West Side Story is a modern (at the time that it was made) adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. The story centers around the constant fighting between a group of people that immigrated to New York from Puerto Rico (Sharks) and a group of New Yorker kids (Jets) over the New York neighborhoods. The main character, Tony (a former Jet) falls in love with a Maria (Sister of the leader of the Sharks), as the story evolves so does their love. I am going to rate this movie as good, good. Warning: there may be spoilers coming. Maria and Tony sneak around and plan on leaving New York to somewhere where they can be together without anyone trying to tear them apart. The storyline paired with the director's vision make this movie fall under the good, good category.
Since West Side Story is a musical, there are many dance and songs throughout the film and was made for a stage production the fight scenes were not of realistic but more of choreographed dance scene consisting of leaps, spins, lifts, and kicks. All the “fighting” was that include passionate/ powerful kicks and high jumps representing blows and swings of two opposing sides. Unlike in action films where the actors look like they are actually fighting and causing harm to each other.
Objective, the movie was very well due to the fact that the cinematographer filmed certain scenes to make the surroundings look bigger (like the basketball court). The scenes differ in color and arrangement when comparing the Jets' pub hangout to the Sharks' rooftop. Subjectively, the songs capture every emotion that the scene requires, the actor chosen was perfectly selected. The music scores were well thought out and matched the scenes beautifully.
There is no denying that this movie deserves the 27 academy awards it received in 1962 and is considered one of the top ten recommended to watch classic movies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tK9tARX83Y
West Side Story is a long lived classic. I also really love the music in the musical and I really feel for the characters. Beyond my own enjoyment what is really interesting to me is how so many love the musical and yet hate what it was based on: Romeo and Juliet. They have all the same elements people make fun of Romeo and Juliet for. There is seemingly irrational, adrenaline filled, love at first sight, and dramatic tragedy at the end. I can see how these components make the overall story objectively "bad," but then again, the story isn't trying convince the audience that the lover's relationship is healthy and enduring; it is conveying the opposite actually. The story is about childish innocent young love and impulsiveness that leads to tragic consequences because of petty rivalries. I definitely think West Side story's more contemporary setting and speech gets this across better than the different language of Shakespeare.
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