West Side Story - Spielberg

Indigo8

I think West Side Story totally misses the point of Romeo and Juliet in that the tragedy lies in the fact that the Montagues and the Capulets are, to quote the prologue "Two households both alike in dignity ----- From ancient grudge break new mutiny etc etc.

In other words the tragedy lies in the fact that R&J come from similar families but because of some ancient vendetta,
the families are at odds and the situation is made worse when they fall in love.

The original West Side Story didn't miss the point in my opinion , it just modernised it. Instead of young people from two families with a longstanding feud falling in love, it is based on two rival New York gangs. The story is as old as time and Shakespeare just borrowed the idea himself.

I've yet to see this latest version.

Flappergirl, it just didn't feel right to me.

I'll probably watch. Thanks for the tip.

Absolute rubbish from Spielberg. Nothing can ever replace the original.

I'm not sure whether I was in a "funny mood" but I didn't particularly enjoy the Spielberg version. I will add at this point that I'm not someone to always say an original of anything is best. I watch lots of films both old and modern in a variety of genres. But I found something lacking in this version that I can't quite put my finger on. The scenery was more detailed than the original and the cast ethnically more authentic, but it was somehow missing the electrifying spark of the original.

I think West Side Story totally misses the point of Romeo and Juliet in that the tragedy lies in the fact that the Montagues and the Capulets are, to quote the prologue "Two households both alike in dignity ----- From ancient grudge break new mutiny etc etc.

In other words the tragedy lies in the fact that R&J come from similar families but because of some ancient vendetta,
the families are at odds and the situation is made worse when they fall in love.

Esmay Richard Beymer takes some beating in that role.

Franbern

Don't know about Shakespeare being livid. Wasn't his Romeo and Juliet based on a much earlier story?

Yes, several in fact.

Chocolatelovinggran

Re the origins of the story: my daughter came home from school aged ten highly indignant that William Shakespeare had stolen the plot of West Side Story.

😂😂😂

How very dare he!

Re the origins of the story: my daughter came home from school aged ten highly indignant that William Shakespeare had stolen the plot of West Side Story.

I love Spielberg films and old musicals such as West Sude Story -
I found this production tedious and unenjoyable and I don't know why .
The dancing and singing were very good.
The costumes were pleasing .
For me , it lacked that certain chemistry that makes for a wonderful film .
I 4hink that it was the casting of the main male role.

In my youth, I was also in an amateur version of West Side Story, I was a Jet girl and it was fun to do. I also love the film.

Franbern it was based on an Italian story

Don't know about Shakespeare being livid. Wasn't his Romeo and Juliet based on a much earlier story?

kittylester

^original creativity is better than glitz, hype and making money off other people's work.^

Bet Shakespeare is livid.

😂

original creativity is better than glitz, hype and making money off other people's work.

Bet Shakespeare is livid.

There isn't much glitz in it, less than the original infact.

West Side Story is one of my favourite musicals , I love the original and was apprehensive about the Spielberg version , but I loved it .

It's a rare re-make that really hits the spot and, even then, the reactions to it are subjective. I saw West Side Story at the pictures as a teenager, and that was a "re-make" of the stage musical. For me, what's crucial is Bernstein's score. I can't get worked up about seeing Spielberg's version, but then I am a crabby old bat who thinks that original creativity is better than glitz, hype and making money off other people's work.

I watched [part of it last night and am just about to settle down to watch the rest - what I saw was excellent, but I do seem to struggle with hearing dialogue on films.

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.

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

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

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.

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