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Rating of
3/4
Logan D. McCoy - wrote on 05/28/2019
Stunning choreography, excellent music, and commentary on race and social class in America are what makes this film so fantastic. If the acting was less stagey it would have been greater
Rating of
3.5/4
SteelCity99 - wrote on 04/22/2018
If you were totally fascinated by The Sound of Music, this spellbinding and beautiful Robert Wise musical will leave you humming for the songs, dancing happily the whole week, and keep you reflecting about human values, discrimination, intolerance and injustice, and about the power of friendship and equality among the world. It IS different. A musical update of the immortal classic "Romeo and Juliet" set inside the nucleus of teen gangs seemed almost reprehensible, but Wise made the wisest decision: to team up with Robbins to bring to worldwide screens an unprecedented musical that even stood out during that Golden Age of cinema. Fosse would be the next step. 90/100
Rating of
2.5/4
Matthew Brady - wrote on 02/18/2014
Two New York City rival gangs sing their way through battles and love as they duke it out in this 1961 best picture winner. This movie has some good songs and the dancing is enjoyable but I am not really a musical guy,
Rating of
2.5/4
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 03/15/2012
Choreography, songs and wardrobe was entertaining. Lack of character development and certain scenes hampered it. It was baffling how one loves the person who murders your brother, physical abuse of a Puertorican girl and when agreed fisticuffs turned into a knife fight. There are eternal and popular songs from the picture though it was laughable to see how certain dark situations the figures had the audacity to still sing about it. Themes of love, troubled youth and being cool in a gang were exemplified. West Side Story may have its colorful moments, but for this reviewer the film as a whole was for adequate viewing.
Rating of
3.5/4
Unknown - wrote on 11/30/2011
Reuses the basic 'Romeo & Juliet' story to good effect. The songs are well-written and performed. Just an overall entertaining musical.
Rating of
4/4
mitchellyoung - wrote on 05/18/2011
A fantastic and beautifully visual early view of race wars, set as an adaptation of Romeo & Juliet. The sets and costumes create memorable tableaus. The plot may be a little weepy at times, but the brilliant music is what carries this film into classic territory.
Rating of
1.5/4
donkeyknight - wrote on 05/02/2011
Don't bother poopin' around with this. "America" and "Gee, Officer Krupke" explode off the screen with the energy and tension of a generation on the edge, but the rest of the movie is bugging hokey.
Rating of
3.5/4
shutterspeed777 - wrote on 04/24/2009
Obviously a modern "adaptation" of the Romeo and Juliet plot. A family brawl between the MONTAGUES and the CAPULETS. In this case, between the Americans (headed by RICHARD BEYMER) and the Latinos (represented by NATALIE WOOD). It's a gang war. It's a racial clash. It's a love story. Touches the heart deeply. Will always be one of my favorite romantic musicals of all time.
Rating of
3/4
Ichabod Crane - wrote on 03/27/2009
The music is catchy enough, and sung well enough. The story works better than other musicals and is effective. The look is very colorful and attractive therefore it succeeds as a musical needs to. There are no real problems except Natalie woods clearly being lip synced and the idea of the dancing gangs may cause some unintentional laughter.
Rating of
3/4
PsychoKing1227 - wrote on 10/06/2008
Natalie Wood is awful, but besides that, "West Side Story" is a classic. Stephen Sondheim lends fantastic lyrics to a musical update of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." A classic in every definition of the word, this choreographic masterpiece is one that every family should watch together and enjoy.
