The film 'Gnomeo and Juliet' was released on 11th February 2011. It is a British, 3D computer animated family film, based on William Shakespeare's 16th century play 'Romeo and Juliet'. It was directed by Kelly Asbury.
Cinematography and Style
The film was made in CGI (Computer-generated imagery). CGI include 2D (2 dimensional) or, more commonly, 3D (3 dimensional) computer graphics used for creating scenes or special effects in films and television. The term computer animation refers to dynamic CGI rendered as a movie. The first feature-length computer animated film was the movie Toy Story (1995) by Pixar. Nowadays most cartoon films are computer animated.
The film was also released in 3D. A 3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception. During some scenes objects/ people seem to head towards the audience, giving them a more thrilling experience. The idea was derived from stereoscopic photography, a regular motion picture camera system is used to record the images as seen from two perspectives or computer-generated imagery generates the two perspectives in post-production, and special projection hardware and/or eye wear are used to provide the illusion of depth when viewing the film.
3D films were existent in some form from 1915, but due to the expensive hardware and processes required to produce and display a 3D film, they were not often seen during that time. 3D films were prominently featured in the 1950s in American cinema, and was later experienced worldwide in the 1980s and 1990s in IMAX high-end theatres and Disney themed-venues. 3D films became more and more popular throughout the 2000s. The Polar Express (2004) was the first stereoscopic 3D computer animated feature film. Nowadays nearly every computer animated movie is released in 3D and a lot of non-animated movies are released in 3D as well (especially for action packed movies).
The idea of using garden gnomes came from the thought of contrasting the high art of William Shakespeare and the low art of the garden gnome. Most people think garden gnomes are tacky, ugly and laughable. When those two elements are put together, you get a bit of irony, which gave the writers an opportunity to create comedy. The film is more accessible to a wide range of viewers than 'The Royal Shakespeare Company's' Plays as it was released for cinema viewing (a lot cheaper) and they speak Modern-English, as opposed to Shakespearean. This makes the film more easily understood by adults and children. The film is G-Rated (suitable for all ages), which means that children can view a version of the story of 'Romeo and Juliet'. The fact that it was computer animated and available to watch in 3D might also have helped to attract young viewers.
Plot
The film begins with a short prologue (a spoof of Romeo and Juliet's long prologue). Then two elderly neighbours, Mrs. Capulet and Mr. Montague insult each other, showing that they hate one another. When the neighbours leave their gardens, their garden gnomes come to life. Mr. Capulet has red-hatted garden gnomes and Mrs. Capulet has blue-hatted garden gnomes. Like there owners, the different-colour-hatted gnomes hate each other.
Gnomeo is introduced and has a conversation with his mother, Lady Bluebury. In their back alley, the gnomes have a lawnmower race- Red Hats Vs. Blue Hats. Gnomeo represents for The Blues and Tybalt, The Reds. Tybalt wins by cheating and destroys Gnomeo's lawnmower. Gnomeo and his best friend Benny are sad to see that their owner Mrs. Montague is ordering a new 'kitty' lawnmower.
When night falls, Gnomeo and Benny creep into mischievously The Reds' garden, disguised in black. Benny accidentally triggers a security light and so they must both escape. Gnomeo finds himself in a nearby garden where he meets Juliet (Lord Redbrick, The leader of The Red-Hatted Gnomes' daughter), who is also disguised in black. Juliet was only in the nearby garden because she wanted to retrieve a unique orchard. When they both spot it, they romantically tease each other as they fight over it. Before leaving the garden, they discover each others' colour hats and are disheartened at the fact that they are suppose to be enemies. When Juliet returns to her garden, she tells her friend Nanette (a frog-sprinkler) about her new-found love and Nannette says that Gnomeo and Juliet's relationship is "romantically tragic". Thinking that she'll never see him again, Juliet is surprised when Gnomeo turns up in The Reds' garden and the two declare their love for one another in a balcony-type scene and arrange to meet the next day (on her water fountain and through both sides of the garden fence).
