[Extreme Sound] Impressions immediately after watching [Extreme Sound] "West Side Story" (2021) right after watching "West Side Story" (1961)

Today, I watched [Extreme Sound] "West Side Story" (1961) and [Extreme Sound] "West Side Story" (2021) at Cinema City/Cinema Two in Tachikawa.

Watching Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story" (2021) immediately after watching the 1961 "West Side Story" made the 21st-century version stand out much more clearly!

The 21st-century "West Side Story" is a reconstruction and remake by director Steven Spielberg, based on the 20th-century "West Side Story".

Beyond the power-up in singing and dancing,

I was surprised by the many new settings that were not in the 1961 "West Side Story".

First of all, many characters are given detailed backstories, such as Tony being fresh out of prison, Bernardo being a boxer, Chino being a nerdy guy with glasses, Anita being a seamstress, and Maria being a cleaner, which adds depth to the drama. In particular, Bernardo's boxer setting not only looks great in action scenes but also makes him convincing as a leader of the Sharks, treated like a hero among the Puerto Ricans, and it even influences musical scenes, such as the use of a boxing gym, with positive effects in many areas.

Chino's character change is also surprisingly good. He's like a nerdy guy similar to Amos played by John C. Reilly in "Chicago," but he moves around quite a bit. Small scenes like the gym scene and his interactions with Bernardo pay off later.

Furthermore, the new character Valentina, played by Rita Moreno who was Anita in the 1961 version, plays a role in giving Tony a job after he gets out of prison and offering him advice. Every time I see Valentina, I am deeply moved because she overlaps with the Anita from the 1961 film.

Also, while I focused only on the singing and dancing during my first viewing, the use of background locations is surprisingly effective. In the 1961 version, the Jets' and Sharks' songs were centered around singing and dancing in backstreets, but here they dance boldly on main streets where cars are actually passing by. Similarly, the staging for "America" was an indoor song and dance in the 1961 version, but it has been reborn as a dynamic version that spills out from the room into the apartment and onto the street. "Tonight," which happens right after Tony and Maria meet, is also upgraded, with the fire escape grilles and fences being used to represent a cage. Conversely, the comical song "Gee, Officer Krupke" is danced indoors, but it uses every prop like chairs and desks skillfully, making it far more interesting than in the 1961 version.

And so on—the upgrades are so extensive that it would take a long time to list them all.

Above all, what is amazing is,

Even though I watched the 1961 and 2021 versions back-to-back, I was able to enjoy the latter completely as an alternative version. From the scenes where Valentina appears to additional scenes like the procurement of the gun, and the change in location for the meeting between Tony and Maria and the challenge to a duel, all of Spielberg's alternatives are interesting.

The 1961 "West Side Story" was a product of the era of racial discrimination during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, and it has been reborn in the 21st century as a modern "West Side Story" that reflects the lingering issues experienced from the Obama administration through the Trump administration.

The more I watch "West Side Story" (2021), the more I am simply struck by the greatness of director Steven Spielberg!!