"Romeo and Juliet" Opening

http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/william-shakespeares-romeo-juliet/ 

The sequence opens with a monologue that is read in the form of a news report, which immediately alerts the audience that the film is set in a modern time period, unlike the original story of Romeo and Juliet. The slow place of the monologue builds up tension as the camera slowly zooms towards the TV screen.

We then see bold white text that reads “IN FAIR VERONA”, immediately setting the location for the audience. The strong choir element of the non-diegetic music gives the scene an overwhelming celestial type atmosphere/tone whilst the sudden crash of the drums connotes power and strength.

Through an establishing shot, we can see skyscrapers that indicate a highly populated city set-up and the positioning of the Capulet and Montague towers (they reside next to each other and are similar heights) show that the two families are in close competition and openly against each other. It is also clear that Verona is a religious place from the tall statue we see of a religious figure; the height, positioning and close up shot of this statue not only emphasises on the importance and power of religion here but also suggests that it is the heart of the city.  However, the establishing shot allows us to see that the Montague and Capulet towers are taller and wider than the statue which could suggest that these two families are more powerful than the presence of religion or that, as it resides in between the two towers, it is the only thing stopping them from completely clashing. It is also distinct that Verona is an industrialised and busy place because of the amount of worn buildings and cars visible. 

The establishing shot sets up a contrast to the clips of violence, fire and police we see afterwards. The footage is filmed in a shaky manner that disorients the audience and makes them feel as if they are in one of the police helicopters on screen, watching Verona from above. The violin strings in the soundtrack creates a determined and tension filled atmosphere as it gradually builds up to the powerful choir chorus again.

The fire that appears on screen during the newspaper clippings montage not only connotes destruction and anarchy that cannot be controlled but, once we see it close to the quarrelling families’ surnames, could foreshadow the tarnishing of their reputations. The newspaper articles help us understand the scale of this clash and how well known it is whilst the dark lighting of the riot clips portray Verona as miserable and gloomy, something that is further hinted to by the worn out and stern expressions of the parents in both families.

The names of the magazines we see (‘prophet’ and ‘bullet’) could be used to foreshadow the themes of religion, violence and death; the word ‘bullet’ links in with the fast paced editing between shots of the city and words taken from the monologue that builds up tension and could foreshadow the speed in which the feud between the two families escalates. One newspaper title labelled “Montague vs Capulet” suggests that the media in Verona purposely publicise the clash and oppose the two families against each other. Two other newspaper headlines also stand out; “ancient grudge” puts emphasis on how long this withstanding quarrel has gone on, in fact the word “grudge” suggests it will never go away whilst “new mutiny” reveals that the clash has not always been this violent and it would appear that the younger generation have taken it upon themselves to make it this way.

When the line “take their life” appears on screen and we hear it spoken in the voice over, the t is written as a cross which again suggests heavy faith in Verona but also connotes sacrifice and could be referring to the film's narrative and foreshadowing Romeo and Juliet’s tragic fate. suggest that the families are wealthy and have a high status whilst the images of guns imply danger and violence and contrast hugely with the angelic shots of a chapel and a choir that connote innocence.

From all these clips, the audience learn that whilst religion is a huge element of Verona and it is home to places of worship and wealthy families with high reputations, Verona is not as respectable as some of the establishing shot would have us believe but in reality home to damaging, destructive and violent events along with a long standing aggressive issue between the families living there.