Blog post#4 (movie Act4&5)

                                                           Can’t against the Fate 

Generally speaking, the Baz Luthmann’s film version of Romeo and Juliet gives me a very different feeling of the last two acts compares with the book. It is shorter than the origin but as precise as it. Those different feelings are created because of the way Baz Luthmann adapted it. Both of them give audiences a sour taste of “losing true love”.  

For the Act 4, Romeo has been told the news of Juliet’s death instead of falling asleep temporarily, so he rushes back like a crazy beast that no one could prevent him; however, it seems like the director adds much more difficulties for Romeo's returning. For example, Romeo comes back with Balthasar by car, and he has been founded by a police, so those polices immediately spread the message that Romeo is coming back. As a result, many polices are chasing Romeo at night in the air by helicopters and on the ground by police cars. The humming of whistle sound rings lingeringly in the air. This kind of setting creates a dangerous and nervous atmosphere which makes Romeo's returning become more exciting and could make audiences worry about him. The director tries to show that the love between Romeo and Juliet is strong enough which could let either of them gives up his/her life. Romeo’s resolution is to see dead Juliet for the last time and then lies next to her closing his eyes forever; therefore he becomes fearfulness because of this resolution. Unsurprisingly, for reaching his goal he even uses a hostage as the key to Capulet’s cemetery. 

In the film, act 5 has greater differences with the book. When Romeo opens the giant door of the Capulet’s cemetery, he sees many lighted candles with waving yellowish flames, and blue cross stands on each tomb. (Background music is psalm) Juliet is at the center of the cemetery lying peacefully on a bed with a white long dress. She holds a bunch of flowers, still beautiful, which makes her look like the purest angel in the heaven. Juliet’s appearance remains me the first meeting of Romeo and her, wearing an angel costume, beautiful and pure. As Romeo is touching her face and talking to Juliet, her fingers move slightly which gives audiences a symbol that she is going to wake up soon. At this time, as an audience I am worrying about whether Juliet can open her eyes on time, right before Romeo drinks that poison because I really care about the fates of them. Audiences may also think that will the ending of this film be different from the original story? Can this adorable and unfortunate young couple be together? May be or may not? Several messages are sending to audiences at this point. Then the turning point, another climax, comes. Holding the little poison, Romeo turns around with tears; he has made the decision to drink it. However, Juliet opens her eyes at the same time! I once was happy about that both of them are saved, and this story will no longer be a tragedy.  Life beats people down and down. Although they see each other alive, Romeo has drunk that poison already. The dramatic characteristic of this play shows up again at this very important moment, and audiences might feel extremely sorry for them. Romeo and Juliet are played by their fates and played by the God. I believe all of the audiences’ hearts are struggling and being tortured because of this huge plot waving. After Romeo dies, Juliet stares at him for a second and finally uses the gun to end herself. There is another difference between film and book is in the film Paris does not come here to disturb them because the director wants to create an isolation environment for them to finish the final way with each other. Then many pieces of happy memory between Romeo and Juliet show up again which are used to make audiences cry. At the end of the movie, Prince steps out and says, “See what a scourge is laid upon your hate that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love! And I, for winking at your discords too, have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished. All are punished!” which leads audiences think about the whole movie, think about love and hate and think about themselves. This part also makes the story meaningful and thinkable. 

The film version portrays the ending in a different way.  But which one is more brutal? Seeing your lover dies before you without any chances to say goodbye to him/her? Or losing the flashlight-like hope and ends up with seeing your lover dies in front of you, but you cannot do anything to help? Destiny is like a bad-hearted child; he cuts the rope between lovers and laughs at them.