tter properly. And, to be politically correct,Mercutio appears at the Capulets' ball dressed as a large woman. The actors inZeffirelli's version of Shakespeare wear colored tights and bulging blouses;thus they appear more comical because they are outdated. By modernizing theseaspects of the play, and reconstructing the prologue, Luhrmann creates a moviethat is more interesting to the modern viewer, and captures the essence ofShakespeare's writings. Evidencing this viewer-friendliness, the 1996 "WilliamShakespeare's Romeo and Juliet" made almost twelve million dollars in the monthof November alone due to its clever alterations.As well as updating Shakespeare's play to the present decade throughprops, Baz Luhrmann's film is more enjoyable because of the vibrant settings.The Zeffirelli's "Romeo and Juliet" occurs in an ancient Italian city, withcobblestone streets and Roman mansions. Although the original play was meant tobe performed in this setting, the modern viewer cannot relate to the environment,and thus has a hard time understanding the plot.In Luhrmann's version of the play, the Capulets and Montagues first meetin a gas station, where they exchange insults. In the older version of "Romeoand Juliet," the Montagues and Capulets meet in the narrow streets of their city. For a modern teenager, a gas station is a more believable location for a fight,for many gang wars (in life and in the theater) actually take place in this sortof turf. This location helps to describe the extreme situation of the fightingfamilies. Also, the masquerade ball of the Capulets occurs in a believablelocation: a giant dance hall, reminiscent of many New York night clubs anddiscos. With a soaring ceiling and a wall-long tropical fish tank, Romeo andJuliet meet, as if attending a fantastic high school dance. In Zeffirelli'sversion of Shakespeare, however, the two lovers meet in a dismal costume ball,while watching a minstrel sing a doleful acappella tun...
