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Apparently Daylight Savings Time is next weekend? If so? Yay! I'll take next Monday off to deal with it.
Dull headache most of the day, but dissipating now that it is clearing. It was overcast most of the day.
Watched Speilberg's Adaptation of West Side Story on Disney + today. (It's also available on HBO MAX along with the original version.)
The Skinny? I like the 1960s version better. Co-worker is correct - it does not compare to the original. [And it is nearly impossible not to compare the two in one's head. ]
Why?
Robert Wise, the director of the 1960s version was a minimalist. And with musicals, less is more. Do too much - and you overshadow the score and dance numbers - which are the whole point. Wise wisely chose to emphasize Bernstein's score, highlight Robbins choreography and dance numbers, and Sondheim's lyrics, and under play everything else. He let the music speak for itself, and aided it with the visuals.
Speilberg in stark contrast - goes the hyper-realist route. (And I don't think hyper-realism necessarily works well with musicals. Mainly because musicals are kind of fantastical to begin with. You have people bursting out in song and dancings in the middle of streets, sidewalks, stores, and daily life. It's jarring if you get too realistic about the setting.) Also Kurshner's book well thankfully slang free (no Daddy-o's to be seen), tells us far too much about the characters, and way too much about the setting.
This musical works better if you go the minimalist route.
( comparison of two West Side Story Films )
Does the film stand on its own two feet- regardless of the original. Yes, I think it does for the most part. But, I would most likely have some of the same criticisms had I not seen the original version. Tony wouldn't have worked that well for me regardless. Bernado may have worked better. Somewhere still wouldn't have worked. And I Feel Pretty would have felt jarring, either way. I'd have removed it and "Somewhere" completely from Spielberg's film, and had Somewhere play at the end credits.
Overall grade?
1961 Version? A- (for the casting of Tony and Maria)
2021 Version? B (see above)
***
Haven't done much today, outside of talk to mother, watch television, and revise my book. Slept until 8, had breakfast late...so...there you go.
Here's a picture.
Dull headache most of the day, but dissipating now that it is clearing. It was overcast most of the day.
Watched Speilberg's Adaptation of West Side Story on Disney + today. (It's also available on HBO MAX along with the original version.)
The Skinny? I like the 1960s version better. Co-worker is correct - it does not compare to the original. [And it is nearly impossible not to compare the two in one's head. ]
Why?
Robert Wise, the director of the 1960s version was a minimalist. And with musicals, less is more. Do too much - and you overshadow the score and dance numbers - which are the whole point. Wise wisely chose to emphasize Bernstein's score, highlight Robbins choreography and dance numbers, and Sondheim's lyrics, and under play everything else. He let the music speak for itself, and aided it with the visuals.
Speilberg in stark contrast - goes the hyper-realist route. (And I don't think hyper-realism necessarily works well with musicals. Mainly because musicals are kind of fantastical to begin with. You have people bursting out in song and dancings in the middle of streets, sidewalks, stores, and daily life. It's jarring if you get too realistic about the setting.) Also Kurshner's book well thankfully slang free (no Daddy-o's to be seen), tells us far too much about the characters, and way too much about the setting.
This musical works better if you go the minimalist route.
( comparison of two West Side Story Films )
Does the film stand on its own two feet- regardless of the original. Yes, I think it does for the most part. But, I would most likely have some of the same criticisms had I not seen the original version. Tony wouldn't have worked that well for me regardless. Bernado may have worked better. Somewhere still wouldn't have worked. And I Feel Pretty would have felt jarring, either way. I'd have removed it and "Somewhere" completely from Spielberg's film, and had Somewhere play at the end credits.
Overall grade?
1961 Version? A- (for the casting of Tony and Maria)
2021 Version? B (see above)
***
Haven't done much today, outside of talk to mother, watch television, and revise my book. Slept until 8, had breakfast late...so...there you go.
Here's a picture.