Romeo and Juliet: A comparison between the new and the old! By: Aaron Dickman The 1996 Luhrmann version of Romeo and Juliet is unusual because it takes place in modern times. This creates an discharge setting for a play written in the ordinal century. Luhrmann manages to create a movie that is remarkably faithful to the plays fancy and sense of tragedy without drastically changing the play. The characters of Romeo and Juliet are a colorful group. Their changes in the movie are subtle, but noticeable. The bear in the play is a blabbermouth, makes dirty jokes, and is more of a mother to Juliet than Lady Capulet. In the movie, she is more to the point, doesnt talk as much, and isnt as close to Juliet. She is really more of a consideration than a close friend. Lady Capulet in the play is a young wife with a nasty temper that shows when she demands Romeos death. She as well has a cold demeanor and virtually shuns Juliet until her death. In the movie, shes a horrible flirt wit h Paris and has a more than Platonic relationship with Tybalt. She is warm compared to the plays Lady Capulet and seems to be more of a victim of domestic violence than in the play.