<P> While it retains the original Shakespearean dialogue, the film represents the Montagues and the Capulets as warring mafia empires (with legitimate business fronts) during 1990s America, and swords are replaced with guns (with brand names such as "Dagger" and "Sword"). Some characters' names are also changed . Lord and Lady Montague and Lord and Lady Capulet are given first names (in the original, their first names are never mentioned); Friar Laurence becomes Father Laurence, and Prince Escalus is renamed Captain Prince . The adaptation eliminates the character of Friar John, and some characters change families--in the original, Gregory and Sampson are Capulets, but in the film, they are Montagues (Abram, as Abra, and Petruchio, conversely, are shifted from the Montague to the Capulet family). In addition, a few plot details are shifted, most notably toward the ending . </P> <P> The film was released on November 1, 1996 by 20th Century Fox to commercial success, and was met with generally positive reviews . The film grossed over $147.5 million over a $14.5 million budget . At the 47th Berlin International Film Festival in 1997, DiCaprio won the Silver Bear for Best Actor and Luhrmann won the Alfred Bauer Prize . Luhrmann was also nominated for the Golden Bear Award for Best Picture . At the 69th Academy Awards, Catherine Martin and Brigitte Broch were nominated for Best Art Direction / Set Decoration . In 2005, the film was included on the BFI list of the 50 films you should see by the age of 14 . </P> <P> In Verona Beach, the Capulets and the Montagues are arch - rivals . The animosity of the older generation--Fulgencio and Gloria Capulet and Ted and Caroline Montague--is felt by their younger relatives . A gunfight between the Montague boys led by Benvolio, Romeo's cousin, and the Capulet boys led by Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, creates chaos in the city . The Chief of Police, Captain Prince, reprimands the families, warning them that if such behavior continues, their lives "shall pay the forfeit of the peace". </P> <P> Benvolio meets Romeo on a beach . While playing a game of pool they learn of a party being held by the Capulets that evening which they decide to gate - crash . Romeo agrees to come after discovering that Rosaline, with whom he is in love, is attending . Later, the Montague boys meet their friend, Mercutio, who has tickets to the party . Romeo takes ecstasy Mercutio gave him and they proceed to the Capulet mansion . The effects of the drug and the party overwhelm Romeo, who goes to the restroom . While admiring an aquarium, he sees Juliet on the other side, and the two instantly fall in love . Tybalt spots Romeo and vows to kill him for invading his family's home, but Fulgencio stops him . </P>

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