West Side Story (2021) - DisneyCember
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- čas přidán 9. 12. 2021
- The remake of one of one of the most influential musicals has arrived! Can it capture a new generation of fans? Doug takes a look at Steven Spielberg's West Side Story.
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West Side Story is a 2021 American musical romantic drama film directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Tony Kushner. It is the second feature-length adaptation of the 1957 stage musical of the same name with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreography by Jerome Robbins. It stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler (in her feature film debut) with Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, and Rita Moreno in supporting roles.
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Thoughts on the new West Side Story?
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I really enjoyed it, perhaps even more so than the original, especially the grittier, darker take on the story.
"DISNEYCEMBER 2021 blog" day 10 goes into the song & dancing with the remake of "west side story" & sigh I never got into this remake the 1961 version of the Broadway musical was better to see on cinemaSins along with a few cartoon versions like Animaniacs good feathers cartoon "west side pigeons" where like "west side story' finds squint finding love & losing it to another bird so does this remake hold up ? spoiler alert it was just ok if you hadn't seen the 1961 original or watch the cartoon versions go watch the remake if not go watch the Broadway musical it might be worth a dance or two"
You should check out the owl house
Haven't seen it yet. But I think this seg may have sold me on doin so someday. And its due to the fact that we share a preference in having musicals be intense & having shit go down. For me, up till now, I hadnt found many others worth watching but the one I did enjoy (for the most part... the infatuation story messed with the tone when it came up); is Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd. That said, a gritty gang war centered rendition of this does sound like itd be worthwhile to check out based on that criteria. So thanks for the mini-review.
How the hell did you review this on the first day this remake premiered on the first day?
I think a critic named Rob Thomas put it nicely when he said, "Spielberg's been making musicals his whole life. This is just the first time he added music."
As a Die-Hard WSS fan, I absolutely loved it. I found a lot of the changes gave the characters more depth (especially for Chino who was pretty much a background character for most of the original film).
Also, “I Feel Pretty” was always intended to come after the Rumble (the 1961 film is the only time it takes place before). However on stage it’s the opening of the second act, meaning the audience has an entire intermission to process the tragic events at the end of Act I. I think the upbeat/joyfulness is intended to clash with the horrific nature of the Rumble, giving it a sense of irony before the story starts is path towards the tragic finale.
I actually felt for Chino, even when he did the thing. He was a nice guy, and the actions that he takes are fuelled by trauma and hatred.
I think this was Spielberg's only mistake in the film. I Feel Pretty should have come before the rumble.
@@mackielunkey2205 Just like Tony
@@scifinerd17 Oh man, I didn't notice that either!
@@mackielunkey2205 Yeah when he killed Bernardo he was fueled by trauma and hatred just like Chino. They’re parallels of each other.
Rest in Peace Stephen Sondheim. Thank you for this musical and Into the Woods
How did he die
@@Dashiell777 he was old
@@jr2904 oh so he died from old age
On the tenth Disneycember, my critic gave to me:
Ten gangsters dancing
Nine Launchpad crashes
Eight hammy nobodies
Seven dogs a-barking
Six long delays
FIVE POWER UPS
Four bad reboots
Three magic candles
Two Sith Lords
And a blade in the shape of a key
Thanks so much for this list, it made my entire day, once again! 😘❤️
You gonna go past 12 like last time?
@@meganparrish807 probably.
@@ThemeParkAvenue
Neat.
Are you referring to this disneycember or last year’s? Cause last years was technically the tenth disneycember
I liked the choice to move "I Feel Pretty" to after the rumble. It gave the song an ironic and overwhelming dread because you know Maria is building herself up for an ever more devastating fall
I think I would’ve liked that choice just a little better if somehow that moment was completely interrupted. The joyful moment should have somehow stopped very abruptly at the end. Instead the song just kind of plays out how it’s supposed to and finishes like it’s supposed to and then just after a few minutes there’s the emotional part. It’s not the strongest punch.
@@thefirstbourne149 You make a good point.
It’s how it happened in the Broadway production
It wasn’t a “choice”, it was a correction. This is how it is done onstage and Spielberg put it back in its original and correct spot.
@@gogo2325100 Yeah, but that’s one of the few changes in the ‘61 film I kinda liked, it actually reflects the feeling she goes through right after meeting Tony.