The next day Juliet's father introduces her to Paris, a nerdy gnome, who he had arranged for her to marry but she is uninterested. Nanette falls in love with Paris. Gnomeo and Juliet have secret meetings in the nearby garden, where they met each other and meet a flamboyant, lonely plastic flamingo, with a strong Spanish accent named Featherstone, who encourages their love. Gnomeo returns home to see that his mother is very upset, as she discovered that The Red Gnomes destroyed a plant that Gnomeo's deceased father nurtured and so The Blues want Gnomeo to take revenge on The Reds. He has to do as they ask, otherwise he will have to reveal his secret. Before he can spray the reds' prize tulips, Juliet witnesses his attack and he stops what he's doing.
When Gnomeo and Juliet meet in the nearby garden again, they fight briefly, insulting each others family. However, Featherstone stops them, by telling them that he lost his girlfriend after the couple who lived in the house of Featherstone's garden broke up. Benny sees Gnomeo and Juliet together and is left in shock. Then Tybalt attempts to run Benny down with his lawnmower, but instead chops of his hat. Gnomeo becomes angry and vengeful and fights Tybalt on The Reds' lawnmower, until it heads for a wall. Gnomeo jumps off just in time but Tybalt crashes into the wall, breaking to pieces. The Reds blame Gnomeo for Tybalt's death and try to kill him. Juliet defends him, confessing that she loves him. Gnomeo ends up on a road and everyone thinks that he has gotten run over and died. Juliet's father glues a distraught Juliet to the top of her fountain because he doesn't want to loose her like he lost her mother.
Gnomeo is revealed to be alive and ends up in a park, where he sits on a statue of William Shakespeare. The statue comes to life and Gnomeo tells Shakespeare his story. Shakespeare tells Gnomeo that his story is very similar to his play, 'Romeo and Juliet' and assures Gnomeo that his story will have a sad ending as well.
In order to get revenge on The Reds, Benny changes Mrs. Montague lawnmower from 'the kitty' lawnmower to an extremely powerful one, The Terrafirminator. The Terrafirminator goes out of control, destroying most of the two gardens as the gnomes wage a full scale war. With the help of Shroom, Gnomeo's silent pet mushroom and Featherstone, Gnomeo makes it back to Juliet. When he arrives, The Terrafirminator frees itself, sending it flying towards Juliet's fountain. He tries to unglue her, but he can't. She tells him to leave her, but he refuses. They share a passionate kiss as the lawnmower crashes into them and then self-destructs. When everyone believes that both are dead, Lord Redbrick and Lady Bluebury decide to end their feud. Thankfully, Gnomeo and Juliet emerge from the ruins unscathed and the two clans celebrate.
The red and blue gnomes come together to celebrate their new found peace. It is revealed that Tybalt is alive, as he has been glued back together. After Benny orders her online, Featherstone is reunited with his girlfriend. Gnomeo and Juliet are married on a purple lawnmower, which symbolises the coming together of the two families (the colours red and blue mixed together makes the colour purple).
Similarities To Romeo And Juliet
- Some Characters have the same names as in 'Romeo and Juliet' e.g. Juliet, Tybalt, Paris
- The film features a lot of Shakespearean comedy.
- They have a balcony-type scene, where they declare their love at Juliet's water fountain and arrange to meet the next day through the fence.
- They meet in secret.
- Mr. Capulet's gnomes want Gnomeo dead, after Tybalt is killed.
- Gnomeo temporarily has to leave his home, so that The Red's don't kill him after what he did to Tybalt.
- Gnomeo is willing to die in order to be with Juliet, as he stays on her water fountain when the deadly Terrafirminator heads towards them (she can't move as she is glued to her water fountain).
- After Gnomeo and Juliet are fought to be dead The Different-Colour-Hatted Gnomes decide to end their feud.
- Gnomeo and Juliet get married.
Differences To Romeo And Juliet
- It is a cartoon film.
