Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is fully summed up in Shakespeare's prologue: "Two families, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona where we set our scene. From ancient rancor to new mutiny where civil blood makes civil hands impure From the fatal loins of these two enemies, a pair of star-crossed lovers who take their own lives" (Universal, 1996). This film is the masterful culmination of the director's phenomenal ability to create a powerful introduction, to select a realistic yet surreal setting, to cast realistic actors, and to stage specialized dramatic effects. Sitting in the theater, watching this movie for the first time, I heard static interrupt the credits. A serious-looking reporter appeared on the screen with a special report. I sat down to pay attention. He was recounting a tragedy that happened recently in a place called Verona. I was led to think it was a truly special relationship. Ha-ha!! It was a trick. A trick to get people to do just what I did. We are trained to listen to the news, our lifeline in today's society, where we get much of our information. A trick, and I fell for it, as did everyone else, how clever. Then the sound of weeping, chorusing angels screaming angry songs echoed throughout the theater (amazing surround sound effect). Images (movie clips) flashed sporadically on the screen. A dark and sinister voice recounted Shakespeare's prologue given on the television broadcast moments earlier. The angels were still screaming and then silence. A large truck flashed across the screen and let out a loud growl from its engine. The truck roared noisily down the road. Stringy electric guitars and booming drums hit with a strong, vengeful rhythm. The Montague bo... center of paper... which I know would make Shakespeare himself blush to see how his story has touched so many people, in such a positive way, in the coming twenty-first century. Works Cited Streisand, Betsy. “I'm looking for Mr. Good Bard this fall.” US News & World Report. November 11, 1996. (May 5, 1997). Lyon, Donald. “Lights, camera, Shakespeare.” Comment. February 1997. (5 May 1997). Rozen, Leah. "Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare." People's Weekly. November 11, 1996. (May 5, 1997). Johnson, Brian D. "Inventing the Bard." Maclean. November 11, 1996. (May 5, 1997). Luhrmann, Baz, dir. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. With Leonardo DiCaprio and Clare Danes. Universal Pictures production, 1960.