e. This 1968 version ofthe great celebration seems to have no style, action, or romance. The 1996version, however, has wild yet graceful camera angles and loud music, to keepthe average teenager from leaving the theater.The last setting change that creates a radical experience is the mostfamous balcony scene. In the latest rendition of the play, though, the balconyis skillfully interchanged with a pool. This produces an intense scene (inwhich the actors are fully clothed) that is more interesting than thetraditional balcony scene of the Zeffirelli film because it is more extravagantand revolutionary.The setting change and the constant updating in Luhrmann's film is onlyenhanced by the use of the original Shakespearean language to create theultimate "Romeo and Juliet." For example, in order to preserve the Elizabethanlanguage, the guns of the rival factions are labeled "Rapier," or "Dagger."Thus, when a character asks for his long sword or knife, he is not beinganachronistic. Also, to avoid changing the Shakespearean language, Tybalt wearsa jacket with the logo "King of Cats," which is his nickname. In Zeffirelli'sversion of the story, however, the audience must know the origin of this name tobe able to understand its connection to Tybalt. The actors do not wear anyidentifying marks (such as the mark on Tybalt's jacket) to help the observerunderstand the play.Baz Luhrmann's "William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet" is a film thattransforms Shakespeare's writings into a contemporary location, with modernconcepts, yet keeps the language of Shakespeare alive. Compared to FrancoZeffirelli's "Romeo and Juliet," Luhrmann's picture is easier to understand fora modern audience, and more relevant to a modern viewer. The 1996 version ofthe play consequently captures the spirit of Shakespeare's writing: to entertainany audience. Said the director, Baz Luhrmann of the film:The idea behind the 'created world' was that it's a made up world c...
