Baz Luhrmanns Romeo And Juliet Review Film Studies Essay

Baz Luhrmanns Romeo And Juliet Review Film Studies Essay Baz Luhrmann brings a unique visual style to William Shakespeare’s renaissance tragedy â€Å"Romeo and Juliet†. Set in a modern Verona Beach, Luhrmann sets the assertive and trendy tone of his adaptation within a decaying Miami City. Within minutes, the opening TV prologue hurls us into the white-hot intensity of the two warring families, bombarding the audience with chaotic action scenes and passion. Constructing an edgy and dynamic environment, his brash interpretation uses rapid cuts and erratic zooming techniques to create a comic strip style sequence against the multicultural backdrop of the graffiti scattered streets of Verona. Though effective, the restlessness of the camera becomes confusing, slicing the action into short, sharp images that can mystify rather than illuminate. Such fervent action so soon into the film is dizzying and unexpected. Luhrmann attracts the audience with his lively cinema style, speeding up the action to hype up the confrontation and t he rivalry of the two families alongside an intense soundtrack of contemporary and popular music. As a contemporary film director, Luhrmann clearly values the younger audience who would usually only come into contact with Shakespeare in a school environment. This could explain the roaring energy of car engines and elaborate guns instead of horses and swords originally used in earlier productions. Encompassing the elegance of Shakespeare’s text, Luhrmann introduces the â€Å"star crossed lovers† in a tender exchange of affectionate eye contact across the shimmering light of an aquarium. The pair follow each other across the length of the glass in an enduring and delicately youthful and romantic moment, capturing the innocence of the fated pair. Luhrmann creates a sensual and glamorously romantic atmosphere whenever the lovers meet alone. The balcony and swimming pool scene in particular surrounds the pair in a glimmering sheen of water and light. Luhrmann’s use o f atmospheric lighting leaves the audience to swoon, drinking in the glow of the dreamy eyed couple as they exchange their most iconic and enduring dialogue. Though their love is prohibited by tradition, ego and prejudice in the society of Verona, Luhrmann exposes Shkespeare’s drama to a contemporary world without limits, modernising the play with radical scenes of drug use, drag queens and public brawls. A couple so concerned with the traditional morals of their families in a world of law breaking and promiscuity comes as a stark contrast which at times, is unconvincing. As the audience enjoy the rowdy and loose morality at the Capulet Ball, it is initially somewhat difficult to believe that two young people in love would not act upon their passionate attraction. However, the undeniable beauty of the couple’s love is infectious. As they lie in the church lit by thousands of candles, the beauty of Shakespeare’s romantic tale is undeniable in the soft, atmospheri c style with which Luhrmann combines light and opulent religious design to glamorize the tragic scene in which the love affair comes to an end. The language used in this film is lifted from the pages of Shakespeare’s text; which is surprising and pleasing as the dialogue fits seamlessly into the style of the film. Luhrmann has stripped the dialogue right down the necessities in order to sell to a commercial younger audience who may not understand the complexities of the original dialogue. The bare bones of the text are delivered confidently, notably by Friar Lawrence. Actor Pete Postlethwaite’s portrayal of the Friar as a new age herbalist gives the audience a glimpse of Shakespearean imagery and rhythm as he optimistically agrees to marry the pair in a bid to turn the â€Å"household’s rancour to pure love†. Similarly, Harold Perrineau’s portrayal of Mercutio adds an exotic and audacious tempo to the film. Perrineau portrays him as entrancing and compelling, emphasising Shakespeare’s skilfully witty character, which becomes most poignant during his speech before they are due at the house of Capulet. The volatile style in which he presents this famous speech builds from a jovial and bawdy exchange with Romeo at the steps of a run-down theatre, to an explosive and passionate conclusion. Delivered naturally, Luhrmann heightens suspense by climaxing the speech with a furiously bright light and sound of a single firework. The audience are brought to a peak of tension and anticipation, unsure where this volatile character will take them next.