I feel a lot more people should talk about Mike Faist as Riff. He absolutely killed it! I don’t know if this was in the original movie or stage production, but I really liked Riff’s character progression, especially with his relationship with Tony. Going from being the tough gang leader to a friend who truly understood the demons Tony was facing after he left prison.
Indeed, Mike Faist absolutely stole the show as Riff, and I liked how close he was with Tony, especially in this version. I hope that he appears in more mainstream, big budget movies like this one.
He was the best character in the movie. And the best performance by an actor here too.
TOTALLY agree!!
In my opinion, Mike Faist, as Riff and Ansel Elgort, as Tony, his best Friend since Childhood, stole the whole thing!!
What I like about this version of West Side Story is that both the structure of the narrative and the song order take influence from the original 1957 Broadway production, not the 1961 film adaptation, and yet “America” still has the Sharks sing it with their respective girlfriends, whereas in the stage production it was just Anita singing it with the other girls. While I do like how “Gee, Officer Krupke” and “I Feel Pretty” are choreographed and the performances were spectacular, I think the pacing of the film would feel more cohesive if they were cut. The police station scene could simply have the Jets lament their woes through dialogue and the Maria working scene could have Maria work to the rhythm and beat of the ballet piece she dances to in the 1961 version before Chino tells her about the rumble. Other than that, I can definitely say that this is my favorite adaptation of West Side Story because of how it keeps true to the story and characters while also incorporating new elements to give depth to the characters and heighten the drama of the conflict.
I also like in the in the version that we’re seeing right now, they actually find ways to make both talking parts and the musical and fighting parts equally interesting and engaging. That was all just through the power of directing alone.
i had a facepalm when she slept with a Guy she knew 2 Days that killed her a brother an hour before
absolutely not.
@@ac14cmpunk25then you don't know the Story of Romeo and Juliet and/or West Side Story at ALL! LOL!
Plus, Bernardo, Maria's Brother, killed Tony's BEST Friend since Childhood, Riff FIRST; but virtually NO one ever talks about, has a problem with, or acknowledges THAT VERY important, elemental plot line and Storyline, FIRST and foremost!!
@@janebarry-fraundorf4623 i know them
i just don't like them at all.
This was my first expierience with West Side Story and certain things completly threw me out of the Film
A rare case of the remake arguably being stronger and just as enjoyable as the original. Spielberg really SHOULD direct more musicals in his career! ❣️
I'd like to see him do another les miserables.
Yes, tge 2012 one is good, but there's some things that are off about it. Like, where Jean has this great moment after the priest just say to take the silver and use it to better himself. Then the very next time we see him, it's not showing us any struggle of how he got there, but it's just suddenly years later and he's got this big factory he's in charge of and has some city influence. No acknowledgement of how he got that influence or anything, he just has it. It's jarring as it doesn't feel earned.
Interesting you say that! In my case, after seeing Jaws, I always wondered why Spielberg didn't do more horror films! He's great with suspense and horror as shown in Jaws!
@@sjk8495
Yeah, and the original Jurassic Park.
That first movie, even with it's flaws, was just brilliant!
That’s crazy talk; the original is held as sacred
Love to seem him direct Rent or Guys and Dolls
What convinced me to see this is the fact that it's a story that is now played by people of the story's ethnicities. I'm not one to usually care so much about how diverse a movie is, and I think the obsession with that has gotten way out of hand. However, this is a story that is literally supposed to be about the conflict of ethnicities and backgrounds. Even as a white kid, watching the original always seemed off to me, because it's clearly not supposed to be about all white neighborhoods. I'm not a fan of remakes in most cases, but this is the perfect example of a film that should be remade, and should have the diverse cast that it has.
who cares. I am a broadway actor and all riles have been played by all different types. The person with the talent, not the skin color, gets the job.
As a Spielberg fan, glad to see him still doing great films
Now if he can just get on with that "Tintin" sequel...
@@jenneacubero1036 I think that's Peter Jackson's job.
Me too, and I'm saying that as someone who actually enjoyed Ready Player One, like it's no great movie, but as a throwback to adventure films of the 80s (yes, it's derivative but... A lot of 80s sci-fi films were to some extent, so it didn't bother me that much). If anything, it would be terrible if ANYONE other than him directed it.
RIP Stephen Sondheim. You and Jonathan Larson are the reason musicals exist to this day ;)
Indeed, rest in peace, Stephen Sondheim, you'll be forever missed!