- The main characters are gnomes, plastic flamingos, sprinkler frogs etc. instead of humans.
- The language is Modern-English as opposed to Shakespearean, making the film more easily understood by children. However, some Shakespearean language is used.
- The film features modern- day comedy.
- Most characters have different names to their 'Romeo and Juliet' counterparts e.g. Gnomeo, Lady Bluebury, Featherstone, Shroom.
- It's set during the present day, in two back gardens in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England (the birthplace of William Shakespeare). As opposed to 15th Century Verona, Italy.
- Gnomeo's father and Juliet's mother are deceased in the film.
- Instead of the introductory sword fight there is a lawnmower race between Tybalt and Gnomeo. However, in the play, Romeo doesn't fight anyone until after his best friend Mercutio is killed by Tybalt.
- Gnomeo and Juliet meet in a nearby garden, instead of at a Capulet feast. They flirt and tease each other in a way that is specific to the modern day, as they fight over a flower.
- There true identities are revealed to each other, after they fall in a pond during there fight for the flower.
- Gnomeo and Juliet do not have sex/ there is no sex scene in this film, as it is intended for family viewing.
- Paris is a nerd who wears glasses.
- The Nurse's counterpart, Nanette falls in love with Paris.
- Friar Lawrence's counterpart has a Spanish accent.
- Gnomeo and Juliet argue but Juliet is only briefly angry at Romeo when he finds out that he killed her cousin.
- It is not mentioned whether Tybalt, in this film is suppose to be Juliet's cousin.
- There isn't a Mercutio counterpart in the film, but in an interview with James McAvoy, he said ”Gnomeo in this is a little bit of amalgamation between Romeo and Mercutio. We don’t have that Mercutio character in this. We don’t have that leader of the pack, which Romeo isn’t but Gnomeo is a little bit."
- Tybalt chops off Benny's (counterpart to Benvolio) gnome hat, instead of killing Mercutio.
- Gnomeo doesn't kill Tybalt, he is smashed to pieces in a lawnmower accident that occurred when they were fighting. Gnomeo wanted to chop of Tybalt's hat "A hat for a hat", rather than to kill him, as an act of vengeance.
- Juliet confesses that she loves Gnomeo to her family.
- Everyone thought that Gnomeo was hit by a truck and killed.
- Juliet does not kill herself or try to kill herself after she believes that Gnomeo is dead. This might be due to the fact that she was glued to her water fountain.
- A talking statue of William Shakespeare appears in the film.
- Gnomeo does not kill or even fight Paris.
- It is thought that the Terrafirminator kills both Gnomeo and Juliet, but they emerge form the rubble unscathed.
- Gnomeo and Juliet only marry at the end of the film.
- At the end, Tybalt s revealed to be alive, as he had been glued back together. This meant that no main characters died in the film.
- There were no suicides in the film, as this may have been a sensitive subject for children.
- There is a happy ending.
- Hamlet: The house numbers, 2B and Not 2B in the very beginning and the moving trucks, from the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern moving company
- As You Like It: The As U Like It moving company
- The Tempest: The Tempest Teapot company truck
- A Midsummer Night's Dream: The flower that Gnomeo and Juliet fight over is referred to as "Cupid's flower"
- Macbeth: Juliet says "out, out" to the big dog and the owner says "damn spot" and on a brick wall in an alleyway is painted, '3x3', which is a reference to the witches ("by the power of three times three").
- The Taming of the Shrew: The glue that The Red Gnomes use to keep Juliet on her pedestal is called, "The Taming of the Glue".
- Julius Caesar: When Lady Bluebury tells Benny to "Unleash the dogs of war," this refers to the statement, "Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice, Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;"
There are a number of popular culture references in this film and it was criticised for including too many, especially those that children were unlikely to understand. The film often made references to popular films, TV shows and songs of the 1990s and 2000s.
- Mrs. Montague sings 'Don't Ya' (2005) by The Pussy Cat Dolls.
- The fight scene between Gnomeo and Juliet over the orchard is a reference to a 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon' (2000) fight scene.
