This is a fine adaptation.
I won’t bore you telling you how much I hate musicals or how the dancing drove
me crazy. This was the first time I watched this movie, and I watched it with
an open mind. Before I saw this movie, we had a discussion in class about what
parts of Romeo and Juliet were essential to keep in an adaptation. I thought
all adaptations had to include all characters, and the large majority of the
plot line AND I definitely thought both the Romeo and Juliet had to die at the
end.
Their death seemed to be the only resolution possible
for the feuding families, or in this case feuding gangs. When eliminating Maria’s
death, the ending was much more open ended. Whether you like this or not, it deviated
a good bit from the overall take away. This was one of my two issues with West
Side Story.
My second issue
was there was a clear “side” to be on. As we discussed in class, the feud
between the families was essentially over nothing (or Shakespeare decided to
leave the reason out on purpose), and because of this, the focus was on the
love story. When you make the adaptation a conflict of race, there has to be a
right side… aka the ones who are not racist, but I hope I did not have to spell
that out. Shakespeare did not include this for a reason, not that I know this
reason, but it seems pretty
significant. If anyone would like to comment and maybe give me a suggestion as
to why he did
not and why West Side Story did, I would be very interested in
reading someone else’s point of view.
As I just typed
my two “issues” with West Side Story I realized I don’t have a real issue with
these. Romeo and Juliet can be changed in so many ways that’s the whole point
of adapting it; I am not nearly well read and pretentious enough to suggest West
Side Story is anything but a great rendition.
By not killing the Juliet the
audience has more room for discussion, and by including the racial component
the original love story turns into something far more relevant and profound.
So, what I am trying to say, is take my opinions with the smallest grain of
salt you can find.
Thanks for
reading guys!
I agree with you, I don't exactly like or dislike this movie. I've only seen this movie about once or twice. I don't necessarily think there was a "right" side, I think that we see it that way because its what makes most sense to us. Not everything is black and white and there are always other factors that we may not know about that could change our opinion. However, I also agree that by not killing the Juliet, it changes how the audience feels and thinks.
ReplyDeleteThis was my first time watching the movie West Side Story, it was similar to the Story of Romeo and Juliet, however there were differences between the two. I liked how the movie included much of the J and R story, as well as, added their own twist to where and when the story takes place in U.S.A. New York city 1950's. I also liked how the film kept the two feuding sides aspect from the R and J story and instead for feuding families, there were two feuding gangs of different ethnic groups.This new adaptation of a Romeo (Tommy) and Juliet (Maria), did effect the audience's, as well as, my view and attention differently compared to R and J. I really felt that I was compelled to side with the Shark/Portuguese because they were racially mistreated by both the Jets and N.Y. police. That part of the story I am not sure weather it is good or bad for the story, but despite the dancing, I did appreciate the changes from the original R and J to a different and similar movie/play "West Side Story."
ReplyDeleteI actually really agree with you on your two points, which don't really bother me as well. Having a side from the beginning was interesting, because it made me wonder if I should have a side in Romeo & Juliet as well.
ReplyDeleteI spent all of West Side thinking about how I felt about how it and Romeo and Juliet relate to modern day tensions and discussions.
I do appreciate their choices though, in picking the groups they did for West Side, as it is true to New York at that time.
I enjoyed that the feud was about a real world problem for that time. The one main problem I have is that the movie ended with Tony's death. Once again that idea of the only way to end the feud is with death. Since this was a real world problem it would've been interesting to end the story in a way that could be a real life solution since they were already trying to make a point about how the feuds should not be a thing. It would be cool to see an adaptation now with the issues regarding African Americans and Whites and see how it impacts the country.
ReplyDelete