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West Side Story - Spielberg

(45 Posts)
ferry23 Fri 10-Jan-25 18:31:34

This is on TV this weekend - has anyone seen it?

West Side Story is one of my all time favourite films with a stellar cast and a brilliant soundtrack, still very relevant today.

I do wonder how Spielberg could have improved upon it, but reviews are good and say it stays truer to the original stage version.

Looking forward to watching it.

Babs03 Fri 10-Jan-25 18:41:45

I love it too and intend to watch this new version. Usually Spielberg doesn't disappoint but I really love the old version with the extended dance routines.

kittylester Fri 10-Jan-25 18:50:02

I hated the Spielberg one! But I am a massive fan of the original film and any stage version.

Grandmabatty Fri 10-Jan-25 19:04:33

I am very fond of West Side Story and acted in it as a teenager. Amateur youth drama, I hasten to add. I love the original film but actually quite like Spielberg's version. It's a more up to date version

Maremia Fri 10-Jan-25 19:06:59

Loved the original. Bet that was fun, Grandmabatty. Were you a Shark or a Jet?

ferry23 Fri 10-Jan-25 19:16:45

This is shaping up! Loves and hates and Grandmabatty being a real player grin.

I hope poor old Shakespeare is not spinning around in his grave.

Visgir1 Fri 10-Jan-25 19:20:50

Yes... Seen it. I like the original best, but worth a watch

Retread Fri 10-Jan-25 19:25:00

I thought the Spielberg remake was absolutely brilliant. Austin Butler singing? What's not to like!

(He also of course was the lead in the recent Elvis film).

Chocolatelovinggran Fri 10-Jan-25 19:28:06

I'm with Retread. The original is one of my favourites, but Spielberg's remake is fantastic.

Grandmadinosaur Fri 10-Jan-25 19:52:46

I’ve seen it. After being wary that it wouldn’t live up to a remake I actually enjoyed it and will be watching it tomorrow.

Grandmabatty Fri 10-Jan-25 22:39:42

Maremia I was a little Shark from Puerto Rico. I had a whole line to sing in the song,' America '. Lots of dancing and chorus singing. I loved every part of it

keepingquiet Fri 10-Jan-25 22:41:23

One of my favourites too so will certainly be checking it out!

Allira Fri 10-Jan-25 23:05:04

Thank you ferry23
I loved West Side Story

There's a place for us .......

Allira Fri 10-Jan-25 23:06:10

kittylester

I hated the Spielberg one! But I am a massive fan of the original film and any stage version.

Oh no, will it spoil it for me?

I was about 16 when I first saw it, probably with a group from the youth club

Granmarderby10 Fri 10-Jan-25 23:14:28

Where is it available? Is it on prime?

henetha Fri 10-Jan-25 23:21:07

Austin Butler was great as Elvis, but I don't think he was in West Side Story.
It was Ansel Elgort, in the new version.
I may have spelled his name wrong.

MayBee70 Sat 11-Jan-25 00:12:15

Granmarderby10

Where is it available? Is it on prime?

It’s on Channel 4 Saturday evening.

Granmarderby10 Sat 11-Jan-25 00:25:14

Ooh even better then. Thanks MayBee70

Sparklefizz Sat 11-Jan-25 09:09:10

I saw West Side Story with the youth club when I was about 13 and fell in love with it. It has remained my favourite musical.

However, I saw a version locally about 10 years ago in which every other word was F* which spoilt it for me. I suppose it is realistic to think that gang members would speak like that, but it is not supposed to be realistic .... not when they break into song every so often. I wanted the old magic.

The music is just sublime - "There's a Place for Us", "Maria", "I Feel Pretty" - wonderful.

kittylester Sat 11-Jan-25 09:46:13

I have said this before but, at the risk of boring you all - our fabulous PE teacher gave us homework for 3 weeks running of going to see it at the cinema. We didn't get PE homework - ever. My mother was apoplectic.

eazybee Sat 11-Jan-25 09:52:31

The words of 'Gee officer Krupke' are still so apt.
Nothing has changed, and as the Doc says, 'Don't you kids ever learn?'

Retread Sat 11-Jan-25 14:41:06

henetha

Austin Butler was great as Elvis, but I don't think he was in West Side Story.
It was Ansel Elgort, in the new version.
I may have spelled his name wrong.

Oops, my mistake. You're correct it is Ansel Elgort singing so beautifully.

Gogo84 Sat 11-Jan-25 14:50:06

I too love West side story and was very lucky to meet one of the original members of the cast in the film, as he was teaching at my daughter's dance school in America

nanaK54 Sat 11-Jan-25 14:54:29

I have set it to record, thanks for the heads up.

keepingquiet Sun 12-Jan-25 16:03:50

I watched it last night. As usual tears were shed to the most wonderful songs. I thought the casting was brilliant, especially Rita Moreno.

Speilberg brought the neighbourhood to life in far more detail with some very obvious Speilberg touches.

Better than the original?- yes I thought so- the characters were more believable but both versions will remain firm favourites because the music doesn't date.

Brilliant and makes you wonder why we just don't get music of this calibre in musical theatre or cinema anymore?

Nothing else comes near for me.