Well, now I know where the Pet Shop Boys got its additional lyrics from for their 1997 Somewhere song.
Aside from not really being into musicals - despite The Sound of Music and Chicago being two of my all-time favorite movies, I've always avoided this one because I simply couldn't see how gangs could be tough while ballet dancing and snapping their fingers a bunch. No offense to dancers, singers or great performers such as these artists, but that doesn't scream the macho, macho men these characters were supposed to be for me.
Also, I know it "was the times," but couldn't they find more than one Puerto Rican to fill the Sharks' shoes? This looked a lot like brown face to me.
The story is really nothing new. Like 100s of years old, even by 1961 standards. It's Romeo & Julliet - even with the time frame down pat. Oh, and two rival gangs filled with racist rage. As hopeful as this movie wants you to feel, it ends just how you know it will.
It's hard to judge this movie seeing for the first time 63 years after it debuted. For one thing, this won best picture back then, so the audience in the early 60s saw something completely different than I did in 2024.
I did like SOME of the music. Probably the ones I recognized growing up, such as "I Feel Pretty," "America," and as mentioned, "Somewhere." I was not on board with the rest. Don't get me wrong - they all sang great and the chorography was wonderful. The songs just didn't resonate with me.
I liked it fine and glad I crossed it off my bucket movie list. Unfortunately, the movie didn't really pick up for me until the third act when it finally got real and interesting. Sad it took two hours to get to the goods.
And what was with the 10-minute opening still shot? Was that normal back then?
***
Final Thoughts: "Tony! When you come, use the backdoor." ~ Maria.
Maybe I'm looking TOO deep into that line.
Aside from not really being into musicals - despite The Sound of Music and Chicago being two of my all-time favorite movies, I've always avoided this one because I simply couldn't see how gangs could be tough while ballet dancing and snapping their fingers a bunch. No offense to dancers, singers or great performers such as these artists, but that doesn't scream the macho, macho men these characters were supposed to be for me.
Also, I know it "was the times," but couldn't they find more than one Puerto Rican to fill the Sharks' shoes? This looked a lot like brown face to me.
The story is really nothing new. Like 100s of years old, even by 1961 standards. It's Romeo & Julliet - even with the time frame down pat. Oh, and two rival gangs filled with racist rage. As hopeful as this movie wants you to feel, it ends just how you know it will.
It's hard to judge this movie seeing for the first time 63 years after it debuted. For one thing, this won best picture back then, so the audience in the early 60s saw something completely different than I did in 2024.
I did like SOME of the music. Probably the ones I recognized growing up, such as "I Feel Pretty," "America," and as mentioned, "Somewhere." I was not on board with the rest. Don't get me wrong - they all sang great and the chorography was wonderful. The songs just didn't resonate with me.
I liked it fine and glad I crossed it off my bucket movie list. Unfortunately, the movie didn't really pick up for me until the third act when it finally got real and interesting. Sad it took two hours to get to the goods.
And what was with the 10-minute opening still shot? Was that normal back then?
***
Final Thoughts: "Tony! When you come, use the backdoor." ~ Maria.
Maybe I'm looking TOO deep into that line.