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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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To suggest that Spielberg’s West Side Story is even better than the original?

51 replies

BeachHutBackUp · 12/12/2021 18:25

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it’s just SO GOOD.

I’ve been singing my socks off and swishing my skirt a la Anita since seeing it last night.

POW!!

OP posts:
Wigeon · 13/12/2021 11:27

@Kanaloa

I still haven’t seen this although I really want to! So excited to see how they go with Rita Morena playing an updated version of ‘doc.’ I saw her talking about it and ended up a bit emotional!

Is it really good? Hopefully I’ll be able to see it next week but what’s the verdict on taking a child? DD wants to go as well so was thinking of going with her and my sister, but not sure if it will be upsetting?

@Kanaloa - it’s a 12 rating, and we didn’t take DD aged 10 - the stabbings are pretty graphic, and the fighting isn’t very pleasant (lots of blood and scars on faces). Glad we didn’t take her. I think she wouldn’t have “got” the rape scene - it’s very similar to the original, in that the Jets push Anita to the floor and tbh it just looks like they’re trying to frighten her/about to beat her up. The new “Doc” (Valentina) does then call them “a bunch of rapists”, but I found the general violence worse (in terms of potentially taking a 10 year old) than the rape scene.

DD aged 13 was fine.

Wigeon · 13/12/2021 11:30

@JayniSummers

The scene with the original Anita (Rita Moreno) in the rape scene with the character Anita was one of the most emotional pieces of cinema I've seen . It's my favourite ever musical and I thought it was magical, I thought the last scene with Maria over Tony's body was more moving in the original but other than that , it's just amazing
OMG I didn’t realise Valentina was the original Anita! How cool (cool, crazy cool…!).
Kanaloa · 13/12/2021 14:48

@Wigeon

Yeah I had to reconsider! She loves musicals but she is sensitive and I think would be upset by the attacks/deaths. I might let her watch the clips of the dances though because she will go mad for the America & dance at the gym scenes - she is a dancer and that’s why she wants to see it!

Not sure she’d actually get the full story anyway, I forgot how much there is really going on in this musical outside of finger snapping street gangs!

saveforthat · 13/12/2021 19:41

Maddie from Dance Moms is in this. Very small part but is the third actor credited after the leads on some websites.

pink1173 · 13/12/2021 19:43

It is absolutely breathtaking.

H1Drangea · 13/12/2021 19:48

Saw it this afternoon , absolutely amazing film
When she sang
There’s a place for us
😢 beautiful

NoLongerATeacher · 13/12/2021 19:56

We saw it last night - I was a bit dubious at first with Tony - wasn’t sure he was right but oh my as it went on it was very clear how good he is. Such lovely singing and makes you remember all the good songs that are in it not just the main ones you remember like jets or Maria - really enjoyed it.

StormyCornishSeas · 13/12/2021 20:09

Oooo might have to give it a watch. I usually love musicals but wasn't that keen on the original

madamehooch · 13/12/2021 20:19

Saw it this afternoon. Am a HUGE fan of the original.

I am not disputing that this is a good film. However, two major changes in the running order took away some of the emotional impact and put me in a bit of a sulk to be honest!

KellyJonesLeatherTrousers · 13/12/2021 21:46

Loved it. Have to say I thought the actor who played Riff was outstanding - I truly believed that he was on the edge and could do anything to anyone - it looked like he hadn’t slept properly for weeks and I did wonder if he hadn’t actually slept to play it so well. The scene with him and Tony fighting over the gun was just perfect.

freddiethegreat · 13/12/2021 22:08

@Kanaloa it’s very powerful. I was feeling very very sensitive as a 45 year old adult re angry young men & I had to leave after the stabbing scene. I knew what was coming & I just couldn’t deal with any more. Now your 10 year old, I hope & trust, doesn’t have the reasons I do to be sensitive around the themes, but you say she is sensitive - & she is only 10. I’d give it a couple of years myself. But it is a great film & when I am feeling stronger, I will go back.

BustedCanOfBiscuits · 14/12/2021 02:07

LOVED IT. And yes, I thought it was better than the original. The OG Tony was so wimpy, I could never believe he'd been in a gang. Ariana DeBose (Anita) should be definitely be in the running for an Oscar.

