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I Watched Original and New Version Back 2 Back

posted 3 years ago by JoeyReview (118)
12 replies | jump to latest

And I have to say the original one is waaay better.

Let's face it, WSS is mostly dancing and you can't really compare this choreographer with the legendary Jerome Robbins.

Music has not changed in new version but the singers are better in the older version with exception to the new Maria who is not bad but I prefer Wood more.

They changed some plot lines and order in new version which I don't like. I did like the "Cool" in new version which is Tony trying to convince the Jets not to fight and the dancing is great but original "Cool" in garage has a nice vibe to it. Again, can't beat Jerome Robbins. In the new one, "I Feel Pretty" happens right after the fight scene where both team leaders died which seems out of place. I can't enjoy it after such a tragedy. The worst choice is having store owner Moreno character sing "Somewhere" which makes no sense at all. This weakens Tony's death scene when Maria sings it to him since they never sung this together.

To me, the most iconic scene in WSS is the singing and dancing of "America" on the roof. The new street version cannot compare. And Moreno is the biggest star in the original which no one can really replace.

I cried every time I watched the ending when Maria is crying even during this most recent viewing of the original. I'm not sure why but I think Wood's acting and the scene itself is done perfectly. I did not cry at all during the new version's ending.

Another huge difference between the two movies is the new one sought to portray the fights and love scenes in a more realistic way while the fight scenes in the original is more acrobatic and ballet-like. I will say I'm a bit disappointed in the original version of how Tony and Maria met. Just seems too instant and done in a bit of dated, cheesy way with background blurred. But hey, that's 60s style. I did enjoy how they met in the new one but I feel that's really the only good thing about the new version.

Lastly, in the new version, the Moreno character picks up the gun and then the cop just calmly takes it away from her hand? Really? I think realistically, the cop would tell her to drop it. The ending is done just waaay better in the original movie.

Ultimately, as much as I want to like the new one given the authentic cast and no brown facing, it was just facing too many obstacles to best or even the original, namely Jerome Robbins. When you consider the songs are the same in both versions, the original dancing is so much better, and really how moving the original one is, it really fosters the old saying, "If it ain't broken, don't fix it"

[–] Keelai (35247) 3 years ago

What a great review! Thanks.

I'll probably see this on DVD, but your review makes it clear that some of the artistic decisions were not good ones. "I Feel Pretty" after both deaths is an odd choice. To do things differently in order to just be different from the original is poor writing.

[–] mplo (2361) 3 years ago

You've made some good points, Keelai. It's agreed--the "I Feel Pretty" scene right after the Rumble, and the "Cool" scene prior to the Rumble are both in very poor taste. I listened to the soundtrack on youtube earlier today, which re-enforced my preference for the old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story

[–] DracTarashV2 (4496) 3 years ago

At least a fair chance was given to it. ;) And with that, it feels great knowing this new film adaptation of the classic musical has garnered all this critical acclaim. (And for good reason, alright.) Truly, I love how so many are feeling the exact opposite of those like you and are actually calling Spielberg’s beauty waaaay better (these many are not represented up in this reactionary-packed joint, of course). No, and it’s not only some critics expressing their preference for the 2021 film.

I just love it. I mean hell, it looks like even for a number of viewers who didn’t find the new one to be an improvement over the original film, Spielberg’s adaption still worked for them overall. Impressed they were. So, yeah, the majority is saying this is an adaption that did it right! (Better in the eyes of some.)

Those usual naysayers who wanted and expected this to be another poorly-received modern ‘remake’ didn’t see that coming, huh? Lol. (Though what a pity about Ansel’s casting since, controversy aside, he adds nothing to the film.) So at any rate, the impressed majority> the unimpressed online critics and exist-to-hate reactionaries in general

[–] marktayloruk (2553) 3 years ago

Was glad that Tony stood up to.Bernardo this time.

[–] mplo (2361) 3 years ago

Thank you for a fantastic review! You've said so much stuff that I wish I could say! Bravo!!

[–] Techto (1346) 3 years ago

> I did enjoy how they met in the new one but I feel that's really the only good thing about the new version.

Ouch.

[–] christomacin (4677) 3 years ago

Does the whining about the non-subtitled Spanish in this film have any merit at all? I suspect it's mostly a lot of hot air from people who haven't even seen the new version yet but want to be outraged about something. I would point out to people a particular scene in The Godfather which is entirely in Italian and not translated either.

[–] TylerAArse (2898) 3 years ago

I have to disagree with you regarding the new "Cool" version. I'm more critical because it's my favorite part of the original movie. I think this new version was a lazy attempt. They should've went all-out and honored the original movie's dance sequence.

A few things I really liked about the new version:
-The gym dance sequence. I thought it was lively and crisp. Done a little better than the original.
-The "openness" of the Coming to America sing/dance. In the streets with the city was better than the confined area of the original.

[–] mplo (2361) 3 years ago

I don't know---I prefer the original 1961 film version of West Side Story. I saw a program on TV 3 weeks ago that emphasized the comparisons between the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, and the new film version of WSS, which re-enforced my decision to vote my pocketbook and not go to see the new film version of West Side Story, at all.

[–] TylerAArse (2898) 3 years ago

Overall, I still liked to original better. But the new version offered a few things. You should still see it. How many times has someone rated something that you disagreed with. Make your own assessment. I'm sure you're a little curious.

[–] mplo (2361) 3 years ago

To be truthful, out of curiosity, I listened to the soundtrack on YouTube.com this morning, and it's quite metallic-sounding to me, and flat in many places, and rather tinny, as well. I also felt that the singing voices of the leads of the 2021 film version of West Side Story were really overrated, as well. The singing voices, especially that of Rachel Zegler, seemed too far back, not projected enough, and, in the case of Rachel Zegler, she seemed to have a lack of control over her voice, and frequently went flat on the higher notes.

I've also seen both trailers and afew photographs, and this, as well as all of the above, and the stuff that came out about Ansel Elgoert, stiffened my resolve to vote my pocketbook and not go to see the reboot/remake of the film version of West Side Story, at all. Thank you for you input, however.

[–] mplo (2361) 3 years ago

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