@@trinaq 👍👍👍💯💯💯💯💯
Especially Sound of Music
So what you said about the songs being switched around is interesting. I'm a fan of Musicals, and in the original 1957 production, The Big Battle happened at the End of Act 1, with "I feel Pretty" opening Act 2, getting people engaged and happy again after the battle and intermission. In the 1961 movie, the director wanted the suspense to just keep building and building, so he put "I feel pretty" BEFORE the battle to not have that relief for the audience. So Spielberg stuck closer to the original production it sounds like. Both are good in their own way, just different
Funny that you mention that Mike Faist (the guy playing Riff) sounds one step away from John Mulaney in Newsies, as Faist was actually in the original Broadway cast of Newsies
WAIT what!? Who did he play!!
@@thobat14 He was an ensemble newsie, Morris Delancey, as well as being the understudy for Jack
@@AccusedJ awesome! So great to see him on screen!
When it comes to West Side Story, it is not only one of my favorite musical films of all time, it is one of my favorite musicals of all time period. The first adaptation released in 1961 is considered one of the most influential films of all time and for good reason. I never get tired of watching it, the snappy choreography or Jerome Robbins, the brilliant cast of Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, George Chakiris, and Rita Moreno, the memorable music of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, and the timeless themes of Romeo And Juliet all conveyed beautifully. This new adaptation, long story short, is not a remake of the movie but rather a new adaptation of the stage musical, which made me feel a bit better about the new movie. Second is that Spielberg respects the original movie. Although I have not seen the new movie, I can tell you that as far goes West Side Story, the original movie and the original musical, I'm a die hard fan.
That’s how I see Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, just another adaptation of the 1957 musical and not a remake of the 1961 film. People just have a strange mindset that when they see a new adaptation of something beloved, they just see “remake” instead of “a new adaptation”. I have often seen the 1986 film adaptation of the Off-Broadway musical Little Shop of Horrors on lists of remakes better than the original when I don’t think it was ever intended to be a remake of the original Roger Corman B-movie, which was the basis for the original musical. It was just simply meant to be a film adaptation of the Off-Broadway musical, but because of that mindset I brought up, they see it as a remake of Roger Corman’s B-movie.
This is the one musical this year I was very scared about, because I adore the original. My dad has seen it over 50 times (that I can remember), and I’m gonna watch it hopefully this weekend
Edit: wow, just wow. After it finished, my dad and I sat in the theatre in complete silence. It was amazing. There was some stuff I liked better in the original, but this was so good
I'd be interested in seeing this. As a theater fanatic I was always toldd how great the original was. Finally watched it a couple years ago and while I could say it was good it was just not for me. It was really boring. The one thing that kept me engaged was the incredible dancing. I've only seen dancing like that before in a professional theater production of Guys and Dolls. So maybe this new one might be for me.
Oh good to know I wasn't the only one who found the original boring. My sister and I tried watching it a year ago during quarantine and somewhere near the forty minute mark I turned to her and said "you wanna turn this off?" to which she immediately agreed. I think I'd also probably enjoy this remake better.
@@00ammy00 LOL yeah I felt the same.
The new 2021 Version is ANYTHING but boring and PHENOMENALLY done in EVERY way!
Give it a chance guys, sure you'll LOVE it, like I did/do, too!!
The Tony played by Richard Beymer in the 1961 version was slammed by critics so it didn't surprise me to see that the Tony played by Ansel Elgort in this version has met the harshest criticism. I think you are on to something when you state that the role of Tony is really the hardest role in the show. For an actor to be totally successful in playing Tony he has be charismatic, a superb singer and dancer AND have an acting range as wide and deep as the Grand Canyon. Thats a very tall order and I can't for the life of me think of anyone the right age who could do it.
I heard so much possible negativity around Ansel Elgort, that I didn't expect much from him in the movie. I ended up being VERY impressed with his performance, both singing and acting. What sold it for me, was that that he was playing a Polish New Yorker. I'm half Polish, and the Pole demeanor is low key and understated. If the character of Tony were written as a New York Italian, lets say, then Ansel's performance wouldn't have rung true. But as someone Polish, he hit that character right on the dime. Ariana Debose and Mike Faist should be nominated. I was also impressed with Rachel Zegler. Her acting was very good, and her vocal performance, particularly with Ariana in " A Boy Like That/I Have a Love," might be the best musical performance I've ever seen on screen.
