Same songs as the original, but this WEST SIDE STORY is a little different.

Feb 21, 2022 | Community, Marvel Cinematic Universe

Imagination Connoisseur, Donny Pearson, shares his review of Steven Spielberg’s WEST SIDE STORY and how the iconic film score was handled differently this time around. 

EDITOR’S NOTE: A native Oklahoman currently residing in Western Washington, Donny has been an Imagination Connoisseur since 2018. He’s a fan of several genre franchises including “Star Trek,” “Super Sentai,” “Star Wars,” all things DC and Marvel, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “The Simpsons” and the “Power Rangers.”  Donny also says he’s a fan of game shows as well, including “Jeopardy!,” “The Price is Right,” the “Wheel of Fortune” and the “Family Feud.”

Donny sent us this review last December and due to issues related to getting our website updated, we haven’t been able to publish it until now (sorry, Donny).

Is it possible to catch lightning in a bottle a second time?

by Donny Pearson

I have seen the 20th Century Studios movie adaptation of Leonard Bernstein (pronounced “BURN-styne”) and Stephen Sondheim’s musical “West Side Story,” directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg, in honor of the 60th anniversary of the original movie adaptation–co-directed by the late Robert Wise–that won ten Academy Awards.

WEST SIDE STORY is an American classic.

I had fun seeing the recent movie adaptation and do love it the same way I love the one from 1961, especially the music. Kudos to David Newman, Gustavo Dudamel and the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras. Kudos to the cast and crew as well.

The late Leonard Bernstein was displeased with the orchestration for the 1961 movie. The instrumentation that was originally created for a 30-piece orchestra for the musical got tripled for a 90-piece orchestra that has included six saxophones, eight trumpets, five pianos and five xylophones.

Garth Edwin Sunderland of the Leonard Bernstein Office redid the orchestration that’s close to that of the musical itself for the live screenings of the movie with the score performed by a live orchestra. I don’t blame those who were like “that 20CS movie adaptation drools,” nor do I blame those who were like “Steven Spielberg is a complete butthead.”

I may recommend seeing the 1961 movie adaptation before seeing the recent one, just for kicks. I would give the 20CS movie adaptation 9 out of 10 finger snaps. In conclusion, I wish you and yours a “cool” holiday season and an even cooler year ahead.

Compare the movies’ differences for yourself.

Check out this video that shows the top ten differences between Steven Spielberg’s WEST SIDE STORY and the 1961 classic directed by Robert Wise.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A native Oklahoman currently residing in Western Washington, Donny has been an Imagination Connoisseur since 2018. He’s a fan of several genre franchises including “Star Trek,” “Super Sentai,” “Star Wars,” all things DC and Marvel, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “The Simpsons” and the “Power Rangers.”  Donny also says he’s a fan of game shows as well, including “Jeopardy!,” “The Price is Right,” the “Wheel of Fortune” and the “Family Feud.”

Donny sent us this review last December and due to issues related to getting our website updated, we haven’t been able to publish it until now (sorry, Donny).

Is it possible to catch lightning in a bottle a second time?

by Donny Pearson

I have seen the 20th Century Studios movie adaptation of Leonard Bernstein (pronounced “BURN-styne”) and Stephen Sondheim’s musical “West Side Story,” directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg, in honor of the 60th anniversary of the original movie adaptation–co-directed by the late Robert Wise–that won ten Academy Awards.

WEST SIDE STORY is an American classic.

I had fun seeing the recent movie adaptation and do love it the same way I love the one from 1961, especially the music. Kudos to David Newman, Gustavo Dudamel and the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras. Kudos to the cast and crew as well.

The late Leonard Bernstein was displeased with the orchestration for the 1961 movie. The instrumentation that was originally created for a 30-piece orchestra for the musical got tripled for a 90-piece orchestra that has included six saxophones, eight trumpets, five pianos and five xylophones.

Garth Edwin Sunderland of the Leonard Bernstein Office redid the orchestration that’s close to that of the musical itself for the live screenings of the movie with the score performed by a live orchestra. I don’t blame those who were like “that 20CS movie adaptation drools,” nor do I blame those who were like “Steven Spielberg is a complete butthead.”

I may recommend seeing the 1961 movie adaptation before seeing the recent one, just for kicks. I would give the 20CS movie adaptation 9 out of 10 finger snaps. In conclusion, I wish you and yours a “cool” holiday season and an even cooler year ahead.

Compare the movies’ differences for yourself.

Check out this video that shows the top ten differences between Steven Spielberg’s WEST SIDE STORY and the 1961 classic directed by Robert Wise.

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