It's too outdated. None of the songs are even relevant and needed to be updated for anyone to be mildy interested in this. People will blame covid, but this still would've flopped in normal times.
shareFrankly, I disagree with the idea that West Side Story is outdated. I don't think that as many people are interested in seeing Spielberg's reboot/remake of the film version of WSS as was and is believed, if one gets the drift.
shareNone of the songs are relevant? It's a story set in the 1950s. Every song in it is relevant to the plot and characters. That's all they're supposed to be relevant to. They're not required to be relevant to you in your life in 2022, which is completely irrelevant to "West Side Story".
shareActually, West Side Story was set in both 1950's and 1960's West Side of Manhattan. The songs are very relevant, and they're all very integral and vital parts of the very story behind West Side Story, as well.
The people who thought that the younger generation would be attracted to the reboot/remake of the film version of West Side Story could not have been more wrong, since middle school and high school kids could not be less interested in it.
The younger generation is much to narrow in their thinking. Too connected to their phones to care about anything else of substance. The entire country is going down the toilet and no one cares. Boring people.
shareYou've made an excellent point, modica. Thanks.
shareThere is a problem with movies and theaters these days. Movies are made for young people these days. Older people don't matter when it comes to Hollywood. Some will say it is because older people don't want to watch movies in theaters anymore. Not true. Older people grew up with watching movies and I am sure would love to go. There are two problems when it comes to older people and movies. Movies aren't made for older people anymore. Superhero, action and dumb comedy movies rule Hollywood. The only time seriously good movies come out is when award season comes about. Otherwise, older people stay away. Why? No good movies for older people and even if there were good movies still made for older folks, movie theaters are overrun with loud and obnoxious people who just don't know how to conduct themselves in public. It is just terrible that people don't know how to act respectfully when others are trying to watch a movie. Ridiculous.
It seems like people who go to movies only want to see fantasy, low brow films. They don't want to watch films of substance. It is sad that young people control everything.
Well said, monica.
sharePlenty of adults in the theatres watching superhero movies.
shareI am talking about people over 50. There are some over 50(I am one of them) that go to superhero films, but there aren't a lot of them. Mostly young people. I do enjoy some of the superhero movies I see, but there are so many movies that don't get wide distribution, because the theaters only have certain kind of movies showing. Back when I was young there were so many movies to choose from, but now big cineplexes have 12 theaters, but only show 4 movies.
shareNope. If this wer me released two years ago the older crowd definitely would have been there. Just because fat ass millenials and younger like you dont find the subject matter relevant is besides the point. In the end the film was a critical success. With many critics saying it was better than the 1961 version....
The new film version of West Side Story is not selling very well, at all, really. The fact that Spielberg made back only 10% of what it cost him to make this film (i. e. $100 million dollars) is a serious indication of that.
shareRight. It's a flop in that respect for sure. But it's a critical success....
shareThe fact that it's not selling that well in the box office does indicate something: Not as many people are as interested in Spielberg's reboot/remake of the film version of West Side Story as was believed and/or hoped, either by Spielberg and his helpers, or by the critics.
shareSo money is an indicator of quality? Care to double down on that?
shareTo both greater and/or lesser extents, yes. How much money a movie makes at the box office definitely is an indication of its quality.
shareSo that means transformers 2 and 3 are some of the greatest films of all time correct? That means those films are better than blade runner, king of comedy, Hugo, and Children of men correct?
shareDid I say that? Come on now. One has to realize that a huger part of the excitement over the West Side Story reboot/remake was due to the fact that Steven Spielberg is at the helm. That, to me, as well as all the rave reviews it got, has never meant a thing. First of all, not all of Spielberg's movies have been good. Secondly, having seen parts of the reboot/remake of the film version of West Side Story, as well as three trailers and extra photographs, and listened to the soundtrack of the new West Side Story, as well, I don't think Spielberg's reboot/remake of the film was that good.
Secondly, given the stuff that's come out about Ansel Elgort, (i. e. grooming and sexually assaulting underaged girls), my resolve to vote my pocketbook and not go see Spielberg's new West Side Story at all has been re-eforced--and stiffened.
You said money is an indicator of quality. Not all of Spielberg's film have been good but in the end Westside story is a critical success and has great scores from users. This is an objective fact whether you like it or not. It doesn't matter whether you care or not, the bottom line is we don't don't need your stamp of approval in order to consider the film good. I don't trust someone's view who is closed minded and already had their mind made up before laying eyes on the film. I put more stock on film critics and users than I do you.
No one is asking you to pay for the movie. Don't pay for it good stick by what you want but understand you have no credibility to people who enjoy films such as myself. I think the original film is overrated and this one was way better.