AMEN, couldn't agree MORE!!
Ansel Elgort as Tony was PHENOMENAL in this Movie, (others as well, but they DEFINITELY get more kudos, compliments and recognition than him)!!
Absolutely fell in love with this adaptation, one of my new modern favorites. The style and cinematography and the MUSIC absolutely blew my mind.
Spielberg really outdid himself with this spectacle. I love the musical & its ‘61 film is good, but wow this really upped the ante. I didn’t expect to like this, but it took less than 15 minutes in to hook me & its great to see Spielberg finally tackle a musical; the ‘America’ sequence is even better than the original
And in the original stage show (and all versions after) has “I Feel Pretty” in the opening of Act 2 to contrast the news Maria gets
I never saw this movie but I’m glad Steven Spielberg didn’t modernize it. He kept it in the original setting the story takes place in. Most Hollywood directors and film companies have been doing that to most films that were made during the Golden Age. But Spielberg didn’t do that. Thank you Mr. Spielberg!
Twas a pleasant surprise. The actor who played Riff is phenomenal, I hope we'll see him in more movies.
Yes, that's Mike Faist, who originated the role of Connor Murphy in the stage show of "Dear Evan Hansen". He's such a phenomenal young actor, and I definitely hope that he has a successful career ahead of him.
Wasn’t expecting a Disneycember of this on release day.
me neither
Doug did add 20th Century Studios to the line-up last year, however don't expect to see stuff like Woman in the Window, Nomadland or The Last Duel in here.
@@Igorcastrochucre No, the 20th Century Studios films being added I know. I said I wasn’t expecting the Disneycember of West Side Story to come out the day the movie released in theaters.
@@Igorcastrochucre funny i saw last duel on the list
@@KTKomedy2813 well, how could he not? Not that he went into the movie hating it, but it’s not like he went into this movie enthusiastic for one thing, and the other… Is that it might be more easily available than you might think especially for the theater.
I love this movie. Love how he made the gangs feel like an actual gang. How he actually developed the gangs and made you wish that they stoped the fight. I want this movie on bluray
Of course Spielberg knows musicals. Remember that opening in Temple of Doom?
(Also Doug. You nailed it. The guy who played Riff did a GREAT job. It could have been a godawful performance but the guy really knew what he was playing. Hope to see the actor in more)
Or 1941?
The guy who plays Riff is Mike Faist, he is in so much on Broadway and he’s really talented I can’t wait to see him in more
@@katybeard I think the last time Spielberg was in charge of musical was American Tail!!!!!! Yes Don Bluth directed it, but it was Spielberg's idea to make it into film and include songs.
I love the original, I grew up watching it, and it still makes me cry. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I am honestly really excited to see this movie. I don’t mind the changes as long as they work, and for the most part it sounds like they do. Hopefully this means Spielberg will direct more musicals in the future!
Chaplin: "Oh boy!! Are we ready for a Rumble, tonight?"
Lloyd: "With the Shark dogs? No. We Cats can barely get out of our comfy pillows."
Tuffy: 🎶 "I'm in love with a Poodle name Maria."
Lloyd: "There are two things we cats despise: romance with dogs and singing."
Chaplin: 🎶"Yippee! We're gonna have a Rumble, tonight!"
This movie is a masterpiece, and that’s coming from someone who loves the original!
As a die hard WSS fan, I couldn't be happier with this film.
It got everything right.
As someone who loves the original movie, I thought this version was great. I don't think it's better, and it certainly won't win 10 Oscars like the original did, but I loved the new script and the shot choices. It really does feel like a completely different movie while following the same story beats. Rita Moreno singing Somewhere is a stroke of genius but, yeah, the last 20 minutes drag a bit.
Jesus Doug, this movie JUST came out!
“One step away from being John Mulaney in Newsies”. Little does Doug now the actor was actually in Newsies😂
I did NOT know (btw, you misspelled "know") that until today.
I was just gonna write this lol - I actually saw Newsies and got a pic with him after the show! I was thrilled to find the pic again a few days ago and he did great as Riff in the movie! :)
I still can’t believe they decided not to subtitle the Spanish for the new one.
I can’t believe it’s not butter.
ON THE 10TH DAY OF DISNEYCEMBER THE CRITIC GAVE TO ME!
