loud blast of music showing anger. The caplets sling loud though slow angry words at the Montages who return fast frightened words trying to calm the situation. Though as the camera shot goes to the toilet door, the quick shocking music picks up again and Benvolio appears-an image of a peace maker leading to a close up of Benvolios gun with a change back to western music. Both films use modern music known by both audiences but are used in different ways for different reasons. Moulin Rouge uses music not only because of the films theme but it is a creative yet clever way of covering simple conversations between people. Christian and Satine express their love through music rather than conversation. Baz Luhrmann uses different cinematic shots to vary the frames in the film. Different shots have different terms which are used to indicate the amount of subject or character within a frame, how far away the camera is from the subject or character, and the perspective of the viewer. Each different shot has a different purpose and effect on the audience. An Extreme Long Shot is generally used as a scene setting shot. At the beginning of the film it shows a shot of Paris ranging from the Eiffel Tower to the Moulin Rouge. This informs the audience where the film is set making them more interested in the film as they can really relate to the place where the film was shot. Luhrmann has chosen to use many long shots to view characters as approximately life size. The Withered Arm EssayLuhrmann uses the location of Mexico to best describe the city of Fair Verona in Italy. Mexico was chosen as it has a powerful religious order much like Verona in Shakespeare original play. Luhrmann also decided that because Mexico is full of violence and sex, it would be the perfect location for two lovers to be forbidden to see each other. I was also an excellent choice to appeal to the audience. Most of the scenes represent old settings in the original play. For example the petrol station where everyone meets. This is because it is in the middle of the town where people notice it and stop to buy petrol or ordinary goods. Moulin Rouge is set in the turn of the century, 1899 when there was a great advance in technology and a change in social structure. The bohemians brought about the idea that required working hours should be used for leisure. This created a great demand for entertainment. The theatre is very much a centre point for the film. It has been designed to amaze and delight the audience, following the same idea of the real Moulin Rouge. The elephant set is used as Satines bedroom in the film whereas in the real Moulin Rouge the elephant was the home of a small Arabian theme club. Baz Luhrmann then goes on to add a Helicopter to show the seriousness of the events that have occurred. The Helicopter again is appealing to the modern audience because at the time a Helicopter would definitely not have been used and we are also used to seeing these. Helicopters are often called upon when the situation gets totally out of hand. Baz Luhrmann situation gets totally out of hand. Baz Luhrmann adds the Helicopter to show severe violence. The violence relates back to the feud between Montagues and Capulets. Helicopters are used to maintain the peace and quiet within the city and also to keep it under control. Baz Luhrmann then shows evidence that the feud of montagues and capulets is destroying the city. He uses a frame to show buildings being burnt down. The fire symbolises rage, terror, and chaos. All this helps to prove that Montague and Capulet are indeed destroying the peace and quiet of the city by feuding. In the next frame Baz Luhrmann decides to use a modern form of media by using newspapers to show the rivalry. The newspaper headlines make it seem like they are two huge opponents. Baz Luhrmanns idea of using modern day newspapers appeals to the modern audience because every major event nowadays appears in newspapers.