Business Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Business Environment - Essay Example The UK has a rising level of its output being exported across borders and overseas and it is an open economy (Holden et al, 1995, p.44). It is at present number eight as the largest exporter in the world for goods and number two in being the largest exporter for services. It also has highest ratio of outward as well as inward investment to the GDP among any of the leading economies in the terms of capital flow. Inevitably the pattern as well as the balance of trade of goods and services changes over the time, this is reflection of movement in the relative prices of different traded goods as well as the shifts in the comparative advantage in various global markets. Other factors that affect the trade pattern are decisions of foreign investment of the UK as well as overseas companies and economic development and growth of countries, regions etc. Major part of UK’s trade of goods and services is carried with the countries that are part of European Union. Since UK became a part of EEC in January, 1973 there has been long term shift in its trade with the European Union. The trade growth has been pushed by single market; this has led to trade diversion and the trade creation effects (Aylott, 2007, p.4) Trade of UK with the countries in North American region has declined, although the U.S still is the largest single market for exported UK goods after EU (Great Britain Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, 2011) , comprising of 15% of the total exports of UK. Over the previous 15 years trade with the countries that are oil exporters has declined in its relative importance. In the year 1979 percentage of UK’s exports which went to these countries was 10%, which is now only a small percentage of a little over 3%. Apart from the exports the imports from this oil exporting countries has also fallen. Another important change in UK’s pattern regarding trade in geographical sense is its rising share of trade with the fast growing and emerging ec onomies in Asian region. These include Malaysia, China, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan. The rate of growth in Indian economy is also probable to help boosting exports to sub-continent in future years; this provides businesses in the UK to grab export opportunities in this region. Analyse the impact of global factors on UK business organisations International trade is crucial for the UK, like any other country. If the UK did not participate in international trade, it would not be able to acquire many different materials that are needed to produce products that are used every day, especially concerning food industry. Cold climate in UK makes it rely on other countries with hotter climate to import fruits like mangoes and bananas which don’t grow domestically, similarly the countries with hot climate rely on countries like UK for vegetables like potatoes to import (in UK’s case, export). If international trade did not exist people in UK and everywhere else ac ross the globe will have very limited choices, and business will not have enough markets to expand. There are various global factors that would affect the business

Performing Arts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Performing Arts - Essay Example As opposed to visual art, Music and dance arts are based on making experience, rather than making an object. Because of the ability to create experience, both dance and music are concerned with invoking human engagement to the art being performed. Dance and music enhances performers to be able to engage with the inner lives of their audience, and be able to define the space that exists between the performance and audience (Rudner, 2011). This means that music and performance are effective in combining thoughts, intellectual ideas, and feelings. Therefore, by invoking feelings and emotion, dance and music arts are able to reflect on the actual experience of the original piece of performance. For instance, through a performance that I recently watched, I was able to have a grasp of the Carnaval Music, from Brazil. The Carnaval Music is a Brazilian festival song that I have never listened to or watched. Nevertheless, through the live dance and music performance, I was able to develop and have a clue of the kind of feelings and emotions this song invokes on the Brazilians during their annual festival. Contrastingly, I feel I would not have got this experience if I were to depend on the provisions of visual art. Based on the live performance, I realized that as the way the Carnaval Music dancing is done, the nice and unique sounds and, the voices in the song are so interesting. Conclusively, visual art is lacking in invoking that real or first experience of an art as it is perceived in its