10. Dirty Remakes
9. Ducks-A-Crashing
8. Doors to Darkness
7. Dogs-A-Talking
6. Russian Spies
FIIVE LOVE TRIANGLES
4. Deadly traps
3. Family Gifts
2. Best friends
And a child beating villains with a key
👍👍👍👍💯💯💯💯💯
This is lovely
Thanks once again, though this remake is arguably stronger and just as enjoyable as the 1961 original.
@@trinaq 👍👍💯💯💯💯
That was beautiful...
Hoping next year to see Disneycember reviews of 2017's Murder on the Orient Express and 2022's Death on the Nile.
@@FrequentUser99 How many movies were made from that novel?
@@louisduarte8763 Just 2: The old one by Sidney Lumet the Network guy, the new one by Kenneth Branagh. It's a lot more complicated on the TV scene.
@@gluttonousmaximus9048 When I read the book in 10th grade English, we watched A movie version, with Sean Connery as one of the suspects.
@@FrequentUser99 Oooh yes, as a big Agatha Christie fan, I would LOVE that!!!
Legit the best thing about the OG West Side Story is the freaking phenomenal Dancing! Seriously, the bar was set so high, I legit don't know if any musical film can ever reach it again!
This film is one of Steven Spielberg's best. I love the look over the original making it feel realistic. The acting and singing were better than the first one. The look of it is very impressive from the sets to the costumes. The sound design was also first rate and was done by sound design legend Gary Rydstrom so you know it has good sound design. The pacing is also much better than the first one. Most of the time Steven Spielberg is great at pacing his films and the story does take it's steps very well. The cinematography is brilliant. The wide variety of shots in the film are phenomenal and some of the best i've seen in Spielberg's movies. This is definitely one of the best films of 2021 and in my opinion should've won Best Picture in 2022.
I really loved the almost subtle dynamics with color. If you notice, the sharks are wearing mostly reds and warm tones where the jets are wearing blues and cool tones.
At the dance, Maria is wearing white with a hint of red in her belt and Tony is wearing black with a hint of blue in his tie.
Throughout the movie, Maria is shown wearing more and more blue until the end where Maria is running towards Tony wearing a dark blue dress. A really subtle touch that I really appreciated.
The girl in this movie was raised in my town. Clifton NJ. I work at AMC and her entire high school came to our theater to support her
No joke this is one of the most visually beautiful films I've ever seen. The cinematography, choreography, lighting, and blocking is phenomenal in this film!
Agree 1000%!!
This new 2021 West Side Story Movie Version is BRILLIANT in EVERY way!!
A superb remake. Spielberg nailed it.
This is the best movie I've seen this year. I'm looking forward to seeing it again.
I love the 1961 film. Seen it multiple times. Absolutely loved this version. I loved that it was so harsh and violent. The production design, the cinematography, the choreography, the music, and the acting (Elgort aside) are all amazing. I absolutely agree on Mike Faist as Riff, but I also love David Alvarez, Ariana DeBose, and Rita Moreno. As for Rachel Zegler, I have never cried at the ending of WSS and she absolutely broke my heart and made me cry. I love her as Maria. Overall, I loved this movie.
I feel. like musicals are making a return to movies which is really cool to see, movies like La Lad Land, this and In the Heights!
My family and I saw it together and we actually had a good mix of experiences. I know Romeo & Juliet, my brothers and I have seen the original, but one of their girlfriends hadn’t seen the original. With her exception though, we’re all huge fans of WSS.
For me, same problem, neither the Jets nor Sharks looked tough in the original. Bernardo always looked like an Elvis Impersonator or the Fonz to me. This one, from the trailer alone made me believe the Jets and Sharks could actually kick some ass.
I loved how they moved the “wedding” scene from the store Maria worked at to a museum that was a Church. In fact, the romance in general was done so well. I was enchanted by the way the two leads interacted. You believe it’s love at first sight, but there’s also the scene on the subway or the museum where they just talk to each other. It’s so sweet.
The only one of us who had major problems was my youngest brother but he and my middle brother both kind of have this problem where they see ghosts and agendas in everything made after the mid-2000’s. But even he didn’t hate it.
My Dad, my Mom, my brothers, and me. We all didn’t just love it as fans of the original, we were blown away by it. Any movie where we have family discussions about it hours after seeing it? That’s a good movie.
I really can’t wait to see your Luca review from this month.