- There is an imitation petal scene from 'American Beauty' (1999), when Nanette the frog has rose petals falling on her.
- The smaller red gnomes, who go everywhere together muttering to each other in cute little voices, are similar to the minions in 'Despicable Me' (2010) and the aliens in 'Toy Story' (1995).
- There is a 'Brokeback Mountain' (2005) reference, when two red gnomes that are attached together attempt to split up while looking for Gnomeo. They can't, and the one on the right says "I wish I could quit ya".
- All throughout the movie, there's a red gnome seen wearing a red version of the thong swimsuit Borat wears in the film 'Borat' (2006).
- While playing cards, Fawn (played by Ozzy Osbourne) says that he's thinking about a movie that's one word that begins with "spider". The small red gnomes say the correct answer with "Spiderman" (2002). Then later, while playing cards again, Fawn says that he's thinking about a movie that's two words that begins with "spiderman". The small red gnomes say the correct answer with "Spiderman 2" (2004).
- A red gnome wearing a thong is seen hopping along singing "I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts", like Rafiki in 'The Lion King' (1994). Jim Cummings, who voiced the character of Featherstone in this movie, also provided the voice for Ed the hyena in "The Lion King". When Shroom is trying to tell Featherstone about Gnomeo, Featherstone says "What? What are you trying to say? So little Timmy has fallen down the well? Little John? Little Mustafa? Little Richard? What?!" (Mufasa is a character in The Lion King).
- The film makes a reference to The Matrix (1999) when Gnomeo and Tybalt lunge at each other in bullet time.
- Braveheart (1995) Bunnies with faces painted blue and waving swords-shaped toothpicks before the climactic battle.
- Saving Private Ryan (1998) When Gnomeo is treading through the water in the big battle sequence.
- Hitch (2005) The dancing in the Final Scene spoofs the final scene of Hitch.
- The Graduate (1967) Mentioned in dialogue.
- The Godfather (1972) "He'll be sleeping with the fishes."
- The Muppet Show (1976) (TV Series) Kermit the Frog's face is on a towel on a clothesline.
- Grease (1978) The ending where everyone danced in couples in a line opening up to reveal Gnomeo and Juliet on the lawnmower.
- The Terminator (1984) The Terrafirminator lawnmower is a reference to the protagonist of this film.
- Dirty Dancing (1987) The flamingos dance moves/the topiary that Paris makes for Juliet is the famous dance pose from this movie.
- Forrest Gump (1994) Featherstone says, "I may not be a smart bird, but I know what love is."
- Friends (1994) (TV Series) Benny says, "I love going commando!", a phrase made popular by Joey Tribbiani ('Matt LeBlanc').
- Lassie (1954) (TV Series) When Shroom is trying to get the flamingo's help. The flamingo asks if Little Timmy has fallen into the well.
The film featured a star-studded cast, most likely to attract a wide range of audience members. Here is a list of 'Gnomeo and Juliet's' cast and characters, as well as the characters' counterparts:
James McAvoy is a Scottish Actor who was the voice of Gnomeo in this film. He has been in films such as 'The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe' (2005) and 'X-men: First Class' (2011). Just as in these two films, he had to adopt an English accent for 'Gnomeo and Juliet'. The film 'Atonement' (2007) earned him a Golden Globe nomination and his second BAFTA nomination. Ewan McGregor was originally approached to star as Gnomeo when the film was first announced.
Emily Blunt is an English Actress who was the voice of Juliet in this film. She appeared in the films 'The Devil Wears Prada' (2006) and 'The Adjustment Bureau' (2011). She has been nominated for four Golden Globe Awards, two London Film Critics' Circle Awards, and a BAFTA Award. She won a Golden Globe Award for her role in the BBC television drama, 'Gideon's Daughter' (2007). In 2009, she was given the BAFTA Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year. Kate Winslet was originally approached for the role of Juliet in 'Gnomeo and Juliet'.
