West Side Story

Steven Spielberg remade the 10-time winner of the 1961 Academy Award and the musical known as "West Side Story." The film was definitely a remake, as it represents the conditions that were created in the 1960s, especially the social conditions and behavioral problems that existed in that decade. People waiting for a modern update will be really disappointed.

I must say right away that this is definitely my favorite piece of musical cinema. Based on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet".

I really liked it, I advise everyone to watch it!!!

Spielberg does it again! Another outstanding production under his direction. The cast was great, the singing was great but one major thing that stood out to me was the choreography. It couldn't have been any better, and I can't imagine the amount of training and dance practice that each actor had to go through. Job well done by every member of the cast and crew!

My first thought in hearing about this ... a thought I'm sure was shared by many ... was WHY? Why remake a movie that was done so well the first time. Still, I went to the theater and found a wonderful, well-made movie. I hadn't read anything about the movie before seeing it and I went in wondering if they would update it to present day. They didn't, but I think that might have worked too.

Discussing the movie with my twenty-something son, I brought up the "why remake a nearly perfect film" question and his response was ... for a new generation. People his age were never going to see the 1961 version in the theater and most would never see a 60 year old movie at all. This movie allows a new generation (or two or three) to experience the magic on the big screen. Ultimately, the appeal of the movie lies in the music and the dance ... even more than the story. But the story is still powerful even after there have been so very many Romeo and Juliet adaptations.

A fun movie to see on the big screen.

Watching west Side Stiry in a cold theatre with a mask, I was having a difficult time warming up to the movie. I kept thinking "why bother" with a remake. Then I realized the movie was still set in the 60's. And Spielberg wanted to set the record straight. The new West Side Story is about race.

In this production the Puerto Ricans were really Latino and spoke Spanish (no subtitles). The white kids were mostly sort of clueless, without much reason for being there. The Puerto Ricans had all the good lines, the believability, the energy.

I actually liked the performances a lot. Rachel Zegler as Maria was stunningly pure, almost unrealistically romanticized like a virgin princess. Ariana DeBose was tormented and fiery, and David Alvarez was the stealth show stealer of the production with his sexy, macho Bernardo.

The singing was outstanding. Rita Moreno sang and she still has a decent voice. But in retrospect, I was mist impressed with Ansel Elbert as Tony, who has been getting mediocre reviews for his lack of "soul". Ansel Elbert was hot! Elbert was singing tenor, sweet, clear and very emotional singing from his heart. What a concept.

It's not a common occurrence for a young person to sing so innocently these days, about true love, and Elbert, with his pouty lips and lanky working class presentation was so much fun to watch! Nobody believes in true love anymore. So it was a bit anachronistic to see this production based on the idea of true love. At the end when Maria cries her heart out over Tony laying in the street she is not only crying about the loss of her love. She also seems to be crying to the gang members looking on snd crying about their loss of innocence. In that regard she was crying for the audience, for me, Who cries about true love these days? True Love? It's actually counterrevolutionary.

I was hesitant to go after hearing some negative reviews and stories of disapppointing box office after release.

But he music treatmeant of Bernstein's score, the choreography, the cast, were reallyjust excellent. Tony and Maria have more chemistry and talent than the originals (movie version), and I was blown away by the "I Want to Be in America" street scene. Not woke, not lame. See it.