I have a love/hate relationship with West Side Story. Or, at least, I have a love/hate relationship with the movie version of West Side Story. I saw a stage performance of it years ago and enjoyed it immensely. I know that it’s always hard to convert a musical into a film (the two media are very different and don’t always sync up), but I can’t help but be unsatisfied with the movie after enjoying the live one so much.
Admittedly, everything and everybody are exhaustingly overdramatic in both the movie and play versions. Then again, the same can be said of Romeo and Juliet, so I guess that there isn’t much difference between the reboot and the source material in that respect at least. Musicals are always ridiculous anyways, so I guess it’s part of the genre too. I know musicals aren’t for everyone, but I’m gay. Every gay person I know likes musicals. I think liking musicals is just a part of being gay.
In fact, I (a lesbian) sing “I Feel Pretty” with my gay friends (gay gang?) all the time. It always starts after one of us compliments another, and the rest just flows from there. Maybe I should write my paper on a queerer version of West Side Story. It could be about the forbidden lesbian lovers, Toni and Maria. Anybodys could be trans too! It could be grand.
Back to the point! I have always liked the idea of the Montagues and Capulets being portrayed as rival gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. The fact that the origin of the blood feud between the families is never explained in the original play has always bothered me. Putting them in this context explains the conflict without needing to take time to delve into its history. The singing and ballet-dancing gang members are just a bonus. A very funny and easily heckle-able bonus.
The first time I watched this movie (before I saw it live), I was dangerously close to becoming an obnoxious Shakespeare purist, and Maria surviving Tony bothered me. It’s NOT how it’s supposed to go!!! I seem to have avoided the unfortunate fate of a Shakespeare purist because this time through I liked that touch. The fact that Maria lives forces the audience to confront the lasting effects of the rivalry and everything that it caused, whereas the original ending in Romeo and Juliet just seems to be a way to wrap everything up as quickly as possible.
I’m anticipating being among the very few that liked this movie (even if it can't live up to a live version), and I understand why so many people don’t. Hopefully, we can all still have a good discussion about it.
First, I loved the Muppet clip of the two old men, I grew up watching Muppet movies and the TV series Hercules (Disappointed!) I did like some of the adaptations of West Side Story from the R and J story, although I would like to see a more today version of a R and J story that can relate to how things are now and not back when. Also I would like the two main characters/the two in love to be not just between men and women, but also be anything that is widely more excepted in terms of relationships. Like relationships between the two in love to be women and women, man and man, as well as, man and woman from different ethnic backgrounds. After all, when it comes to love, there are no boundaries.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I want to say its very subjective to say that musicals are just a part of being gay. I'm sure there are plenty of gay people that don't like musicals. There is a reason the family feud wasn't explained in Romeo and Juliet and was explain in West Side Story. Both stories are trying to achieve something different with the audience and convey different things. Also, its great to do things outside of the box instead of constantly doing the same thing over and over again because eventually it gets repetitive and boring.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree that just because you are apart of the gay community does not mean you enjoy musicals. Stereotypes are not typically reliable. I do however agree that musicals and films are both two totally different platforms of media. I also would have to agree in this case that West Side Story would be better in a musical form and I really want to see the musical after reading your blog post.
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