Deep Origins of World War II Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Deep Origins of World War II - Research Paper Example in on September 16 1939.1 Some of the factors in his favor included high tides, an enormous fleet of barges, powerful air force, availability of vessels, and a harvest full moon. The previous day the Nazi air force attempted to raid the colossal scale. The author claims that many German troops had assembled at the invasion port and their plan botched after Royal Air Force discovered their intentions quickly and they adopted a sustained offensive attack. Some of the Germans were using waterways while others used the railway. Royal Air Force damaged the railway a tactic that delayed the Germans coming for war while they dislocated the waterways as they sunk German ships at the harbor. Hitler had planned an attack on Britain since it was the only power in Europe that stood in his European conquest. Britain has earlier on declined to become an ally of the Germans. Robertson says that Hitler planned to eliminate Britain after France yielded to the Nazi invasion. Hitler assumed that Britai n would surrender and when the country did not he was surprised and he issues Directive Number 16.2 The operation was code named Operation Sea lion that had the objective of destroying English motherland and occupy it entirely. The German military agreed to defeat the Royal Air Force then to invade the country. German air force depended on the success of air battle before invading in the country. The head of military operations formulated a plan to destroy the Royal Air Force in four days. Other military strategy to invade Britain included locating the river craft so that they could train the troops in amphibious landing. They also planned to arrest the political elite that could present resistance such as Churchill. Viktor Survov was a former Russian Military Intelligence that published the Icebreaker.3 His thesis in the book argues that the soviet forces had well organization and they mobilized a Europe invasion as they prepared for defensive operations in their country. According to

Literacy narative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Literacy narative - Essay Example WhÐ µn I was a littlÐ µ girl, my parÐ µnts would always rÐ µad to mÐ µ, and I lovÐ µd books. I was vÐ µry involvÐ µd in thÐ µ storiÐ µs, and I would rÐ µad along with my mothÐ µr and fathÐ µr, and also link all of thÐ µ picturÐ µs with thÐ µ tÐ µxt. It was a comforting fÐ µÃ µling. As I got oldÐ µr and thÐ µrÐ µ bÐ µcamÐ µ morÐ µ rulÐ µs, I slowly driftÐ µd from rÐ µading and writing, and bÐ µcamÐ µ morÐ µ intÐ µrÐ µstÐ µd in subjÐ µcts such as sciÐ µncÐ µ, math, and history. So, I fÐ µÃ µl likÐ µ I havÐ µ littlÐ µ Ð µxpÐ µriÐ µncÐ µ in writing, bÐ µcausÐ µ I havÐ µ lost intÐ µrÐ µst in it. All through high school, I had a prÐ µtty good idÐ µa of what I wantÐ µd to do in my futurÐ µ; which consists of many math and sciÐ µncÐ µ coursÐ µs. I want to gÐ µt a nursing dÐ µgrÐ µÃ µ, and thÐ µn gÐ µt into thÐ µ Physician’s Assistant Program. So, along my acadÐ µmic path, that is what I havÐ µ focusÐ µd on and Ð µxcà  µllÐ µd at, rathÐ µr than writing. BÐ µing a frÐ µshmÐ µn studÐ µnt at thÐ µ UnivÐ µrsity of Utah, I havÐ µ rÐ µalizÐ µd that writing is going to bÐ µ an immÐ µnsÐ µ part of collÐ µgÐ µ, and that communicating through writing will hÐ µlp mÐ µ to accomplish my goals. Writing skills will bÐ µ rÐ µquirÐ µd in probably two-thirds of thÐ µ classÐ µs I Ð µnroll in. To bÐ µ honÐ µst, I don't dÐ µspisÐ µ writing, and I think that I could lÐ µarn to lovÐ µ it, if I could bÐ µcomÐ µ a good writÐ µr.