I don’t understand the negative reaction to Ansel’s performance. After watching it twice he did such a fantastic job. I fell in love with Tony and Maria and when the ending happens I was a wreck. Maybe it’s just me but I think Ansel did just as good as Rachel Ziegler.
I agree. People are just being very unfair to his performance.
@@merribellewharton938 thank you! Haha
It’s more of compared to everyone else he seems to be the worse part
"This is a film I would watch again just to watch the choreography". That is me, right now. I just finished watching it and thought the same thing. Impressive.
As long as tough guy finger snapping is still in it, it should be a good movie.
I adore the original film so much! I have yet to watch the new one but it looks promising.
The novice is based actually more off the original Broadway play than the movie. “I Feel Pretty” is also after the “battle scene”, to use your words, in the stage version.
I fell in love with West Side Story back in middle school. I've watched the original several times and seen multiple stage performances of it. I love the music and honestly, I think West Side Story is THE best Romeo & Juliet story because it has so many layers. And this new version lives up to the original. Personally, I think I prefer the original (I need to watch this one again), but I enjoy the changes in this version and they work for the most part. Sure, I'll show my kids the original first, but if they come to prefer this version, I'll be happy to watch it.
So you just saw this movie in theaters, I love the original 1961 west side story movie, but I don’t think this remake is going to be better nor beat the original. But glad you like this movie and it introduced you to West Side Story!
Thank Mr. Spielberg for keeping it in the century it was made in
Really hoping NC does The Owl House for Disneycember.
He usually doesn't review Disney TV shows until after they're over so he can give his thoughts on the whole series. The Owl House is still ongoing so maybe he'll do it next year.
*On the 10th day of disneycember the critic gave for me:*
10 Dancing street gangs
9...DUCKTALES! WHO-HOO!
8 Expo dumps
7 Super powers
6 Black widows
FIVES CG REYNOLDS
4 Deadly traps
3 Gifted children
2 Lightsabers
and a Keyblade for a kingdom heart realm
👍👍👍👍💯💯💯💯💯
Fun fact: the order of songs in this is the same as the stage version, which was already different from the first movie.
Not quite. Krupke should be after the rumble for that.
First of all, the movie is an absolute masterpiece! Here's my take on Ansel. He gave a fine performance! I'm so tired of seeing comments of people saying "he brought the entire movie down - one of the worst performances - he can't sing - he showed no emotion". In all honesty, he gave Tony so much more depth and urgency than the original. The way he delivered some of his lines was beautiful, and made me tear up. Do I support Ansel’s personal life? No. But I give credit when credit is due. I loved the entire move, and you can see the entire cast gave it their 110%.
I'm so so sad that it isn't doing well at the box office. I've seen a lot of people blame it on Ansel and on Covid. However, the general public won't even know about his allegations, and the excuse of Covid falls apart because of the large amount of people who saw "Spiderman: No Way Home". I just don't think most audiences want to watch musicals.... which is sad.
West Side Story is the best movie I've seen in a very long time. It was so nice to watch something that is basically grounded in reality and not comic book or Sci-Fi. Another thing that really annoys me is everyone's hateful comments over Ansel Elgort and his presence in the movie. Yes, he could be guilty of the allegations, but we will never know without proof or a court case. It is extremely harsh to judge someone just because of a Twitter thread. Plus it is "innocent until proven guilty" not trial by Twitter. Also, I go by treating others as you would like to be treated. These are just my thoughts on the entire situation. Anyway, I want to go see WSS again!
I would have called myself a causal fan of the original West Side Story before seeing this movie, but watching this new movie made me realize how much l love this musical and the songs and characters in it! It definitely gave me a better appreciation for the original while also (somehow) blowing me away completely! This remake was fantastic! Really enjoyed it and agree with everything you said in this video. I wasnt so sure about Ansel Elgort going into the movie and, while I was impressed by the performance he gave, there were definitely moments when his performance was lacking like you said. LOVE Mike Faist as Riff! Wow.
I was a little disappointed that they moved "Cool" to before the rumble bc the original movie's version, fueled by grief , fury, and angst after Riff's death was one of my favorite parts of the original movie. But they used "Cool" in the Spielberg version to really hone in on the relationship between Riff and Tony in a way we didnt really get in the original movie. Overall that really benefited the movie.
“Riff always sounds *one* step away from being John Mulaney in Newsies.”