Director and Success
Kelly Asbury is an American film director, screenwriter and voice actor. He worked at Walt Disney Animation between 1983 and 1995 and from 1995, he began working for Dreamworks, where he directed two Academy Award nominated feature films, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) and Shrek 2 (2004). He was nominated for two Annie Awards for directing and co-writing 'Gnomeo and Juliet' and even featured as the voice of The Red Goon Gnomes. He provided extra voices for 'Shrek 2' (2004) and 'Shrek the Third' (2007). He was also the story artist of 'Toy Story' (1995) and 'Wreck-it Ralph' (2012).
The film, 'Gnomeo and Juliet' had a budget of $36,000,000 and earned a total of $193,967,670 at the box office. It was nominated for 4 Annie Awards; Directing in a Feature Production, Storyboarding in a Feature Production, Voice Acting in a Feature Production (Jim Cummings), Writing in a Feature Production. It was nominated for a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song, a Golden Globe for Best Original Song and a Satellite Awards for Original Song.
Soundtrack
The film's soundtrack mainly feature the voice of Elton John, who performed some of his classic and original songs throughout the film. He is a well-known English singer and musician, who has been active since 1964. The film, therefore, has similarities to 'The Lion King' (1994), as Elton John created nearly all the songs on the film's soundtrack along with Tim Rice and performed some of the songs. It is likely that he was chosen to appeal to the older audience members. English singer Kiki Dee and Canadian Singer Nelly Furtado also feature on the soundtrack. Furtado has been active since 1996 and is probably better known by younger audience members.
Adult References
Although the film is particularly intended for young children, there are also many instances, when events occur, that only adults could fully grasp. It was a G Rated (General, fit for all) movie, but it had a few innuendos and adult references. For example, The Mankini Gnome, who was a reference to the R-Rated movie 'Borat' and the reference to the R-Rated Movie 'American Beauty'. The film also makes a reference to 'Brokeback Mountain', an R-Rated movie about 2 homosexual cowboys. It has recently become more acceptable to include such references in a family cartoon movie, but some people believed it should have been rated at least a PG.
Minority Characters
Gnomeo and Juliet features no ethnic minority characters, with the exception of Featherstone, who might have been Latino and any other non-humanoid character. Although more black actors are present nowadays than during the time that West-Side Story was released and they have more equal rights, minority characters are still underrepresented, especially in animated films. This could also be due to the fact that the characters are garden gnomes and it is generally accepted that garden gnomes are white.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnomeo_%26_Juliet
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377981/
The film's soundtrack mainly feature the voice of Elton John, who performed some of his classic and original songs throughout the film. He is a well-known English singer and musician, who has been active since 1964. The film, therefore, has similarities to 'The Lion King' (1994), as Elton John created nearly all the songs on the film's soundtrack along with Tim Rice and performed some of the songs. It is likely that he was chosen to appeal to the older audience members. English singer Kiki Dee and Canadian Singer Nelly Furtado also feature on the soundtrack. Furtado has been active since 1996 and is probably better known by younger audience members.
Adult References
Although the film is particularly intended for young children, there are also many instances, when events occur, that only adults could fully grasp. It was a G Rated (General, fit for all) movie, but it had a few innuendos and adult references. For example, The Mankini Gnome, who was a reference to the R-Rated movie 'Borat' and the reference to the R-Rated Movie 'American Beauty'. The film also makes a reference to 'Brokeback Mountain', an R-Rated movie about 2 homosexual cowboys. It has recently become more acceptable to include such references in a family cartoon movie, but some people believed it should have been rated at least a PG.
Minority Characters
Gnomeo and Juliet features no ethnic minority characters, with the exception of Featherstone, who might have been Latino and any other non-humanoid character. Although more black actors are present nowadays than during the time that West-Side Story was released and they have more equal rights, minority characters are still underrepresented, especially in animated films. This could also be due to the fact that the characters are garden gnomes and it is generally accepted that garden gnomes are white.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnomeo_%26_Juliet
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377981/
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