Post by kendall on Sept 20, 2011 15:46:16 GMT
Hi folks,
I am posting some notes to help you write your eventual R & J critical essay.
OPENING SEQUENCE
• Images used are to allow the modern audience to recognise and understand what is going on without having to overcome the language.
• Jesus monument is seen throughout the movie, it is the symbol that religion is heavily a part of this created society. It is seen pictured in-between the two houses.
• TV news station. Media theme important, newspapers and news image.
• Prologue is said through the image of the news. Repeated 2 times to acclimatise the audience to the language. Media is used due because it is something all audiences are aware of within their lives.
• The state and religion were important aspects of Elizabethan society and within this recreated society these are important. Instrumental to the ideas within the play so the movie had to recreate these.
GAS STATION
• Stylistically like spaghetti westerns. Music used in the background is from westerns. Cans being shot emphasis this aspect of the film, makes it more ‘real’ as the bullets seem to actually shoot something.
• Fast paced and edited in chaotic way. No time to think about anything in these shots like the characters. Lots of close up cut together with more close ups the sharp editing keeps the pace fast.
• Attention should be brought to the advertisements, they are all wrote in the language of Shakespeare. Images of these can be found further on in the appendix.
• Swordplay is turned into gunplay. Tybalt has a high-flown style of fighting.
• Shows 2 different gangs at war.
SYCOMORE GROVE
• This is a place in which rich children can rebel against there parents.
• Romeo is seen here as a rebel and a romantic.
• Media again here is important, news of the party is carried through the media. Timely is used to show Paris’ stature.
• Gangsters are seen to replace the image of nobles.
• We see that this society is run by guns
CAPULET MANSION
• Juliet and her mother appear isolated from each other.
• The mansion is almost a castle surrounding Juliet a symbol of her families hold on her.
BEACH
• Mercutio is neither Capulet nor Montague in name but supports Romeo.
• Always a party where he is though he is fun he has an angry side to him, which can be seen in this seen and later on prior to his death.
• Comic tragedy is used here to remind the audience that this is not a happy ending. We see a montage of Romeo going into the chapel to find Juliet in the sleep of death.
BALLROOM/ ELEVATOR
• Water is important in Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. We see it at their initial meeting. It connotes their purity. It is also used as a different world away from the rest of the cast. It is a way to purify them of the violent and gaudy world their families inhabit.
• We see Romeo wash his face and the couple lock eyes through the fish tank.
• Costumes, they are dressed as images of themselves:
Romeo= knight
Juliet = angel
Paris =astronaut
Capulet =Caesar and Cleopatra
Tybalt= devil
Montague boys= relaxed fun outfits.
• Elevator is where we see the couple’s first kiss. It has the function of secrecy in a place where they cant escape the gaudy world outside but for a short time they can be alone.
• The look of the party is quite sinister.
BALCONY SCENE
• Slow pace of camera shots and editing. Illustrates the luxury of love, everyone wants to take their time in the aspects of love. The audience get to enjoy the beauty of the language. Water emphasis this aspect as in water everything is slowed down. (Contrast with pace of gas station)
• Water is a sanctuary for the lovers.
• The kiss under the water is a safe and hidden place away from families. There love is hidden in the darkness.
• Use of light in this scene, veiled light their love is secret.
• Necklace at the end is representational of their faith of love, it like religion is not to be seen but secretly held within their hearts.
MERCUTIO’S DEATH
• Strom gathers real storm while filming.
• Chivalry and rule to the gun fights as can be seen in this scene. Almost like a duel.
• Who are the villains of the scene?
• It appears to be like a western at high noon.
• Hand held camera is used for some of the scene to connote frenzy and lack of control also allows the audience to feel in the heart of the action. ‘realism’
• Fighting etiquette is seen here. Mercutio throws down his ‘dagger’ as Tybalt has no gun. He fights with honour without a gun.
• Intensity of the scene reflects the scene.
TYBALT’S DEATH
• Storm breaks just as Tybalt is killed.
• Media is again used to see into the Friar’s thinking this is used instead of a soliloquy.
LOVE SCENE
• Religious iconography within Juliet’s bedroom.
• Lovers meet in darkness again.
• First time they are together for a long time in day light is when the world begins to flip around previously fighting was done in day and love at night. Now all changes.
• The ring and the cross are the 2 faiths together.
• Sheets give the lovers some secrecy.
• Juliet last sees Romeo alive when he is in the water again. Where they first met is the last time the met in the world of the living.
END SCENE
• Church has a large statue with Mary above it almost calling Romeo to Juliet.
• As Romeo moves towards death the camera goes slowly like with love Romeo’s death is reliving his love. Everything is stripped away it is more simplistic in shot
• With one long pan of Romeo moving up to Juliet.
• Lots of close ups of their faces. We see point of view change. This allows suspense as Juliet is seen to be waking up this allows us to see the confusion between the 2.
• When they are both dead the camera pans out intermingling a montage of their passage of love from the beginning to the end.
• Their relationship was the most open to the world only in their death.
END SEQUENCE
• Media is used again to end the movie to conclude the story. Begins as news report and finishes with a fuzzy TV.