Mike Faist: literally in the Newsies ensemble originally
I loved this movie...both versions. You got to be a real fan of the soundtrack to love this film. The arrangement of the music was just a bit different but not enough to take away from the original. The song lyrics were the same as original with a few minor changes that didn't distract. The choreography was different but still great. I have to admit the best Anita was Rita Moreno and her performance in "America" in 1961 was pure joy to watch. I understand why it tanked at the box office but it is an Oscar worthy film.
My mom introduced me to the original film when I was in elementary school. Her mom introduced the film her when she was much younger. We love the original a lot. We watch it a lot. We were amped for this remake. And we loved every second of it. We were both crying during it.
A lot of sympathies for Sondheim, who wrote the lyrics and recently died (so I get it that the news is still fresh), but let's not forget about the composer Leonard Bernstein who passed over 30 years ago in 1990.
Don't remind me it was 30 years ago.
I am afraid most people here could not tell him apart from Elmer.
I think something that made the original work well was the cinematography, everything like you said felt epic a little dated but a lot of long shots and color that made a lot of scenes work.
I’d also be curious seeing an old vs new with West Side Story the only thing I can see with the old one unfortunately during the time of the 60s was the brown face situation, which is a shame.
Bad news, Doug: Mike Faist, the guy who plays Riff, did not get an Oscar Nomination. I just looked a minute ago.
I can’t wait to see This movie!
A new record is broken, the quickest Release Date to Disneycember review in Channel Awesome history.
I cannot believe Spielberg has never done a musical. He should make every musical into a movie.
I think the last time Spielberg was in charge of musical was American Tail!!!!!! Yes Don Bluth directed it, but it was Spielberg's idea to make it into film and include songs.
For some reason I felt it was an appropriate song for Rita Moreno to sing, because ironically they found a place for her in the film just like Netflix Carmen Sandiego found a place for her
As a die hard fan, (I also still have a vinyl recording of the original Broadway production) I haven't been this excited about a remake ever. You're opinion has assured me that my anticipations will be sated. Thank you.
I haven't watched this remake yet, but I know I did enjoy the original except for the ending. The ending felt like a huge pause where Romeo dies, juliet gives the big speech, and it ends with them carrying his body away. When it ended there I was like that's it? The momentum for me just ended abruptly and it felt weird for me.
That's definitely the twist on the Romeo and Juliet story from the original stage play. Is that in West Side Story the "Juliet" doesn't die. That instead she sees Romeo die and gives a speech about how these two gangs were fuel by hate, and now she knows how hate feels. And that cause the two sides to realize things went too far
Agreed, while it seemed a bit out of the blue that Maria was spared, unlike Juliet, at least she lived to deliver a scathing speech to the gangs, who realize that their senseless violence took things much too far.
@@TheRosadochris I 100% agree. It feels much more impactful for Maria/Juliet to give the the huge final speech rather than the Frair, a side character that only had a couple scenes
I honestly thought Spielberg might kill off Maria in a mean spirited twist, but it’s fine he didn’t. It’s much harsher for Maria surviving in the cruel world due to the gangs’ violence
@@LucyLioness100 Out of curiosity, what did they do with Anita in the end? In the original, we didn't get much closure after her assault.
Can we all appreciate how Doug always ends his videos so satisfyingly for a moment.
If you had Alden Ehrenreich as Tony. Ooooooh chefs kiss
Fan of he original here, it will always be a classic: but I LOVE the remake! I felt it was spot on all the way through and really rectified a few areas in which the original had become problematic. Definitely want to see again.
From a corporate standpoint, it's pretty cool that Brad gets to put out his review before the Disneycember version. I hope that was intentional. Btw, I watched and loved both
It was better then expected. When they announced the remake I was not interested at first because of my love of the the orignal with natalie wood. When it came out I was shocked how well it did. When I saw it. I liked it but still love the orignal.
This might be one of the rarest of cases where the remake equals or even surpasses the original. I don’t think I’ve ever said that before.
I took my mother to this movie and she loved it. The original was the film that my parents watched before my dad proposed. ❤️
I love the original and i love this one too. Awesome work!
ah, this bring back memories of being a members of the Jets in my school's musical production of it.
I grew up watching the original West Side Story and I absolutely adore it! I really like the remake too, I think some of the changes they made actually are merited and make the film even better. I actually thought the guy who played Riff had the worst singing in the movie, whereas Ansel Elgort I thought blew it out of the water.
