West Side Story 2021 ... I'm not sure how I feel about this.

[NurseJackie]

West Side Story 2021 ... I'm not sure how I feel about this. I'm a big fan and devotee of the original. But this looks like it's going to be a very stylish update, and that Spielberg will remain true to the story, music, and emotions of the original. I'm definitely going to make time for this.

[TreasonousBastard]

1. It's Spielberg and great cast, so it will be good. But...

I always wonder why it's necessary to redo such a classic.

[Paladin]

2. As long as they don't fuck with Bernstein's music, I'm good with it.

It'll be nice to see "The Jets" street gang, made up of actors who don't look like young stockbrokers, as was the case in the original.

[UTUSN]

13. Word

[betsuni]

3. I can't imagine "West Side Story" without Jerome Robbins' choreography!

[crickets]

7. Same.

I wish the new production well, but I would hate to see the original disappear.

[Kingofalldems]

4. About the original--

I read that Elvis was offered one of the leads but the Colonel nixed it. True?

[MotorCityBeard]

19. I had never heard that before

I googled it and came up with the following article. It sounds like a no. I do know he was offered A Star is Born with Barbra, though, and turned it down.

https://rare.us/entertainment-and-culture/west-side-story-elvis/

[Bettie]

5. My oldest son will go with me

to see it.

My husband might come along too, but he's not so much a musical guy.

[Binkie The Clown]

6. If it's like almost every other modern remake, it will suck rotten eggs. nt

[MotorCityBeard]

20. The Women comes to mind

The original 1939 movie is one of my all time favorites. The remake with Meg Ryan was so bad. I do not think that one translates to modern times very well.

[LanternWaste]

22. Like all the Shakespeare remakes...

[Binkie The Clown]

24. On the other hand, You've Got Mail was, IMHO, a bit better than the 1940 original

Shop Around the Corner

[Yavin4]

8. With Spielberg directing, I was hoping for real sharks.

"When you're a Jet, you're a.....AHHHHHH!!! MY ARM!!!!!!"

[NurseJackie]

14. Haaaa! Good one!

[USALiberal]

9. Lounge?

[NurseJackie]

15. I don't know if it's going to be streaming-only, or a simultaneous Theater+Streaming...

... but I'll probably wait until it hits the streaming services. I'm too old for theaters... I need to be able to pause the movie for bathroom breaks... I need closed captioning... I need to skip-back to view a scene over (or to re-read the closed captioning that I missed).

Lounge?

Definitely in the recliner.

[Duncan Grant]

10. The original creative team? Four gay men: Bernstein, Robbins, Sondheim, Laurents

Just making the point because gay history is so easily erased.

The Gay & Lesbian Review

[ChrisF1961]

11. Maybe after this Spielberg will remake

Casablanca, Citizen Kane and Gone with the Wind. Lol

[NurseJackie]

16. That would be great!

[oasis]

12. I'm sure Spielberg won't disappoint. nt

[NurseJackie]

17. I have high hopes.

[MotorCityBeard]

18. I cannot WAIT to see this

While I love the original, I was never a big fan of Richard Beymer as Tony.

The previews for this look terrific and Spielberg usually does not disappoint. I hope they do it like the most recent Broadway revival where some of the songs are sung in Spanish (like I Feel Pretty).

[NurseJackie]

21. The Mister and I saw a performance at the Kennedy Center a few years ago...

... and the lyrics to "America" had been rewritten (presumably to be less offensive or to not reinforce stereotypes.)

[MotorCityBeard]

23. I really don't have a problem with that

Different times and attitudes change.

Only thing I can think of comparably is from the musical Company. In the song You Could Drive a Person Crazy in the original, fag was used (and this was written by the gay Stephen Sondheim, sigh....). In any of the more current versions, that was changed.

[Stuart G]

25. NO. One of the few movies that I cried after seeing it.(Romeo & Julet, West Side No. 1)

Last edited Thu Jul 8, 2021, 09:20 PM - Edit history (12)

If Spielberg made it is outstanding.,.I don't need to cry again even if the movie is great..

And the first "Romeo & Juliet" was so good, that I will never forget the sadness that the writer,
William Shakespeare, wanted to convey..NEVER!! (1968) (how long ago was that? 52 years) &
you still remember the feelings that the movie tried to convey?...Yes..the writer knew what he was doing!

I doubt that Spielberg will change the end just to please me. Do you think he will?...Not a snowballs chance in hell...

Wait...there are rumors that this writer also wrote comedies............................................

.........Something called...Taming of the Shrew...Directed by Franco Zeffirelli.........
Wonderful comedy...Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton...happy ending...lots of fun..yes, the same writer
who wrote the sad, Romeo & Juliet, wrote the happy Taming of the Shrew(yes, great movie too)

I recommend seeing the happy movie....& ...NOT..the sad movie & yes, Romeo & Juliet is very sad...
....the happy movie is on video somewhere...maybe the library..go for the happy, NOT the sad...
There is enough sadness in the world as this is written...!!!!!!!