Any questions?
Mrs K
I am posting some notes to help you write your eventual R & J critical essay.
OPENING SEQUENCE
• Images used are to allow the modern audience to recognise and understand what is going on without having to overcome the language.
• Jesus monument is seen throughout the movie, it is the symbol that religion is heavily a part of this created society. It is seen pictured in-between the two houses.
• TV news station. Media theme important, newspapers and news image.
• Prologue is said through the image of the news. Repeated 2 times to acclimatise the audience to the language. Media is used due because it is something all audiences are aware of within their lives.
• The state and religion were important aspects of Elizabethan society and within this recreated society these are important. Instrumental to the ideas within the play so the movie had to recreate these.
GAS STATION
• Stylistically like spaghetti westerns. Music used in the background is from westerns. Cans being shot emphasis this aspect of the film, makes it more ‘real’ as the bullets seem to actually shoot something.
• Fast paced and edited in chaotic way. No time to think about anything in these shots like the characters. Lots of close up cut together with more close ups the sharp editing keeps the pace fast.
• Attention should be brought to the advertisements, they are all wrote in the language of Shakespeare. Images of these can be found further on in the appendix.
• Swordplay is turned into gunplay. Tybalt has a high-flown style of fighting.
• Shows 2 different gangs at war.
SYCOMORE GROVE
• This is a place in which rich children can rebel against there parents.
• Romeo is seen here as a rebel and a romantic.
• Media again here is important, news of the party is carried through the media. Timely is used to show Paris’ stature.
• Gangsters are seen to replace the image of nobles.
• We see that this society is run by guns
CAPULET MANSION
• Juliet and her mother appear isolated from each other.
• The mansion is almost a castle surrounding Juliet a symbol of her families hold on her.
BEACH
• Mercutio is neither Capulet nor Montague in name but supports Romeo.
• Always a party where he is though he is fun he has an angry side to him, which can be seen in this seen and later on prior to his death.
• Comic tragedy is used here to remind the audience that this is not a happy ending. We see a montage of Romeo going into the chapel to find Juliet in the sleep of death.
BALLROOM/ ELEVATOR
• Water is important in Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. We see it at their initial meeting. It connotes their purity. It is also used as a different world away from the rest of the cast. It is a way to purify them of the violent and gaudy world their families inhabit.
• We see Romeo wash his face and the couple lock eyes through the fish tank.
• Costumes, they are dressed as images of themselves:
Romeo= knight
Juliet = angel
Paris =astronaut
Capulet =Caesar and Cleopatra
Tybalt= devil
Montague boys= relaxed fun outfits.
• Elevator is where we see the couple’s first kiss. It has the function of secrecy in a place where they cant escape the gaudy world outside but for a short time they can be alone.
• The look of the party is quite sinister.
BALCONY SCENE
• Slow pace of camera shots and editing. Illustrates the luxury of love, everyone wants to take their time in the aspects of love. The audience get to enjoy the beauty of the language. Water emphasis this aspect as in water everything is slowed down. (Contrast with pace of gas station)
• Water is a sanctuary for the lovers.
• The kiss under the water is a safe and hidden place away from families. There love is hidden in the darkness.
• Use of light in this scene, veiled light their love is secret.
• Necklace at the end is representational of their faith of love, it like religion is not to be seen but secretly held within their hearts.
MERCUTIO’S DEATH
• Strom gathers real storm while filming.
• Chivalry and rule to the gun fights as can be seen in this scene. Almost like a duel.
• Who are the villains of the scene?
• It appears to be like a western at high noon.
• Hand held camera is used for some of the scene to connote frenzy and lack of control also allows the audience to feel in the heart of the action. ‘realism’
• Fighting etiquette is seen here. Mercutio throws down his ‘dagger’ as Tybalt has no gun. He fights with honour without a gun.
• Intensity of the scene reflects the scene.
TYBALT’S DEATH
• Storm breaks just as Tybalt is killed.
• Media is again used to see into the Friar’s thinking this is used instead of a soliloquy.
LOVE SCENE
• Religious iconography within Juliet’s bedroom.
• Lovers meet in darkness again.
• First time they are together for a long time in day light is when the world begins to flip around previously fighting was done in day and love at night. Now all changes.
• The ring and the cross are the 2 faiths together.
• Sheets give the lovers some secrecy.
• Juliet last sees Romeo alive when he is in the water again. Where they first met is the last time the met in the world of the living.
END SCENE
• Church has a large statue with Mary above it almost calling Romeo to Juliet.
• As Romeo moves towards death the camera goes slowly like with love Romeo’s death is reliving his love. Everything is stripped away it is more simplistic in shot
• With one long pan of Romeo moving up to Juliet.
• Lots of close ups of their faces. We see point of view change. This allows suspense as Juliet is seen to be waking up this allows us to see the confusion between the 2.
• When they are both dead the camera pans out intermingling a montage of their passage of love from the beginning to the end.
• Their relationship was the most open to the world only in their death.
END SEQUENCE
• Media is used again to end the movie to conclude the story. Begins as news report and finishes with a fuzzy TV.
Any questions?
Mrs K