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West Side Story Collector's Edition Boxset - Limited Edition [DVD] [1961] (MGM Entertainment - 2003-11-10) 2 Discs (145 minutes) Region: 2 - Parental Guidance Starring: Natalie Wood, George Chakiris, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno. Customer Reviews (Average 4.5 from 13) : Brilliant Rating:5 Brilliant musical - great to go from old VHS to DVD. actually look much clearer and it's lovely to be able to see the wonderful film again. Good - but not as good as the stage show Rating:3 An old film but still a good one unless you have see the original stage show. However, this film has one of the best openings ever. The overture plays over a colour changing line drawing that is impossible to fathom until the final few seconds when suddenly all becomes clear. This is followed by an aerial tour of Manhattan which culminates on zooming in to a group of lads in a playground. Their power and prestige is obvious as the intro moves into the extremely well done opening act/dance sequence tracing the fall of the Jets and the rise of the Sharks. Unfortunately, for me this is the high spot of the movie and it all rather goes downhill from there on in, until the final death/reconciliation scene. To look at other aspects, of the movie though. The cast is, on the whole excellent. The one exception, in my opinion, being Richard Beymer's (Tony) performance which just doesn't work for me. He isn't helped by the fact hat whenever he walks, he looks like a Thunderbirds puppet and his singing voice really isn't that great. Anything else wrong with the movie? Well yes. Some of the songs are moved around and the words changed (PC considerations even existed in 1961). One or two of the `exterior' sets looked horrendously like sound stages, the dream sequence from the play is missing completely and Russ Tamblyn had great trouble lip synching during the `Jet's Song'. But, taking all that into consideration, this modern(ish) update of Romeo and Juliet is well worth seeing, but just don't expect a happy ending One the best musicals Rating:5 Outstanding. I get bored sometimes with some of the long dance sequences in classic musicals, even in great movies like Singin' in the Rain and the Fred-and-Ginger musicals, but this is one of the few films where the dance is truly a pleasure to watch. The lead actors Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer are not often mentioned much in review but the youthfulness and sincerity of their performances is key to the film's success. Those who produced the film considered many options for these two roles and as with everything else, they got it right. There's a place for us Rating:5 "There's a place for us, a time and place for us. Hold my hand and we're halfway there." Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim And there is a movie for us. "West Side Story" is a classic on too many levels to describe here. Everything from the music to the choreography to the actors to... One big plus is even if the story line is a classic they did not try to duplicate Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet" with modern clothing. The movie still maintains the feel and action of the play. This movie tells the story of two people Tony and Maria (Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood) from adverse backgrounds that fall in love. They must cope with their new feelings. And to complicate things they have trouble from their families and society. Will they overcome these things or will fait and circumstance thwart their efforts and tragedy arise? I could write a book on what makes this movie great but it is best that you watch and judge for yourself. There's a place for us Rating:5 "There's a place for us, A time and place for us. Hold my hand and we're halfway there." Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim And there is a movie for us. "West Side Story" is a classic on too many levels to describe here. Everything from the music to the choreography to the actors to... Just on the chance that you missed this movie the first time around, based on the Romeo and Juliet play that has been updated, it is the story of two people (Tony and Maria) from adverse backgrounds who fall in love. They must cope with their new feelings. And to complicit things they have trouble from their families and society. Will thy overcome these things or will fait and circumstance thwart their efforts and tragedy arise? |
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