I burst into tears when they started running towards each other at the end, even though I knew exactly what was going to happen. Cringer Blush

BustedCanOfBiscuits · 14/12/2021 02:08

@KellyJonesLeatherTrousers

Loved it. Have to say I thought the actor who played Riff was outstanding - I truly believed that he was on the edge and could do anything to anyone - it looked like he hadn’t slept properly for weeks and I did wonder if he hadn’t actually slept to play it so well. The scene with him and Tony fighting over the gun was just perfect.
He was fantastic, and I loved the reboot of that scene.
middleager · 14/12/2021 06:07

Can't wait to watch this.

I've been playing the OST on Spotify this week. As a teen I copied my friend's double cassette tape and wore it out.

Cyrilgoggin · 14/12/2021 08:19

I saw it at the weekend. I'm not a huge fan, but I loved it. I thought the actor who played Riff was outstanding, as was the actress who played Anita. I cried my eyes out, even though I obviously knew what would happen. It was excellent.

HaggisBurger · 14/12/2021 08:24

I agree!! I adored it as did my DD aged 17. The sense of time and place was so good.

Confrontayshunme · 14/12/2021 08:42

It was visually stunning, and Spielberg should win an Oscar for making Ansel Elgort into any character who isn't a dubiously smug turd. That in itself is a masterpiece. He had LAYERS and ACTUAL FEELINGS!

Missey85 · 14/12/2021 09:16

TBH I've never seen the original! I've seen clips over the years but I'm not that into musicals so never watched it

PugInTheHouse · 14/12/2021 19:26

I might have to go again to the cinema to watch as can't wait for it to be released to see it again lol

isthismylifenow · 18/12/2021 10:20

I loved it, and thought most of it better than the original.

I have been humming the songs for days.

It is age restricted as 16 here.

I wonder why it differs in other countries.

Stomachpains · 29/12/2021 18:42

Much better than the original film. Almost on a par with a very good west end or broadway performance of it.

This ⬆️

Absolutely LOVED it. Amazing production design, cinematography, choreography- everything!! Was an absolute sniffling wreck at the end having cried my eyes out obviously. GO SEE!!

PodcastFunFair · 01/01/2022 23:24

Saw it today.
I an a huge fan of the original but I loved the version too some elements of it were better than the original one for me.
America much bigger, brighter and bolder loved that and the dance hall scenes ❤️
Castings for Bernardo and Anita were brilliant.
The staging and cinematography especially of the opening and closing scene were utterly amazing.

I didn't find the closing scene with Maria and Tony as emotional as the original which I cried over again this week. Also the order of the songs felt odd at times especially where 'I feel pretty' was placed really didn't work as well.
Overall loved it really enjoyed it.

Spidey66 · 01/01/2022 23:55

Oh!

I saw this in the cinema Christmas Eve and didn't realise it was a remake.....i fancied going to the pictures on my own, saw it advertised and as I'd not seen it before went to see it. Our local cinema often shows oldies but goodies.....they were showing Its A Wonderful Life as well. It was then on the telly Christmas day andcwatcged bits but got confused as Maria looked different and bits of thevstoryvwere different. Without giving too much away, the version I saw in the cinema had Maria working as a cleaner in a dept store, but the TV version she was a dressmaker. I couldn't work it out but this thread and a bit of googling made me realise I'd seen the remake.

Anyway, as I mentioned I've only seen the remake and snippets of the original but the remake is very good.

StillMedusa · 02/01/2022 00:03

I absolutely loved it. I went with dh and DS2 (adult , autistic and obsessed with musicals)
I love the way they put the original Anita in it, and how they worked her story into it..and her singing.
The current Anita was mindblowingly good I thought. I'm the least weepy person ever but 'A boy like That' was SO powerful... jsut awesome.
Riff.. special mention..that guy REALLY played a gang leader from a rough background.. totally convincing and mad his fight totally believable. Ditto Bernado. Loved the fact they used Spanish throughout.

When it ended, there wasn't a dry eye in the cinema... I'd go again tomorrow!!!

FreeFrenchHens · 02/01/2022 00:16

I loved the Valentina loop, and I got a stronger sense of the wider context which really added a lot to it for me. Either it had more layers than the original, or I'd missed a few in the original.

Most of all I thoroughly enjoyed sharing it with a cynical teen, who refutes all that love at first sight business.

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