Cheap West Side Story (Special Edition DVD Collector's Set) (DVD) (Natalie Wood, George Chakiris) (Robert Wise, Jerome Robbins) Price

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Customer Reviews of West Side Story (Special Edition DVD Collector's Set)

Classic musical that stands out
Robert Wise's "West Side Story", based on the story of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is probably one of the best musicals made. It outclasses most musicals in its acting, music, songs, choreography and depiction of story. The music composition by Leonard Bernstein was outstanding and haunting. Stephen Sondheim did a spectacular job in the songs. Jerome Robbins' fantastic choreography makes this movie stand out from the other musicals. The choreography is wonderful, even the fight scenes are choreographed. Due to Puerto Ricans, the dances have the fast pace and the rhythm is very well captured. The dances cover all from the italian to the ballet styles and go well with the songs.

While the story might be simple, the impossible love between two people of different races, the way it is depicted is very realistic. Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood portray their parts very well and the way they meet and are held apart is heartbreaking. Rita Moreno and George Chakiris have done a superb job in acting their parts of how one likes being in America and the other does not. George as Bernardo plays all of the emotions from comedy to anger to hatred well. Unlike most musicals which are non-realistic, this is very realistic. The songs range in all styles from the simple to the operatic, like in "Maria". Songs have intelligent lyrics in some like "I like to be in America", to haunting melody in "You and Me".

This movie has romance, comedy, racial hatred and tragedy which ends in sadness. So many movies have copied its style, its songs but have failed miserably. Putting together such a cast and a support crew is not a simple task. Right from the first point when the movie shows the Jets to the Sharks, there is 20 minutes of music, but the facial expressions say it all. The rivalry of the gangs is well done along with the way they plan the fight and how things get out of control. The cops add to the trouble. This movie is a timeless classic. The DVD itself is well produced, the transfer of the music and video is good. The extras could be better though. I have a soundtrack of this movie by Bernstein that has very good notes written by him from his diary, in fact, this was better than a lot of the extras in the DVD. Despite this, the DVD is worth collecting, one can never get tired of watching this movie, unless one hates tragedies.

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A Definite Necessity For Any True Movie Lover's Collection
Viewing really old classic movies often requires watching with a grain of salt. While I can respect a classic for what it may have been during its time period, I've been jaded by the spector of modern movies and find it hard to find entertainment in older ones. West Side Story is an outstanding movie, even in the context of modern works.

In the style of "Romeo & Juliet" by William Shakespeare, the movie is the story of two star-crossed lovers whose romantic fate ends in tragedy. Maria (Natalie Wood) is a beautiful Puerto Rican girl whose older brother is the leader of a Puerto Rican street gang called the Sharks. Tony (Richard Beymer) is Caucasian, and a member of a rival street gang called the Jets. Just as in Shakespeare's play, the two meet at a dance and instantly fall in love. Because of their loyalties to opposite gangs, they try and keep their romance discreet and must meet to see each other in secret places. There's a very cute and touching scene where they meet up in the clothing store where Maria works, and they pretend to get married. For inconsequential reasons I cannot remember, the rival gangs decide to organize a fight against each other. Not wanting her brother or Tony to get harmed, Maria begs Tony to try and stop the fight. Instead of stopping the fight, Tony ends up killing Maria's brother. Tony runs to Maria to console her and be consoled at the same time, but both the police and the rest of the Sharks are looking to hunt him down.

It needs to be mentioned that this isn't just a movie, but a musical. There are several catchy songs in this picture, many of which have subsequently been referenced in TV shows, commercials, music, and other genres of pop culture. There is also an incredible amount of choreography from beginning to end. Even the fight scenes are choreographed to resemble ballet dances.

This movie also makes a powerful statement on a number of issues including love, brotherhood, loyalty, and poverty. Though it was in 1961, it still delivers a timely message that applies to the present.

It goes without saying that this movie is a must-see, and a definite necessity for any true movie lover's personal collection.

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Magnificent adaptation of Romeo & Juliet!
Robert Wise made his masterpiece with this film mixing the essential spirit of the shakesperian mood , recreating it in the modern times as a racial conflict.
Wise mixed the drama with a credible plot . The coreography is towering and the music ( Oh what kind of inspiration was in the mind of Leonard Bernstein , acquire buy also the soundtrack; Maria became a classic ), Rita Moreno won a deserved Academy Award and this became a personal triumph for Natalie Wood one of the most beautiful faces ever seen in the cinema story .
The sequence fights between the bunchs is perfect articulated , there is a fine balance between drama and music.
Enjoyable film and of course for all a generation of teenagers in that age , who actaully are grandparents , still remember with nosthalgie that unforgettable jewel picture .