Frankly, moviefanatic505, I really don't give a damn what you and a lot of other people on here say or think. Just because Spielberg's at the helm of the new West Side Story doesn't mean it's a good thing, imho. I've seen parts of it, and I've listened to the soundtrack to the new West Side Story, as well, and it doesn't look half as good as the old, original 1961 film version does. Frankly, I think that Spielberg's new film version of West Side Story is quite overrated.
shareI already acknowledged you don't care. You don't need to keep reiterating that. I don't care what you think either. Bottom line it's considered a good film by critics and users we don't need your stamp of approval to think this is a good film. I think the original was beaten on every level. That original is overrated garbage. Glad Spielberg made a better version. The fact that people like you hate it makes me like it even more. At first I liked the original better but now I like the new better actually.
shareIf you liked the new West Side Story better, that's YOUR prerogative. I don't need YOUR stamp of approval to think that the old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story is better than the new one, either.
shareNever said you did. Your ghost argument is dismissed. In the end using box office as a measurement of quality is stupid. Also unlike you I've seen both films from start to finish. Which makes what I have to say more credible.
shareJust because you've seen both films from start to finish doesn't mean that you have to be arrogant, nasty, and dismissive of other people's opinions and outlooks, including my own. I disagree with the notion that the box office is not indicative of the quality of the West Side Story reboot/remake of the film version, or any other film, for that matter. The fact that Spielberg made only a tenth of what it cost him to remake/reboot the film version of West Side Story is quite indicative of how good a film it is, which doesn't say much. Remakes of older classic films all too often do go over like lead balloons, and Spielberg's new film version of West Side Story, so far, has proven no exception. Don't go thinking that your viewpoints are more credible than mine or anybody else, because that kind of attitude is what's been f**king up our democracy for the past 50 some odd years.
shareOh I can be dismissive of someone like you all I want. If you had seen both from start to finish I would still disagree with you but I would give you more credibility. However it shows to me you don't have an open mind. Why should I respect someone's view on something when they have not seen it and have a closed mind? Respect is earned it is not given. So no I have no respect for your opinion at all because you have not given me a reason to. Also no I already disproved your bogus claim.
Transformers 2 and 3 are some of the highest grossing films ever. Meanwhile Children of Men, Blade Runner, Hugo and King of comedy were box office bombs. Tell me with a straight face that Transformers 2 and 3 are better than those films. Audience reception and critical reception counts for more in the end. That's how film history works. Transformer 2 and 3 are not on any list of best movies ever by audience scores or critical scores. Meanwhile Children of men and blade runner are considered some of the best films ever. Attempt to refute that, you can't.
You think you're so f**king great just because you've seen both the original 1961 film version of West Side Story, and the new West Side Story, back to back, and I haven't. I've seen enough of the new West Side Story and heard enough about Ansel Elgort to make up my mind and not go to see it at all. If you've got a problem with that, so be it, because I have no respect for you, either. You are one or the biggest, if not THE biggest a*shole I've ever "met" online. If seeing the new WSS film is what I have to do to get your respect and on your good side, forf**kinget it, because it won't work.
You're a real piece of s**t, if ever I've "met" one online.
Yep as expected you can't refute what I said. I obviously struck a nerve which is why you are reacting in a hostile manner. Anyways once again your education was free today. I am glad to take idiots like you to school. It's far too fun to resist.
shareI've seen enough of the reboot/remake of the film version West Side Story to form my own opinion of it and to refuse to see it. It's far too much fun to resist telling you what a piece of shit you are, and to go and fuck yourself to hell. Bite me and eat me raw!
shareSUCK SUCK SUCK SUCK, AND GO AND FUCK YOURSELF, YOU C**T/PRICK!
shareNot necessarily, Galactus03. Also, I'm neither a fat-ass millennial or super young, so don't go making assumptions about me or other people that you've never seen and don't know. I don't know what makes you think that the older crowd would've been there if Spielberg's reboot/remake of the film version had been re-released during the pre-pandemic days. I highly doubt it, because there are plenty of older people and others who disapprove of what Spielberg did with West Side Story.
shareI didn't want to see it, because West Side Story did not need to be remade. The original is one of the best movies ever made. This did not look nearly as good. Others don't see it, because all that matters to young people are superhero, action and dumb comedy movies. Sad that people don't get bored with the same thing over and over again.
shareI agree with you here, modica. I, too, saw the trailers of Spielberg's reboot/remake of the film version of West Side Story, as well as some extra photographs, and, just out of curiosity, I listened to the soundtrack of the new West Side Story on youtube, and I also don't think this updated film version looks half as good as the old, original 1961 film version of West Side Story. Remakes of great older classic films generally don't come out well, and the new, updated film version of West Side Story is no exception.
shareWhen did I call you a fat assed millennial??
shareYou called me that up towards the top of the page and you deliberately erased it. You are one sneaky Son of a b**tch, and I'd rather not talk to you again. F**k your BS about how all the critics are saying that Spielberg's west side story film version is better than the old, original 1961 film version, because it's not!
shareSo, PimpDaddy, let me get this straight: because YOU don’t like this kind of entertainment, then NOBODY likes it, is that right? Then I gather you are so immature and unconfident that you need to have THE WHOLE WORLD on your side before you dare to make a statement? That means you’re a coward, guy.
