The Disappointing Truth About the WEST SIDE STORY Remake
By Movieguide® Staff
When musicals like ENCANTO charm children and parents alike, it’s sorely disappointing to see the remake of WEST SIDE STORY push a political agenda instead of families coming together. The proof is in the box office, where ENCANTO continues to lead the misguided remake as families favor wholesome entertainment that’s not marred by violence, politics or profanities.
WEST SIDE STORY (2021) is Director Steven Spielberg’s remake of the famous movie and stage musical about two “star-crossed” teenage lovers caught between two rival gangs from different ethnic backgrounds in New York City in the late 1950s. The love story, music and dancing in this version of WEST SIDE STORY have their moments, but they’re marred by clunky storytelling and directing, muddled dialogue, bad casting and many unnecessary profanities.
The movie pretty much follows the storyline of the 1960 movie directed by Robert Wise, who directed THE SOUND OF MUSIC and many other beloved classics. Two street gangs in 1950s New York City, the Jets and the Sharks, are fighting for territory. The leaders of the two gangs, Riff and Bernardo, decide to have a big rumble to decide who gets the territory.
Riff wants his friend, Tony, who just finished a one-year prison term for beating up a rival gang member, to join the fight. However, at a school dance, Tony falls in love with Bernardo’s sister, Maria. Maria asks Tony to stop the fight, but he fails. This results in terrible tragedy.
The music of the original play will survive this misguided remake. Although there’s no way the remake could match the exhilarating opening of the 1960 movie, Spielberg’s opening here is less than thrilling. That said, the love story, music and dancing in this version of WEST SIDE STORY have their moments, especially whenever Ansel Elgort, who plays Tony, sings. Ansel is the one real standout in the cast. For example, one of the movie’s highlights is his version of “Something’s Coming,” which introduces his character. Of special note is Rita Moreno, who won Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for 1961 WEST SIDE STORY.
The other cast members, however, aren’t as good as those who played in the 1961 movie. Sadly, some of the dialogue and some of the lyrics in some songs, especially the group songs, are muddied. Also, Spielberg has added a lot of untranslated Spanish dialogue to his movie, which is extremely annoying to those of us who don’t speak Spanish fluently. “En Los Estados Unidos, Señor Spielberg, hablemos Ingles!”
This version of WEST SIDE STORY has a light Christian, moral worldview. Like the original 1957 musical, love eventually overcomes the racial animosity between the two gangs. To push this message home, the movie contains a major song set inside the Cloisters museum & gardens with references to praying, the Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary, and Catholic crosses with Jesus on them. Regrettably, the movie’s positive worldview is marred by strong pagan, immoral behavior, including too many strong profanities, which apparently were added to “modernize” the play. Also, in the 1961 movie, a girl wants to join the Jets. She’s depicted as a tomboy in that movie, but here, Spielberg and his screenwriter, Tony Kushner, have decided to make her look like an transsexual male.
MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution for WEST SIDE STORY.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
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Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