I have to disagree with you about the guy playing Riff - Mike Faist was phenomenal. He was Connor on Broadway in DEH and Morris Delaney in Newsies. He has an amazing voice and I loved his portrayal in this remake. Ansel was not surprising … knew he could sing but his dancing was much better than I thought it would be
@@soniachapple3141 I have it seen again in theaters since posting this comment, and I definitely need to amend my statement. He was very good.
As a first timer to the whole West side story world, Steven Spielberg's West side story is actually a really good movie and I've seen the original film adaptation and while I like it very much, I like the Spielberg version and he's still got it in my opinion.
Speaking as a fan of the original, I really liked this one a lot. This one strips away the staginess of the Wise production, and I dug it.
The dancing and music in 1941 makes you realize how right Spielberg was for this movie. Jitterbug!
Channel Awesome (love the show), West Side Story is one of my favorite American Musicals. I've heard almost all of Bernstein's music, and watched Almost all of Spielberg's films and many of Robert Wise's. I've enjoyed the original WSS since it first came out (in the 60s it was on TV & I bought the LP). Although I'm not a big ballet fan, I do watch a lot of Opera and one has to make many concessions to the absurd, people talk they don't sing and there's the dancing. Any musical is going to have the song and dance problem, but WSS being more classical ballet and Operatic singing has even more hurdles to leap over. I retired to Mexico in 1986 and took my Mexican hubby to see Wise's film in Patzcuaro. We enjoyed it thoroughly, the young audience laughed everytime someone started singing. (they didn't laugh so much at the dancing which is the reverse a US audience raction). When it was announced that Spielberg was going to do WSS we were both happy. As soon as we could we saw it, along with my visiting Nurse (who I've been showing film from the early days to the present) We all enjoyed the Spielberg and felt it compared favorably to Wise's effort. As others have pointed out, Spielberg's changes included returnin I fell pretty to it's proper place. The locations and filming were spectacular and I think everything Spielberg did enhanced the musical. I especially was moved by Rita Moreno singing 'There's a place for us' I thought it was a touch of genius to situate the story during the construction of Lincoln Center, a nexus for Bernstein, Ballet, and NY neighborhoods.
Just a few random thoughts. Jim Oaxaca Mexico
i actually somehow missed the memo this was a disney flick until just now???
so happy to hear it's good! i'm big on musicals in general and whenever a movie version of one is legitimately good i'm ridiculously happy
It was distributed by 20th Century Studios, which is owned by Disney.
The original is a musical with some dramatic elements but this one seems like a drama with some musical elements
Both ‘61 and ‘21 are brilliant.
I love the original but it needed to be updated so I'm glad to hear this is good and worth watching
When I was younger and caught my parents watching the old West Side Story, I called THAT one scene "the gayest gang fight ever. Nobody's stabbing or shooting anyone!" I'm more mature than that now, but that scene still looks too silly to take seriously.
I'm going to need more explanation of that bit about Spielberg in the beginning.
I think if someone tried to set West Side Story in the modern day, there's be less dance fights and more gunfights.
Buddy, you’re in for a ride!
That’s the point, it’s a romanticized version of New Yorkers in the 50s, it’s an artistic interpretation of the era and a fictional story of love, no shit there would be more gunfights in reality.
One thing I give credit to for this movie is how they were more faithful to the stage show. The order of songs and scenes, choreography, and the way it’s shot are all very faithful to the musical itself. I really liked it, and I really hope Mike Faist and Rachel Zegler get Oscar noms for the film
This is probably my #1 film of the year
I just saw this in the theater too!
What did you think about it?
@@ChrisWolff2013 I really liked it.
You a huge fan of the original? It's one of my favorite musicals.
@@ChrisWolff2013 I haven't seen the original for a while. But I do remember liking it. But it's clear that these two films had different takes on the source material.
You Should Definitely Do An Old vs. New Episode.
I know in the original film, Cool was sung later but in the original stage production that both films are based on, Cool is sung first.
Disagree about the “dancing like ballerinas.” What Jerome Robbins was doing back then was revolutionary. Maybe it’s the watching the original film with modern eyes
While I am a huge Sondheim fan, it has always left me rather indifferent but I thoroughly loved this.
So. glad. to. hear it!
Was hoping so bad that Spielberg would nail it.
Sick review