What methods are used to identify patterns and trends in crime in the Essay

What methods are used to identify patterns and trends in crime in the UK - Essay Example Identification of spatial patterns of crime has seen the promotion of several theories and has been the subject of many philosophical debates in an attempt to help explain their manifestation. According to some crime analysts, models drawn from studying animal behaviour may even help predict human behaviour. Crime analysts are borrowing from game hunting and the study of predatory movement. Crime maps are used to record the locations of incidents in order to help predict where criminals are going to strike next, are used by police throughout the world. This paper discusses some of the methods used to identify patterns and trends in crime in the United Kingdom. According to Cole (1995) the tools of the disciplined futurists are a sound methodology, a sense of history and theory, knowledge of key factual data, and the ability to examine crime in the contexts of broader social, political, technological, and economic trends. The data sources and methods used to guide forecasting include crime statistics; surveys of experts, practitioners, and the general public; literature reviews; scenario writing; and statistical (time series) models that extrapolate crime trends into the future. Mathematical models that explain the behaviour of observed past values can be used to forecast future crime trends by projecting a time series analysis of crime trends into the future. In general, the source of quantitative time-series forecasting is police- and victim-reported crime statistics. Modelling consists of describing the causal sequence of variables and the prediction of their interactions. Any predictive model endeavours to show a relationship between certain independent (predictor) variables and a dependent variable (i.e., the criterion to be predicted). The principal strength of quantitative models, in relation to qualitative forecasts, is that descriptions of future crime rates are much more specific and precise, although not

An overview of Western Civilization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

An overview of Western Civilization - Essay Example Under the philosophy, different scholars prompted the discovery of schools of thought such as the Pythagoreanism, Sophism, and Platonism. These schools of thought have significantly shaped the thinking of people living in those times. Another exemplar facet of Western Civilization is the religion. Around 700 BCE, Ancient Rome came into power and led many people in subjecting to Roman Catholic which believes in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit to be one person equal in power. Roman Catholic was gaining its popularity among people in those times. Popes were being praised, people come at their feet and kiss them, and they generally gave what they have materially in order to gain the attention and blessings of the popes. Amidst the church’s great influence is a man who courageously sees and speaks of its flaws. Looking at the prose titled â€Å"Grand Inquisitor†, Fyodor Dostoevsky boldly scrutinized it with an aim of â€Å"an attack to the Catholic Church†. Apart from a system of education and religion mentioned earlier, Western Civilization promoted values and issues such as rational argument, human rights, equality, democracy and free thought. Regarding the last, the prose gave nothing but a wide array of reflections. One point in the prose states, â€Å"†¦gift of freedom with which the ill-fated creature is born† (Dostoevsky). The gift of freedom stemmed out from Jesus Christ’s choice when he was on earth, at a time when Satan approached him in the mountains to tempt him. The three temptations to Christ, were first, the earthly bread. This was followed by casting his own self while at the same time trusting that he will be saved by the angels, and the third, choosing the word kingdom to gain unity upon earth. The issue of freedom revolved around these three temptations. The Grand Inquisitor presented the results and the curse or consequences of Christ rejections of the three while questioning the nature of man. Regarding the first temptation, the Grand Inquisitor mentioned that Christ’s failure of choosing the earthly bread over the heavenly bread resulted to unhappy people with freedom. This is shown by this passage, â€Å"†¦the terrible gift that had brought them such suffering†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Freedom allowed people to carry on independently. Freedom casted a provider, or a leader, according to the Grand Inquisitor. Thus, people suffer because having no ruler is like being a sheep driven into confusion and misery. It is a common human nature to worship and be a slave of someone, â€Å"Feed men, and then ask of them virtue! That’s what they’ll write on the banner which they will raise against Thee†. Such philosophy is seen when human chose to be led by political leaders like Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin (Dostoevsky). They were willing to give up their freedom and be in subjection to rulers who would give them the earthly bread despite the persecutions they impose. Another scene which illustrates that is when Christ went down from the heavens to make miracles like resurrecting a dead one and healing the ailing ones. Upon seeing the miracles performed by Jesus, people came at his feet and started to do acts of worship to hi m. The Grand Inquisitor pointed out that Christ must have satisfied people if only he did not reject Satan’s temptation. That way, he will serve for the sake of many and make himself famous as a grand provider just like what the pillars of the church are doing. The second temptation reveals that Christ’