To be fair, I doubt that you a actually know the whole world. My guess is you are of friends bereft.
Clearly many people don't like it considering how bad it did at the box office
shareThat many people did not like/were not interested in the remake of WSS does not imply that people do not care for this type of musical.
shareYes it does. What else explains it
shareMaybe some people aren't interested in that kind of a musical, but I think that what's also possible is that people don't care for the reboot/remake of the film version of West Side Story, either. I know that I fall into this latter category.
shareFirst, you are confusing correlation with causation; a logical fallacy of the first order.
Second, you have a sample of one; completely insufficient to draw any conclusion. The failure of one film in a genre doesn't imply anything. By that argument the failure of Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets means that no one cares about SF films. (Examples from other genres are legion.)
Third, your argument is begging the question. People don't care about this kind of musical. The film failed because people don't like this kind of musical. The answer you want is imbedded in your hypothesis. This is also a logical fallacy.
It did poorly at the box office, mainly because not as many people as was previously believed are interested in seeing the reboot/remake of a great golden oldie but keeper of a classic movie-musical that was totally unnecessary.
shareNot sure what "this kind of musical" is (I haven't seen this new version of West Side Story) but modern musicals seem to have trouble finding the right tone to make them work. Compared to the classic musicals of the 40's, 50's and 60's modern musicals often feel a bit clumsy. A relatively recent successful musical like La La Land is a good example of that: critically acclaimed at the time but can't compare to musicals like The Sound of Music or Singing in the Rain. Musicals require a type of magical realism and showmanship that kind of goes against the times. People do care about musicals but they can't be made like they should these days.
shareThese are different times, and the whole political/social atmosphere and attitude is way different than it was back when musicals like West Side Story, Sound of Music, and other musicals were made.
shareI agree about the clumsiness of most modern musicals. It has more to do with difference of filmmaking techniques and the sensibilities of the people involved. Realism is considered the be all, end all in so many modern movies and that rarely suits the heightened reality needed to pull off a musical. Also the people who made the classic musicals of the 30s, 40s, and 50s usually came from vaudeville and dance backgrounds, which informed the sensibilities of these movies stylistically. It's just a different world for those making movie musicals now.
shareMovie musicals, whether the old classics or the more modern versions must have talented lead actors and actresses that are trained dancers. I did not buy the performances in La La Land by the two leads. They were horrible and I kept comparing them to actors and actresses of the old classic musicals. I don't even need to mention names because we older folks know who those talented triple threats were.
I am an oldie and I absolutely loved the original 1961 version of West Side Story. I could not imagine a remake would be any better than the original. After seeing one trailer of Spielberg's version , I was quite interested. I liked that the lead actors did their own singing and I was very open to this new version for that reason alone.
Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer did not do their own singing in the original movie and neither one of them were were trained dancers either. In this new version, the lead actor who plays Tony is a trained dancer and has a voice like velvet. I enjoyed his performance so much more than Beymer's performance. Natalie Wood was a good actress in the 1961 original adaptation of the stage play, but her accent was never convincing to me. This young actress who plays Maria does a wonderful job and is more realistic in the role. In fact, the entire Spielberg version is more realistic which is another reason I truly loved the new version.
My, oh my, was I gobsmacked at what I saw in the theater for my first viewing of this new modern version of West Side Story. I loved it so much, I went back the following day to see it again. I was totally overwhelmed by the acting and the phenomenal dancing I saw on that big screen. The water works started for me as soon as the first note was sung and I pretty much fought back tears throughout the entire movie. That happened to me both times I saw it. One of these days, I'm determined to watch this gorgeous work by Spielberg and not have a headache at the end of the movie from being so emotional.
This is a very good movie. As someone who loved the classic, I approve of this film.
However, I feel this was an unnecessary adaptation. All it did was repeat the same plot points with a few changes here and there that added nothing substantial.
So, why did we need a new adaptation of West Side Story? The original still holds strong and audiences can identify with it.
Hollywood should just focus on new stories. There are so many untold stories out there and I am sure they can find an audience.