I am, and always has been, a huge fan of the original Westside Story. I was only 11 years old when I first saw it, and it stayed with me through all these years. So, I wondered how, and why, Steven Spielberg would possibly want to make this movie again. I expected it to be a poor carbon copy of the first. But, I was very pleasantly surprised. There are a few changes to the way the story is told, and a part was added that was designed especially for Rita Morena.
In one way it is superior to the original. The parts of Maria and Toni are much better played by these new actors than they were by Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer. I never felt the spark between the two of them in the original. And, the singing of the two was pretty poor. The singing in this remake is far superior to the singing in the original. And, I really liked that about it. And, Tony and Marie are much better portrayed in this version. But, I don't see the spark in the relationship of Bernardo and Anita here. And, that weakens the story.
I like the addition of the part that Rita Moreno has and I thought it was a very nice nod to the original. But, I did miss the character of Doc, the voice of reason in the '61 version.
A biggest flaw is the scene between Maria and Anita after the death of Bernardo. The new Anita didn't seem to be anywhere near as touched and bereaved as Maria Moreno was in the original. In the original I believed that Anita was wounded to her very soul. In this version I didn't see that at all.
I sorely missed George Chakiris! His Bernardo was wonderful, as was Russ Tamblyn as Riff, though the two new actors did a terrific job.
Definitely worth seeing and enjoying this new version, but I'll never stop loving the 1961 version.
In one way it is superior to the original. The parts of Maria and Toni are much better played by these new actors than they were by Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer. I never felt the spark between the two of them in the original. And, the singing of the two was pretty poor. The singing in this remake is far superior to the singing in the original. And, I really liked that about it. And, Tony and Marie are much better portrayed in this version. But, I don't see the spark in the relationship of Bernardo and Anita here. And, that weakens the story.
I like the addition of the part that Rita Moreno has and I thought it was a very nice nod to the original. But, I did miss the character of Doc, the voice of reason in the '61 version.
A biggest flaw is the scene between Maria and Anita after the death of Bernardo. The new Anita didn't seem to be anywhere near as touched and bereaved as Maria Moreno was in the original. In the original I believed that Anita was wounded to her very soul. In this version I didn't see that at all.
I sorely missed George Chakiris! His Bernardo was wonderful, as was Russ Tamblyn as Riff, though the two new actors did a terrific job.
Definitely worth seeing and enjoying this new version, but I'll never stop loving the 1961 version.