Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story' sees critics and paying audiences part ways: Critics rave about a woke masterpiece, but the American public don't seem to agree with a film that gives them the middle finger

American Thinker ^ | 12/14/2021 | Andrea Widburg

[x]

Nobody's going to the movies now, so it's not surprising that the didn't see this one.

Judging from the preview, the movie was interestingly shot, but heavy and too PC, so it was a mixed bag.

Spielberg certainly has his annoying faults, but if I saw it, I wouldn't assume that he definitely couldn't surprise or impress me.

I don't think I'd like it, but somebody who hated the original and hated Shakespeare's play probably isn't the best critic for the new movie.

[Mygirlsmom]

Christmas with The Chosen, which was shown in significantly fewer theaters grossed over $10mil in one week.

From people who knew they could watch it for free the following week.

Covid Schmovid. Find another excuse.

[Huskrrrr]

Giving audiences what you think they should want doesn’t seem to end well these days. The original was a masterpiece.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

"If I subtitled the Spanish I'd simply be doubling down on the English and giving English the power over the Spanish," the virtue-signaling Spielberg squeaked from his gerbil cage.

Well, then, he should go back and scrub the subtitles from the French and Spanish dialog in Close Encounters of the Third Kind!

After all, if that's what it take to be authentic nowadays . . .

[Redmen4ever]

The original West Side Story was about TWO immigrant communities in New York: the Puerto Ricans and the Italians. The Italians have been white-washed. This is to rewrite the history of the country as whites versus the minorities of today, as opposed to the reality of an evolving mix of minorities, and the reality that minorities have moved up the socio-economic ladder and the culture has adapted this way and then that way to reflect assimilation of different people into the country. Of course, there are tensions in this process, as depicted in the original story.

The historical success of most immigrants, as is being replicated nowadays by most Hispanics and Asians, stands in contrast to the limited success of the minorities that have fallen into welfare dependency. The frustration of many native-born African Americans, now seeing Afro-Caribbeans and Africans moving ahead of them, is palpable. Ditto many Puerto Ricans, now seeing not only Cubans but other Latin Americans moving ahead of them. But, what would you expect in communities that are so lacking in husbands and fathers, and successful male role models? So, Hollyweird has to re-write West Side Story to go along with the elite’s re-write of history. No, the elite say, your lack of progress isn’t due to family breakdown, bad schools, corrupt city government, crime and drugs; it’s due to white people.

[newnhdad]

Hard pass for me on the Woke Side Story..

[carcraft]

Isn’t “West Side Story” sort of a remake of Romeo and Juliet? So a remake of a remake is a bit boring.

[zeestephen]

I will watch Spielberg's West Side Story one time, when its on a basic cable channel, in two years, or less.

Not a big fan of Spielberg, but he has done very well with World War 2 movies...

Empire of the Sun, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, and Band of Brothers.

I have also enjoyed two of his recent films on basic cable - Ready Player One and The BFG.

[70times7]

Oh you sly trickster! (for the zero people who don't know, "Dr. Ursus" is pointing out that Peggybac has not seen it).

Please tell us Ursus ... how many movies have you gone to see or avoided based on a review, or any other comment about it from anyone with an opinion you thought was valid?

The lack of subtitles alone is a valid reason to consider the story ruined. In Godfather and Tombstone the unsubtitled scenes are short enough that one can understand the context and look up translations later. Imo that gives the scenes more power. That is not the case here. This idiotic woke omission causes misunderstanding by definition, and the explanation provided by Speilburg for not including subtitles makes his reason for it unambiguous.

I will not spend a dime. If you want to see it I hope you enjoy it. This is America.

[Dr. Ursus]

I saw the movie. Thank you for the extensive reply to my one sentence.

[70times7]

I am always amused by how many critics pan a movie based on what the move isn't that their "elevated sensibilities" demand it should be. My favorite example is Starship Troopers. It's a hilarious and campy comic book of a movie and the acting is wooden at best. As I recall the critics hated it. I have yet to screen it for a single "uneducated rube" (including some with technical masters degrees) that didn't thoroughly enjoy it. OTOH, has anyone else noticed how many critically acclaimed films seem to NEVER return to our small screens no matter how many channels there are?

Now if you will all excuse me, Chariots of Fire (7 oscars, including best picture!) is on HBO for the 27th time this week and I am battling insomnia ... ;-)

[70times7]

Diarrhea!
I've just seen Speilberg's Diarrhea,
And now the movie frame
Will never be the same
To me.

Diarrhea!
I've been splashed by woke Diarrhea,
And suddenly I've found
How bad pretend profound
Can be!

Diarrhea!
In Steve's head it was music playing,
On the screen it's a sick jackass braying.
Diarrhea ... Diarrhea, Diarrhea, Diarrhea!

[70times7]

Best idea EVER!!

[montag813]

I heard it’s a decent flick, but that the LACK of subtitles for Spanish dialogue made it hard for non-Spanish speakers to follow those scenes.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

Thank you. I was planning to go. I dont need to be lectured by a woke movie. Back to my books,.

[Getready]

His separate scenes ooze with overproduction...too many sparks and noisy collisions. His scenes look like people acting...not real depictions of human activity. I want to see the movie just to see how they can botch up an older movie or book. And waste 100 million..which could have been used to build infrastructure in PR.

[MNnice]

Imagine if Hollywood tried to remake “Gone With The Wind?” heh

[dforest]

Ha ha, Oh Lord, don’t even go there.

[70times7]

You are welcome; it was my pleasure.

I realize that some are taken by surprise with the idea that individuals would express opinions on a site like this. All things considered, your non-participation is appreciated.

[70times7]

... and for the record, because you seem unlikely to realize it, I was replying about you, not to you. Fregards!