In the film the characters are dressed in jeans and Hawaiian shirts, opposed to the traditional garments of the time in which the play was constructed. Needless to say, the film version is a much more modern and comprehendible version of the play for a new generation. The textual version of Romeo and Juliet is altered to give a new understanding to the modern world via the film version; mainly in the opening scene through use of modern scenery, language, and armory. .
The most powerful aspect of any Shakespearean play is the dialect contained throughout the literary piece. When reading through the play, the reader may find it difficult to comprehend the terminology in which the play is based. Many of the sayings and slang in the play are no longer used today. The visual display of these words make it easy for the audience to comprehend exactly what Shakespeare had in mind at the time he wrote the play. For an example of slang that Shakespeare uses in the opening act of Romeo and Juliet is between a Capulet and a Montague. The Montague states, "I will bite my thumb at them, which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it." With this simple statement, the reader may have a difficult time understanding what is to be conveyed between the two characters at this stage in the play. However, Luhrmann is able to immaculately display the height of emotions in this scene by the use of many modern pieces of equipment. First, the young Montague makes a ridiculous gesture, which should not have been seen by the Capulet. However, the Capulet, Abra, does see this insult via the rear view mirror of his car. Secondly, Abra slams on the gas of his car creating large quantities of smoke to be emitted from his vehicle. The viewer can look upon the smoke as a symbol of the anger which is steaming from Abra due to this most preposterous insult. A third key point is the hand gestures of each of the two men and the matter in which they speak to one another.