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Amazon.co.uk Review
The winner of 10 Academy Awards, this 1961 musical by choreographer Jerome Robbins and director Robert Wise (The Sound of Music) remains irresistible. Based on a smash Broadway play updating Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to the 1950s era of juvenile delinquency, West Side Story stars Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer as the star-crossed lovers from different neighbourhoods--and ethnicities. The film's real selling points, however, are the highly charged and inventive song-and-dance numbers, the passionate ballads, the moody sets, colourful support from Rita Moreno, and the sheer accomplishment of Hollywood talent and technology producing a film so stirring. Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim wrote the score. --Tom Keogh
Amazon.co.uk Review
West Side Story marked a small revolution in the history of the Hollywood musical when it was released in 1961. Enriched by Leonard Bernstein's marvellously brassy, challenging score--as redolent of the place as anything Gershwin ever wrote--the location shooting and aerial views of the Manhattan grid made New York a gritty backdrop to this modern interpretation of Romeo and Juliet.
The film rightly became an instant classic which won ten Oscars and brought some of the greatest numbers in the era of the modern musical to a global audience. Everything gels, from Jerome Robbins' superlative choreography (he retains a director's credit with Robert Wise, although anxious studio bosses removed him from the film when costs started to mount), to Ernest Lehman's taught screenplay, some of Sondheim's most accessible early lyrics, and passionate, raw performances from the gang members and the lovers.
For many of the cast, including Richard Beymer as Tony and Natalie Wood as Maria, the film represents a creative climax which wouldn't be surpassed during the remainder of their distinguished careers. Rita Moreno is an outstanding Anita, even with her songs disappointingly dubbed, and George Chakiris' sinewy, arrogant Bernardo is magnetic. The whole thing still thrums with a youthful, dramatic energy that even a modern equivalent like Moulin Rouge can't match.
On the DVD: West Side Story thoroughly merits the attention to detail in this handsome Collector's Edition. The anamorphic (16:9) widescreen format reproduces the original cinema presentation, brilliantly serving the city panoramas and balletic fight scenes, as well as the softness of the love duets, while a newly processed Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track brings Bernstein's score up as if the notes were still drying on the page. Extras abound. A "Remembering" documentary features significant contributions from director Robert Wise, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn and Rita Moreno. Die-hard fans will lap up the various galleries, comparisons, the original intermission music and even a complete copy of Ernest Lehman's screenplay. --Piers Ford
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is for the recently released (I only got my pre-order yesterday) Blu-ray version of West Side Story. I couldn't wait to get the item out of its packaging and slotted into my Blu-ray player! I have waited years to watch this film in more or less the same video quality as I saw it on its release!
Well I would be less than honest if I didn't admit that some aspects of this film have become a bit dated. However, this is an absolute classic musical and there is so much to savour and enjoy. The music is magnificent as is the dancing and choreography.
The main purpose of this review is to pass comment on the quality of the new Blu-ray release. Is it worth the upgrade? My answer would be an emphatic `Yes'! The new release is superb. The colour palette is much improved with generally rich colours and good blacks and the picture is much sharper with better overall clarity. The sound quality is also excellent with a couple of options for the English listener. I chose the 7 track DTS default version which provided a very satisfying sound quality.
The new release comes with a modern picture in picture menu system and the useful `bookmark' feature so that you can personally mark all your favourite pieces. The film is presented in its original theatrical release complete with the intermission music. There are a whole host of extras which I have yet to view and my first impressions of this release are very favourable.
Well I would be less than honest if I didn't admit that some aspects of this film have become a bit dated. However, this is an absolute classic musical and there is so much to savour and enjoy. The music is magnificent as is the dancing and choreography.
The main purpose of this review is to pass comment on the quality of the new Blu-ray release. Is it worth the upgrade? My answer would be an emphatic `Yes'! The new release is superb. The colour palette is much improved with generally rich colours and good blacks and the picture is much sharper with better overall clarity. The sound quality is also excellent with a couple of options for the English listener. I chose the 7 track DTS default version which provided a very satisfying sound quality.
The new release comes with a modern picture in picture menu system and the useful `bookmark' feature so that you can personally mark all your favourite pieces. The film is presented in its original theatrical release complete with the intermission music. There are a whole host of extras which I have yet to view and my first impressions of this release are very favourable.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
As a Key Stage 2 teacher, teaching dance, drama and the literacy hour, there has never been a media that has captured my class' imagination like West Side Story did. The smoothly styled dancing makes the dancing as appealing to both boys and girls of various ages. It can be used as a great stimulus from the simple comparisons between the film and Romeo and Juliet, to the comparisons of gang fighting within a local area. Certainly gets a gold star from me!
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you love west side story this collectors edition is for you. The accompanying scapbook is divine, full of lots of information about the casting and making of the film, the stage play, and the entire film script. Then when you are finished reading the book you can watch the magic. I bought this for my sister and kept it for myself, i just returned to buy another copy for her - hope it's here in time for her birthday! Sorry Liz!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Its all Sorted now
The new blu rays have sorted out the technical problems other reviewers have mentioned so you can buy in the confidence that the issues raised have been dealt with.
Published 19 days ago by Adrian Drew
Worth every penny
The choreography, dancing, acting, singing, music and coordination throughout is brilliant. I can't find anything to be but 100% pleased with the purchase. Read more
Published 4 months ago by P. Rowley
Xmas gift
This was a surprise gift as the recipient had loaned theirs and never had it back...they were thrilled to receive as a Christmas gift.... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Sarah
doesn't need a review!!
We've all seen this and loved it. Will be showing it at a film night and I know everyone will love it
Published 5 months ago by jenny Cee
Fantastic, brilliant, superb!!!
What a great Blu Ray set. The picture and sound are fantastic and they have really excelled themselves with the extra materials. Wow!!!
Published 5 months ago by FilmFan98
subtitles misinformation
The subtitles information is misleading: The one in portuguese is rather in brasilian portuguese which is dramatically different!!! Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jose Brito
Just the DVD review
Like many film classics, it may appear a little dated when seen and compared with modern films. However, Robert Wise's and Jerome Robbin's dual direction brought this extraordinary... Read more
Published 5 months ago by RR Waller
FLAW IN PRESENTATION OF W.S.S. ON BLU-RAY - FINAL UPDATE 11 APRIL 2012
I am giving this posting a single star to bring people's attention to a flaw that exists in the Master that was produced for the Blu-ray disc being sold through Amazon.co. Read more
Published 7 months ago by smmab
There's a place for us
"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... Read more
Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
And there is a movie for... Read more
Published 24 months ago by bernie
Brilliant
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.
Published on 28 Nov 2009 by Jazzmin Watson
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